A year ago, Region II proved to be a three-horse race between Carthage, Texarkana Pleasant Grove and Gilmer and most thought Gilmer was a distant third. However, the Buckeyes got on a roll late and rode that wave all the way to the state title. Can Gilmer have the same sort of success in 2024 or does Carthage get back to the top of the mountain? Or does a young Pleasant Grove team have a surprise up their sleeve?

One of the more competitive districts top to bottom may be 5-4A Division II,  where Caddo Mills and Van Alstyne, two teams who made the second round of the playoffs a year ago look to again be the cream of the crop. Krum, a surprise playoff team a year ago looks to be improved, while the race for the final playoff spot is going to be nip and tuck all year with Farmersville, Gainesville and a much-improved Sanger squad all on paper with a strong case.

The newly formed 6-4A Division II has a few questions as this group was formed with teams from three districts a year ago. What we do know is Sunnyvale, a team that pushed eventual state champion Gilmer to the limit in the area playoffs is the heavy favorite to win the district, but things get murky after that. Canton gets sent west into this district after being in deep East Texas and that should benefit the Eagles, while Ferris moves over from Region I, but I like Wills Point a surprise playoff team in their own right a year ago as the pick to click right behind Sunnyvale.

Defending state champion Gilmer is ready to make another big run as the Buckeyes return several key pieces from last year’s state title team, the Buckeyes get the edge over Pleasant Grove, who for the first time since the 2016 enter into a season doing some rebuilding. Van, moves north in this alignment out of 8-4A Division II is a solid bet for the three spot, but they could rise as high as two with some breaks. Spring Hill again should hold off Pittsburg and North Lamar for the final playoff spot.

Expect Carthage to again runaway with the 8-4A Division II crown as the Bulldogs look to be on a collison course with Gilmer for regional supremacy. The real battle in this district is behind CHS as teams like Center and Athens, a 4A-Division I drop down have their sights set on the two-seed heading into the playoffs. The next tier of teams is competitive as well as Rusk, Bullard and Brownsboro hope to challenge for fourth and final playoff spot.

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 5-4A Division II

1. Caddo Mills
2. Van Alstyne
3. Krum
4. Gainesville
5. Sanger
6. Farmersville
7. Bonham

District 6-4A Division II

1. Sunnyvale
2. Wills Point
3. Canton
4. Quinlan Ford
5. Ferris
6. Kemp

District 7-4A Division II

1. Gilmer
2. Texarkana Pleasant Grove
3. Van
4. Longview Spring Hill
5. Paris North Lamar
6. Pittsburg

District 8-4A Division II

1. Carthage
2. Center
3. Athens
4. Rusk
5. Brownsboro
6. Bullard

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

W5 Caddo Mills vs F6 Quinlan Ford

R8 Center vs T7 Van

W6 Sunnyvale vs F5 Gainesville

R7 Texarkana Pleasant Grove vs T8 Athens

W7 Gilmer vs F8 Rusk

R6 Wills Point vs T5 Krum

W8 Carthage vs F7 Longview Spring Hill

R5 Van Alstyne vs T6 Canton

REGIONAL CHAMPION

Carthage over Texarkana Pleasant Grove