REGIONAL OUTLOOK

There’s not one, but two state champions in this region as both Lorena and Franklin will be among the teams who battle it out for Region III supremacy.

Diboll made their deepest playoff push in school history a year ago, moving to the regional finals and the Lumberjacks return fifteen total starters, they’ll be the big favorite in this district and are the biggest threat to the Central Texas powers inside of the region. Expect Woodville, who also returns a large amount of starters to be a good bet for second place. After that point things get a little murky with Coldspring, Palestine Westwood and Crockett all challenging for the last two playoff spots in the district.

Things are pretty wide open in 10-3A Division I, where East Chambers has had the run of the district the past few seasons. The Bucs should plenty explosive on offense, but the defense has some major question marks, that could open the door for an Anahuac squad that has plenty of balance with seven starters back on both sides of the ball. Orangefield will be in the mix as well as the Bobcats return half their starters from a 4A playoff team. Expect Buna and Kirbyville to be the top challengers for the final playoff spot.

Franklin, who won the Division II title joins Division I state champion Lorena in an absolutely loaded district, the Lions got the better of Lorena in the non-district matchup and at least on paper bring back a bit more experience. Little River-Academy, who brings back seventeen starters from an 11-2 squad is a real sleeper inside of 11-3A Division I and in Region III as well. The Battle of the Bell between old rivals Rockdale and Cameron Yoe could very well decided the district’s final playoff spot.

Columbus is another regional title contender in 12-3A Division I, the Cardinals return nine starters on both sides of the ball from a team that advanced to the regional semifinals a year ago. Hitchcock could be ready to take a major leap forward after a fourth place finish a year ago, while Yoakum and Hallettsville are always solid.

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 9-3A Division I

1. Diboll
2. Woodville
3. Coldspring
4. Palestine Westwood
5. Crockett
6. Shepherd
7. Huntington

District 10-3A Division I

1. Anahuac
2. East Chambers
3. Orangefield
4. Buna
5. Kirbyville
6. Hardin
7. Cleveland Tarkington

District 11-3A Division I

1. Franklin
2. Lorena
3. Little River-Academy
4. Rockdale
5. Cameron Yoe
6. McGregor
7. Troy

District 12-3A Division I

1. Columbus
2. Hitchcock
3. Yoakum
4. Hallettsville
5. Hempstead

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

W9 Diboll vs F10 Buna

R12 Hitchcock vs T11 Little River-Academy

W10 Anahuac vs F9 Palestine Westwood

R11 Lorena vs T12 Yoakum

W11 Franklin vs F12 Hallettsville

R10 East Chambers vs T9 Coldspring

W12 Columbus vs F11 Rockdale

R9 Woodville vs T10 Orangefield

REGIONAL CHAMPIONS

Franklin over Diboll