Stepp's 5A DI Region II Picks: District Projections and Playoff Outlook

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 5-5A Division I

1. Frisco Lone Star
2. Melissa
3. Frisco Reedy
4. McKinney North
5. Frisco Heritage
6. Frisco Centennial
7. Frisco Liberty
8. Frisco Lebanon Trail

After a run to the state title game a year ago, Lone Star looks ready to contend for the state title with the return of junior QB Trey Wright, Baylor ATH commit Karece Hoyt and a veteran secondary. The Rangers' offensive line should be much-improved, but the questions will be how their front seven looks heading into 2026. Melissa moves up to Division I after a semifinal run a year ago. The Cardinals offense looks ready to go as they are big and physical, but the defense got hammered by graduation with nine starters graduating. Reedy is quietly one of the area’s most consistent winners. Even when the Lions graduate heavy they always find themselves in the second or third round of the playoffs. Where things get intriguing is that fourth spot. McKinney North, from a talent standpoint, should take this spot, but the Bulldogs just haven’t put things together the past few seasons. Frisco Heritage has a new coach, but 13 starters are back, while Frisco Centennial returns seven on offense from a team that posted a 4-6 mark.

District 6-5A Division I

1. Highland Park
2. Richland
3. Garland Naaman Forest
4. Carrollton Creekview
5. Birdville
6. Carrollton Smith
7. Carrollton Turner

This mish-mash of teams was one of the more unique alignments as Garland Naaman Forest is located well east of Dallas and they’ll trek all the way across to Northeast Tarrant County where Birdville and Richland are located. Highland Park, led by QB Buck Randall, is the team to beat per usual. The Scots are nearly impossible to beat at home and are just as consistently excellent as any team in the state. Now, the Scots do have their toughest district test away from home as they’ll have to take on Richland on the road. The Royals are loaded with 11 starters back on defense and six on offense led by UCLA RB commit Jayshon Gibson and QB Brett Kates. RHS has been to the regional semifinals in three straight seasons. Is 2026 the breakthrough? After the top two teams, things get much muddier as four teams have a legit claim at the final two spots. Naaman Forest brings back eight starters on both sides of the ball from a 6A playoff team; the Rangers get the nod. TCU ATH commit Braylon Deal is a dynamic weapon and DT Jaylon Johnson and LB Brody Perales are both excellent playmakers. Creekview has had a tremendous turnaround under HC Dusty Ortiz. The Mustangs were 9-2 a year ago, they lost a lot on defense but have QB Cason Garica back and a veteran offense. Birdville is a solid contender, but they are also young on defense, while Newman Smith was gutted by graduation on defense and they have a new head coach.

District 7-5A Division I

1. West Mesquite
2. Crandall
3. Tyler
4. Mesquite
5. North Mesquite
6. Dallas White
7. Dallas Adams
8. Dallas Sunset

After a breakout 11-2 season, West Mesquite gets the nod as the district favorite, but the Wranglers aren’t without questions. They’ve got a new coach after the departure of Stephen Jackson to Lancaster and they’ve got to settle on a QB. However, 13 starters are back led by RB Damarion Robinson and CB Kentrell Blackshear. If West falters, don’t be surprised if Crandall jumps up and grabs that two slot. The Pirates are led by WR Jeremiah Douglas, a Vanderbilt commit, and RB Darrik Ward. There are questions on defense, but Crandall’s offense will be as explosive as any in the region. Tyler High has their own firepower on hand with RB CaDarius McMiller, an Oregon commit, and WR Trey Haralson, an SMU commit, but the Lions have struggled on defense the past two years and they must replace a veteran QB. Mesquite struggled a year ago in 6A, but they’ve got a crop of very talented sophomores who will be impact players in 2026. If that youth can mature, they could snag a playoff spot. North Mesquite, who made the playoffs a year ago, will be in contention along with a much more experienced Dallas White squad as well.

District 8-5A Division I

1. DeSoto
2. Lancaster
3. Cedar Hill
4. Mansfield Summit
5. Midlothian
6. Burleson Centennial
7. Mansfield Legacy
8. Cleburne

DeSoto, who has won three of the past four state titles at the 6A-Division II level, makes the move to 5A and the Eagles rightfully enter as heavy favorites. RB SaRod Baker is one of the state’s most dynamic playmakers and the Eagles will have one of the top defensive lines in the state. That’s not to say they don’t have questions, specifically in the secondary, QB and WR, but when you can run the rock like DeSoto will and stop the run, you will be elite. After a disappointing 2025 season, Lancaster has a new coach and a new attitude under Stephen Jackson. The Tigers are never short on talent and if they can put it all together, they’ll be a dangerous team in November. If there’s anyone who might have a better defensive line than DeSoto in the state, it might be district rival Cedar Hill, which boasts the nation’s top DT in Jalen Brewster, Jalen Price and Jeron Allen. If the Longhorns offense can show improvement this will be a tough out. The race for the four seed will be intriguing; early edge goes to Mansfield Summit led by Texas DE commit DE Cameron Hall, but Midlothian, Burleson Centennial and Mansfield Legacy all will have a case to be made.

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS AND PLAYOFF OUTLOOK

W5 Frisco Lone Star vs F6 Carrollton Creekview

R8 Lancaster vs T7 Tyler

W6 Highland Park vs F5 McKinney North

R7 Crandall vs T8 Cedar Hill

W7 West Mesquite vs F8 Mansfield Summit

R6 Richland vs T5 Frisco Reedy

W8 DeSoto vs F7 Mesquite

R5 Melissa vs T6 Garland Naaman Forest

This region will be an absolute meat grinder and it starts in the bi-district round with some really intriguing games like Richland and Frisco Reedy. Area round games like Lone Star vs. Lancaster and Melissa vs. DeSoto will be box office as well. Highland Park could have a semi-navigable path to the third round, but an area round game with Cedar Hill potentially won’t be a picnic. In the end I’m going with the two teams who made it to AT&T Stadium a year ago to meet up and that edge lies with DeSoto.

REGIONAL CHAMPION

DeSoto over Frisco Lone Star