Regional Outlook

A year ago Crosby was the surprise winner in Region III ending the run of Fort Bend Marshall who won back-to-back regional titles. Can a loaded Fort Bend Marshall squad take back the mantle of regional title or does a new champion emerge?

The East Texas district was dominated by Texas High a year ago and the Tigers again have the look of a district favorite and a team that could challenge for the regional title. Whitehouse with a strong young core sprinkled in with a few key seniors returning from an 8-3 squad gets the early edge for second place in the district. Nacogdoches, a surprise playoff team from 2020 brings back half of their starters as they look to move into the top half of the district standings, Mount Pleasant just missed out on the playoffs a year ago, but with fifteen total starters back the Tigers should hold off Marshall and Pine Tree.

Huntsville, known for having an elite defense the past couple of seasons may be more of an offense heavy squad in 2021, as eight starters return on offense. Just two are back on defense, but you can bet by the time district starts Huntsville’s defense will be ready to defend their title. A&M Consolidated should have enough to hold off a Montgomery squad that has some dynamic skill talent returning. Bryan Rudder, with fifteen returning starters could be poised to make their first ever playoff appearance in 2021.

Fort Bend Marshall is the clear favorite in 11-5A Division II, the real intrigue in this district is for the last three playoff spots where surprising Galena Park led by seven returning starters on both sides of the ball gets the pick to host a playoff game, while Willowridge despite lot of youth on the defensive side of the ball is solidly locked into the three spot. The Houston ISD teams will be fighting for the final playoff spot, Madison with eighteen starters back gets the pick for fourth place just ahead of Sterling, Waltrip and Austin.

Crosby after finishing in second in 12-5A Division II made a big run all the way to the state title game a year ago, graduation hit the Cougars hard but the extra six weeks of practice and a talented young core should propel Crosby to a district crown. Nederland, Barbers Hill, Texas City and Port Neches-Groves all appear to be capable of challenging for a spot as high as second place in the district, even Humble Kingwood Park on paper looks to be ready to take a step forward. Don’t be surprised if a tiebreaker or two comes into play to sort the standings out after Week 11.

District Predictions

District 9-5A Division II

1. Texarkana Texas
2. Whitehouse
3. Nacogdoches
4. Mount Pleasant
5. Marshall
6. Longview Pine Tree
7. Jacksonville
8. Hallsville

District 10-5A Division II

1. Huntsville
2. College Station A&M Consolidated
3. Montgomery
4. Bryan Rudder
5. Montgomery Lake Creek
6. Fulshear
7. Rosenberg Lamar

District 11-5A Division II

1. Fort Bend Marshall
2. Galena Park
3. Fort Bend Willowridge
4. Houston Madison
5. Houston Sterling
6. Houston Waltrip
7. Houston Austin
8. Houston Sharpstown
9. Houston Northside

District 12-5A Division II

1. Crosby
2. Nederland
3. Barbers Hill
4. Port Neches-Groves
5. Texas City
6. Humble Kingwood Park
7. Dayton
8. Santa Fe

Predicted Playoff Matchups

W9 Texarkana Texas vs. F10 Bryan Rudder

R12 Nederland vs. T11 Fort Bend Willowridge

W10 Huntsville vs. F9 Mount Pleasant

R11 Galena Park vs. T12 Barbers Hill

W11 Fort Bend Marshall vs. F12 Port Neches-Groves

R10 College Station A&M Consolidated vs. T9 Nacogdoches

W12 Crosby vs. F11 Houston Madison

R9 Whitehouse vs. T10 Montgomery

Regional Winner

Fort Bend Marshall over Huntsville