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

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 9-5A Division I

1. La Porte
2. Port Arthur Memorial
3. Beaumont West Brook
4. Lufkin
5. Beaumont United
6. Goose Creek Memorial
7. Baytown Sterling
8. New Caney
9. Galveston Ball

This is one of several districts that looks absolutely loaded heading into 2026. La Porte was a regional finalist in 2024 and then were stunned in the bi-district playoffs a year ago. The Bulldogs look loaded to make a deep push once again led by RB Sean Simon and a talented cast of skill players. Port Arthur Memorial was one game away from playing for a state title last year. The Titans were gutted by graduation, but there’s enough talent on hand to hold off what should be a much-improved West Brook squad. Lufkin has major questions offensively, but they are experienced on defense and have a big homefield advantage inside of district play. Beaumont United is fresh off their best season in school history, but the Timberwolves do have some key losses to replace. Goose Creek Memorial drops down from 6A with a veteran squad; they’ve been going up against the likes of North Shore, CE King, Summer Creek and Atascocita so this tough district won’t phase them. Baytown Sterling, which was a surprise team a year ago, should be very tough as well as the Rangers return 14 starters.

District 10-5A Division I

1. Houston Madison
2. Houston Westbury
3. Houston Milby
4. Houston Waltrip
5. Houston Chavez
6. Houston Sharpstown
7. Houston Wisdom
8. Houston Northbrook
9. Houston Sam Houston

It’s a two-horse race at the top of this Houston ISD-heavy district. Madison, last year’s district champion, is in the drivers seat as the Marlins bring back 15 starters from a 9-2 squad. The key going into 2026 is can Madison take the next step and make a legitimate case to advance out of the bi-district? Westbury, which was the district runner-up a year ago, also brings back a strong cast as the Huskies welcome back 15 total starters; they’ll be the top contender to challenge Madison’s dominance inside of the district. Milby has one of the state’s most dynamic WR’s in Artavion Davis and his QB Gabriel Gutierrez is back, so I expect the Buffaloes to get their second playoff appearance in three years. Waltrip only has nine starters back and could be in a bit of a retooling mode, but the Rams should still hold off Chavez, Sharpstown and Wisdom for the final playoff spot.

District 11-5A Division I

1. Richmond Randle
2. Angleton
3. Iowa Colony
4. Friendswood
5. Katy Freeman
6. Victoria East
7. Fort Bend Dulles
8. South Houston
9. Pasadena

Although this district doesn’t have the depth that District 9 and District 12 have, this is still a strong district at the top with Richmond Randle leading the charge up from 5A-Division II. The Lions are 31-1 the last two years with a state title and state runner-up finish, and this year’s team may be their best yet with seven back on both sides of the ball, including RB Landen Williams-Callis back for his senior season. Angleton had a state title contending team a year ago, but injuries late in the year derailed things for the Wildcats. They’ll still be strong but a step behind Randle. Iowa Colony is a mystery as the Pioneers the last two years are 24-0 against teams not named Randle, but the Pioneers lost a stellar senior class and their returning QB transferred this offseason. The four-spot is really going to be a two-horse race between a solid Friendswood squad and Katy Freeman. Freeman is a total mystery being a new program, but there’s a lot of optimism and intrigue around this new program in Katy ISD.

District 12-5A Division I

1. Pflugerville Weiss
2. College Station A&M Consolidated
3. Killeen Shoemaker
4. Georgetown
5. College Station
6. Pflugerville Connally
7. Killeen
8. Pflugerville Hendrickson
9. Leander Glenn

This Central Texas district is absolutely loaded with depth across the board and things start with a Pflugerville Weiss squad that is poised to be a regional contender. The Wolves posted their best season in school history at 10-3 under first year head coach Malcolm Hill. They return 15 starters and have some of the best front-line talent in the state. They get the nod for the district title, but last year they finished fourth, so there’s not much margin in this loop. A&M Consolidated, which actually won the district a year ago, brings back a dozen total starters and they have back plenty of firepower. Things get murky after the top two slots. Killeen Shoemaker, which drops down from Class 6A, expects to be a contender after posting a 7-3 mark a year ago; the Grey Wolves are loaded with playmakers and new head coach Roy Locks has the community buzzing. Georgetown and College Station are consistent playoff contenders, but both have a lot of questions after graduating large senior classes. Pflugerville Connally made the area playoffs a year ago in 5A-Division II and they bring back 14 starters, yet they are picked sixth. That just shows you how deep this district is across the board.

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS AND PLAYOFF OUTLOOK

W9 La Porte vs F10 Houston Waltrip

R12 College Station A&M Consolidated vs T11 Iowa Colony

W10 Houston Madison vs F9 Lufkin

R11 Angleton vs T12 Killeen Shoemaker

W11 Richmond Randle vs F12 Georgetown

R10 Houston Westbury vs T9 Beaumont West Brook

W12 Pflugerville Weiss vs F11 Friendswood

R9 Port Arthur Memorial vs T10 Houston Milby

Region III is absolutely loaded. At the top of the bracket, first round games featuring A&M Consolidated taking on Iowa Colony and Angleton taking on Shoemaker is just box office. Every potential second round game is going to be outstanding, but sign me up for Pflugerville Wiess and Port Arthur Memorial and the winner of A&M Consolidated-Iowa Colony playing La Porte. I’m going to go ahead and petition the four regional semifinalists to go ahead and schedule a double-header Thanksgiving weekend at Prairie View A&M. Just inject that into my veins because this region is going to be absolutely loaded with good games.

REGIONAL CHAMPION

Richmond Randle over La Porte