Stepp's 3A DII Region I Picks: District Projections and Playoff Outlook

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 1-3A Division II

1. Canadian
2. Childress
3. Dimmitt
4. Friona
5. Amarillo River Road

Canadian may not be at the levels they were 10 years ago, but the Wildcats still set the pace and standard in the Texas Panhandle. There’s a great base to build around led by QB Weston Mitchell, who could have a monster senior season. With Region I looking different, the door could open back up in 2026. Childress, at times ,has nipped at Canadian’s heels and this could be another season where Childress has a punchers chance at knocking the Wildcats off as Coach Helm welcomes back 15 total starters from an area round playoff squad. Dimmitt only graduated six seniors from a playoff team in 2025; they’ll be improved and could overtake Friona for the three spot.

District 2-3A Division II

1. Idalou
2. Littlefield
3. Slaton
4. Muleshoe
5. Lubbock Roosevelt

Idalou got all the way to a regional final a year ago and the Wildcats think they can take it further this year as Clay White welcomes back 24 lettermen and seven starters on both sides of the ball. Idalou has a blend of good skill talent and tough veteran experience up front. Littlefield and Slaton should be an intriguing battle for the two seed with the winner likely having a more clear path to the third round. Slaton’s got great team speed, but Littlefield’s 14 returning starters gives them the nod. Muleshoe is the pick for fourth, but the gap has closed with Lubbock Roosevelt improving.

District 3-3A Division II

1. Coahoma
2. San Angelo Grape Creek
3. Crane
4. Stanton
5. Alpine
6. Anthony

This is a nice melding district where the Big Bend, El Paso, Concho Valley and the Permian Basin come together in a loop that should be a competitive pairing, especially in spots two through five. Coahoma lost some really good skill talent, but the Bulldogs have QB Austin Joslin back and that gives them a big edge over the rest of this group. Grape Creek was a surprise area playoff team a year ago. The Eagles have a new head coach but will keep their unique offense in place and that will make them a tough team to prep for. Crane, under new head coach Canon McWilliams, gets the edge over Stanton and Alpine for the three spot, while Stanton with nine starters back on both sides of the ball gets the pick for the final playoff spot over Alpine.

District 4-3A Division II

1. Jacksboro
2. Henrietta
3. Holliday
4. Wichita Falls City View
5. Merkel
6. Breckenridge

This Wichita Falls-heavy district moves from Region II to Region I and definitely changes the look and feel of Region I overall. There’s a tough of Big Country flavor in this loop as well with Breckenridge and Merkel joining the fun. Henrietta had the deepest playoff push a year ago as they posted a regional semifinal run and they’ve got seven back on both sides of the ball, but the edge for me goes to Jacksboro, which won the district a year ago and has eight starters back on both sides of the ball. Casey Hubble’s squad enters as a Bonafide regional contender along with perennial Region II bridesmaid Holliday, which, despite youth and an early playoff exit a year ago, still has the pieces in place to make a deep run. City View is always tricky because they have elite level athleticism at the 3A-Division II level, while Merkel was an area round playoff team a year ago and Breckenridge made the playoffs as well. Top to bottom this is the best district in Region I.

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS AND PLAYOFF OUTLOOK

W1 Canadian vs F2 Muleshoe

R4 Henrietta vs T3 Crane

W2 Idalou vs F1 Friona

R3 San Angelo Grape Creek vs T4 Holliday

W3 Coahoma vs F4 Wichita Falls City View

R2 Littlefield vs T1 Dimmitt

W4 Jacksboro vs F3 Stanton

R1 Childress vs T2 Slaton

Overall this is a pretty wide open region after the departure of Wall, which took the crown home in back-to-back years. The Hawks are now up in Division I, so does the door open for a team like Idalou? The Wildcats were a regional finalist a year ago and they’ll have a solid second round opponent out of District 4, which moves over from Region II. Another tough area round game likely will feature Canadian taking on the second place team from 4-3A Division II. The door opens a bit more at the bottom of the bracket where Jacksboro and Coahoma seem destined for a regional semifinal showdown.

REGIONAL CHAMPION

Idalou over Jacksboro