Stepp's 3A DI Region II Picks: District Projections and Playoff Outlook

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 5-3A Division I

1. Gunter
2. Whitesboro
3. Pottsboro
4. Pilot Point
5. Dallas Life Oak Cliff
6. Dallas A+ Academy

Region II gets interesting in a hurry as this top-heavy Texoma-centric district is loaded with good teams. In fact, one really good team will likely be sitting home come playoff time. Gunter, up from 3A-Division II, will field a team good enough to win a state title. The Tigers return seven starters on both sides of the ball, will field 4A-type numbers overall, and they have that guy in QB Knox Gage. Whitesboro is poised to challenge as the Bearcats return 17 starters led by four-year starting QB Colt Fagan. The Bearcats have been a playoff team, but success in the postseason has eluded them in recent years. Pottsboro was a regional champion a year ago, but the Cardinals graduated nearly all of their offensive production. They’ll still be a playoff team, but holding off hard-charging and fast-improving Pilot Point will be a chore. Life Oak Cliff is a playoff team in most districts, but this loop is too deep and they are strong where Life Oak Cliff typically struggles.

District 6-3A Division I

1. Whitney
2. Grandview
3. Palmer
4. West
5. Mexia
6. Groesbeck
7. Keene

The Whitney Wildcats could be ready for their best season in school history as they are fresh off a 10-3 season and 19 starters are back led by TCU commit QB Kobe Haynes. Whitney has outstanding team speed and if the depth holds up, this is a contender in a loaded Region II. Grandview played for a state title a year ago but the Zebras were gutted by graduation. Grandview has some pieces back but I expect a step back in 2026. It’s a three-way race for the final two playoff spots, Palmer returns seven starters on both sides, but the Bulldogs lose a four-year starter at QB, while West graduated heavy, but the Trojans are always solid in the trenches. Mexia returns the house from a one-win team in 2025, but the Blackcats have a new coach and new energy.

District 7-3A Division I

1. Malakoff
2. Commerce
3. Winnsboro
4. Mount Vernon
5. Mineola
6. Emory Rains
7. Eustace

Another absolutely loaded district race pits Malakoff at the top of the loop over last year’s champion Commerce. Malakoff, who won a state title in 2023 and was a state runner-up in 2024, may have the pieces for a big run with a dozen starters back plus the addition of the Robinson brothers who moved in from state champion Yoakum. Sophomore RB Germarquis Robinson, who ran for 10 scores as a freshman for YHS, will pair nicely with QB Canyon Marsh. Commerce has a dynamic playmaker of their own in QB Aidan Brown, who accounted for 52 touchdowns a year ago. The defense also expects to be improved as eight starters return. Winnsboro lost a record setting WR to the SEC, but they still have bruising RB Neree Castleberry to control the clock while their young defense matures. Mount Vernon expects to be an improved team and they’ll hold off Mineola under a new coach and what should be an improved Emory Rains team.

District 8-3A Division I

1. Gladewater
2. Atlanta
3. Texarkana Liberty-Eylau
4. Tatum
5. White Oak
6. Sabine

Expect a lot of fireworks in this top heavy East Texas district where three teams have a claim as being the preseason favorite. Last year’s district champion Gladewater won’t catch anyone off guard this year, but the Bears look to be built for repeatable success with their explosive ground game. Atlanta is as deep and talented as they’ve been since dropping to 3A, but the Rabbits have had expectations and consistently underperformed. Is this the team to reverse that trend of the past 10 years or so? Liberty-Eylau is another squad that was extremely young a year ago. The Leopards expect to be much-improved as well. Tatum is a playoff team but the Eagles are re-tooling. Give them another year or two and they’ll be flying high with some standout young talent in the pipeline.

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS AND PLAYOFF OUTLOOK

W5 Gunter vs F6 West

R8 Atlanta vs T7 Winnsboro

W6 Whitney vs F5 Pilot Point

R7 Commerce vs T8 Texarkana Liberty-Eylau

W7 Malakoff vs F8 Tatum

R6 Grandview vs T5 Pottsboro

W8 Gladewater vs F7 Mount Vernon

R5 Whitesboro vs T6 Palmer

If you are looking for big time matchups in the bi-district playoffs, this region is right up your alley. I’d say five out of the eight bi-district games are regional semifinal quality matchups. Malakoff is the favorite just based on pedigree and what the Tigers bring back, but there are at least eight teams that can make a strong case that if things break right they could win the regional crown. This is one region to definitely watch come November.

REGIONAL CHAMPION

Malakoff over Whitney