Stepp's 4A DI Region I Picks: District Projections and Playoff Outlook

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 1-4A Division I

1. El Paso Andress
2. El Paso Ysleta
3. El Paso Riverside
4. El Paso Austin
5. San Elizario

El Paso will be as strong as the city has ever been at the 4A level in 2026 and it’s primarily due to the power at the top of this district where there are three teams vying for supremacy. Andress drops down from Class 5A where they won a playoff game a year ago. The Eagles offense is plenty explosive with QB Jamari Milton leading a speedy group of skill players. The defense is stout on the back end, but up front will be the key to playoff success. Ysleta was last year’s district champion posting an unbeaten regular season. The Indians return district MVP QB Rodrigo Martinez and eight starters on both sides of the ball. Riverside, who was last year’s district runner-up, returns 19 overall starters and should be much-improved as well with QB Carlos Rojas, III back after tallying 55 touchdowns a year ago. Austin is the pick for the four seed. The Panthers have low numbers, but always punch above their weight.

District 2-4A Division I

1. Dumas
2. Canyon West Plains
3. Canyon Randall
4. Canyon
5. Pampa
6. Hereford

The Texas Panhandle is expected to once again produce plenty of fireworks and regional fun as three of the four playoff teams advanced to the third round last year, with West Plains getting all the way to the regional final. West Plains was gutted by graduation and they lost their coach, so that could open things up for Dumas, which returns veteran QB Colton Mills and a solid cast across the board. The power in this loop clearly lies in Canyon ISD with Randall and nine offensive starters returning expecting to be strong, while Canyon returns 14 starters under now full-time head coach Matt Lovorn.

District 3-4A Division I

1. Midland Greenwood
2. Andrews
3. Plainview
4. San Angelo Lake View

This is one of just two four-team districts in the state where every team is guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean seeding won’t be huge considering the challenging bi-district playoff pairing with District 4. Greenwood moves up from Division II after winning 13 games a year ago. The Rangers lost a stout senior class, but they still get the nod in the district. That’s because Andrews despite returning nine starters on offense is likely going through a shift in offensive philosophy, so expect some growing pains in 2026. Plainview drops down from 5A, but the Bulldogs will have to replace eight starters on offense. The positive thing is Plainview’s defense with six starters back expects to be much-improved. Lake View after a seven win campaign a year ago will look to be improved as well as the Chiefs bring back six starters on both sides of the ball.

District 4-4A Division I

1. Springtown
2. Decatur
3. Alvarado
4. Lake Dallas
5. Aubrey
6. Carrollton Ranchview
7. Godley
8. River Oaks Castleberry

A district that defies geography in the DFW area and wraps all the way around the area will involve some heavy travel and some outstanding depth. Alvarado is a back-to-back regional finalist in Region II, but the Indians are picked third after losing their head coach and a massive senior class; they do have an elite playmaker in QB KJ Jenkins. Springtown, who fell to Alvarado in the third round a year ago after starting the season 12-0, is looking like the team to beat with six starters back on both sides of the ball led by QB Kaine Hill. Decatur has a new head coach and a loaded junior class. The Eagles get the edge for the two-seed after a surprise regional semifinal run a year ago. Look for a big fight in Denton County for the final playoff spot between an Aubrey squad, which returns 19 starters, and Lake Dallas, which expects to be much-improved under a new head coach.

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS AND PLAYOFF OUTLOOK

W1 El Paso Andress vs F2 Canyon

R4 Decatur vs T3 Plainview

W2 Dumas vs F1 El Paso Austin

R3 Andrews vs T4 Alvarado

W3 Midland Greenwood vs F4 Lake Dallas

R2 Canyon West Plains vs T1 El Paso Riverside

W4 Springtown vs F3 San Angelo Lake View

R1 El Paso Ysleta vs T2 Canyon Randall

Don’t be surprised if old rivals Springtown and Decatur meet twice as they look to be the favorites in the region. There’s good depth in West Texas with solid teams, but I’m not sure there’s anyone that meets the standard of being elite. If you are looking for a team to dream on, El Paso Andress way out west could be that sleeper to watch.

REGIONAL CHAMPION

Springtown over Decatur