REGIONAL OUTLOOK

North Crowley and Southlake Carroll return for 2024 with high hopes to repeat their performances as regional champions, but can they repeat in a region that on paper looks to be better in 2024?

The El Paso area district year in and year out is among the most competitive in the state. Pebble Hills has a new coach and a veteran defense and they get the edge over always tough Eastwood (defending district champion) and what looks to be an improved Eastlake squad. The battle for fourth may come down to the Battle of the Westside where Franklin, who has battled the injury bug the last two years, may not be able to hold off fast-rising Coronado.

Midland Legacy has been the most consistent team in the Little SWC over the past few years, but that doesn’t mean the Rebels are a lock to come out unscathed as we saw a year ago against Permian. Legacy is fresh off 10 wins and a regional semifinal appearance a year ago. Despite losing a FBS signee at QB and a FCS signee at RB, expect the Rebels to bring home the crown. Frenship is absolutely dynamic on offense and if their defense that brings back seven starters improves. The Tigers could challenge for a district title. Midland surprised most by making a second-round playoff appearance a year ago. They won’t sneak up on anyone in 2024. Expect the Bulldogs to be right in the mix. Permian gets the edge for the final playoff spot, but keep an eye on San Angelo Central who has a new attitude and a wealth of experience returning.

After going 26-2 the past two seasons and winning the regional title in Division I a year ago, North Crowley has their sights set on challenging for the state title with a team loaded with three-year starters. Crowley made strides under first-year head coach Carlos Lynn and looks to potentially be in position to host a first-round playoff game, but expect big challenges from Mansfield and Mansfield Legacy who are battle tested moving over from 11-6A.

Despite heavy graduation losses on defense, there’s no debate Southlake Carroll is the big favorite in 4-6A. The Dragons have a pair of FBS commits at RB, a big offensive line and the history of developing elite signal-callers is second to none. The battle for second should be intriguing as Trinity brings back a boatload on offense. But the Trojans defense against good teams in 2023 was abysmal. Can they improve in that area to compliment the offense? Byron Nelson had their best season in school history and the Bobcats are establishing themselves as a threat to play beyond Thanksgiving every year. The battle for the fourth spot will be a four-team race between Timber Creek, Keller, Eaton and Bell.

Coppell headlines a deep group in 5-6A as the Cowboys have their eyes set on competing for a regional title after going 12-1 a year ago. A young but always talented Denton Guyer squad will be up for the task to challenge Coppell, while Flower Mound Marcus expects to be much-improved under second year head coach Mike Alexander. Lewisville is young, but very talented and should hold off Braswell for the final playoff spot. Hebron is loaded with experience, but can the Hawks put things together after two disappointing seasons?

Allen appears poised to vault back among the conversation as one of the state’s top teams. After a surprise run to a regional final a year ago, can Lee Wiginton’s squad get past a Prosper bunch that’s had their number two straight seasons? McKinney despite the loss of a stellar senior class still has plenty of firepower for new head coach Nate Leonard as the Lions look to be a safe bet for the three spot. The real battle will be for the fourth spot in this district where Plano East, Plano and Prosper Rock Hill expect to compete for final spot. If Plano East or Plano makes it, that will push Prosper to Division II, so keep an eye on that battle during the season.

There’s a large gap between the top two teams in 7-6A and the rest of the field as Dallas Jesuit and Berkner expect to be locked in a tight battle for the district crown. There will be a fun three-way battle for the final two playoff spots between Richardson ISD foes Pearce, Lake Highlands and Richardson High, who expects to be much improved in 2024.

Arlington Martin has absolutely dominated within Arlington ISD the past few years, but last year Bowie nearly took the Warriors down. This year I believe the Vols get over the hump and end Martin’s long district winning streak. South Grand Prairie struggled with a young team a year ago, but the Warriors look ready to bounce back in 2024, while Lamar and Arlington’s battle for the final playoff spot will be must-see TV in a much-improved 8-6A in 2024.

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 1-6A

1. El Paso Pebble Hills
2. El Paso Eastwood
3. El Paso Eastlake
4. El Paso Coronado
5. El Paso Franklin
6. El Paso Montwood
7. El Paso Socorro

District 2-6A

1. Midland Legacy
2. Wolfforth Frenship
3. Midland
4. Odessa Permian
5. San Angelo Central
6. Odessa

District 3-6A

1. North Crowley
2. Crowley
3. Mansfield
4. Mansfield Legacy
5. Saginaw Boswell
6. Mansfield Lake Ridge
7. Weatherford

District 4-6A

1. Southlake Carroll
2. Euless Trinity
3. Trophy Club Nelson
4. Keller Timber Creek
5. Keller
6. Haslet Eaton
7. Hurst Bell
8. Keller Central
9. Justin Northwest

District 5-6A

1. Coppell
2. Denton Guyer
3. Flower Mound Marcus
4. Lewisville
5. Denton Braswell
6. Flower Mound
7. Lewisville Hebron
8. Little Elm

District 6-6A

1. Allen
2. Prosper
3. McKinney
4. Plano East
5. Plano
6. Prosper Rock Hill
7. McKinney Boyd
8. Plano West
9. Princeton

District 7-6A

1. Dallas Jesuit
2. Richardson Berkner
3. Richardson Pearce
4. Richardson Lake Highlands
5. Richardson
6. Irving MacArthur
7. Irving Nimitz
8. Irving

District 8-6A

1. Arlington Bowie
2. Arlington Martin
3. South Grand Prairie
4. Arlington Lamar
5. Arlington
6. Haltom
7. Grand Prairie
8. Arlington Sam Houston

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

DIVISION I

W1 El Paso Pebble Hills vs R2 Odessa Permian

W3 North Crowley vs R4 Keller Timber Creek

W5 Coppell vs R6 Plano East

W7 Richardson Pearce vs R8 South Grand Prairie

W2 Midland Legacy vs R8 El Paso Eastlake

W4 Euless Trinity vs R3 Mansfield

W6 Allen vs R5 Lewisville

W8 Arlington Martin vs R7 Richardson Lake Highlands

DIVISION II

W1 El Paso Eastwood vs R2 Midland

W3 Crowley vs R4 Trophy Club Nelson

W5 Denton Guyer vs R6 McKinney

W7 Dallas Jesuit vs R8 Arlington Lamar

W2 Wolfforth Frenship vs R1 El Paso Coronado

W4 Southlake Carroll vs R3 Mansfield Legacy

W6 Prosper vs R5 Flower Mound Marcus

W8 Arlington Bowie vs R7 Richardson Berkner

REGIONAL CHAMPIONS

Division I

North Crowley over Allen

Division II

Southlake Carroll over Denton Guyer