Stepp's 2022 Class 3A Division II Region III Outlook: Projecting district finishes, bi-district matchups and regional champs!

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REGIONAL OUTLOOK

Region III was dominated by Waskom a year ago and although the Wildcats are still in the mix, the field is wide open headed in 2022, but as always East Texas will feature some absolute thrillers come playoff time.

West Rusk rolled to a 12-1 mark a year ago, the Raiders were knocked off by Daingerfield in the regional semifinals and return fourteen starters. This is a team that is poised to make a run inside of the region without a doubt. Troup also returns fourteen starters from an area playoff team and they get the edge for the second spot in 9-3A Division II, while Edgewood with fifteen starters back is the pick for third over Arp. Winona and Grand Saline are lurking but both will need to pull an upset to get into the playoff mix.

DeKalb was one of the real surprise teams in East Texas last year and 2022 could be even better for DeKalb as they return sixteen total starters as they look to take home the 10-3A Division II title. Paul Pewitt and Hooks appear to be poised for improvement as well, while New Boston dropping down to Division II and with a new head coach is hopeful they can make a return to the post-season as well.

Daingerfield, who was the regional runner-up to Waskom a year ago looks to be ready to take the next step in 2022, but Waskom is still lurking and dangerous. The Wildcats lost their coach, a good senior class and their QB to a transfer, but Waskom knows how to win and they’ll still give teams fits. Hughes Springs, Elysian Fields and Harmon all have their share of question marks heading into the season, does this open the door for a team like Queen City who has slowly been improving over the past few season?

Newton returns a ton from a regional semifinalist team a year ago and with Waskom’s likely move back to the pack inside of the region, the Eagles could be ready to make a big run in 2022. New Waverly was one of the surprise teams in the region a year ago and the Bullldogs with eight starters back on both sides of the ball looks to be poised for big things as well. Hemphill with seventeen returning starters is also ready for a step forward in 2022, while Kountze, Anderson-Shiro and Warren look like the top contenders for the final playoff spot in the district.

 

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 9-3A Division II

  1. West Rusk
  2. Troup
  3. Edgewood
  4. Arp
  5. Winona
  6. Grand Saline
  7. Quitman

 

District 10-3A Division II

  1. DeKalb
  2. Omaha Pewitt
  3. Hooks
  4. New Boston
  5. Paris Chisum
  6. Redwater
  7. Prairiland

 

District 11-3A Division II

  1. Daingerfield
  2. Waskom
  3. Hughes Springs
  4. Elysian Fields
  5. Gilmer Harmony
  6. Queen City
  7. New Diana

 

District 12-3A Division II

  1. Newton
  2. New Waverly
  3. Hemphill
  4. Kountze
  5. Anderson-Shiro
  6. Warren
  7. Trinity

 

 

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

W9 West Rusk vs F10 New Boston

R12 New Waverly vs T11 Hughes Springs

W10 DeKalb vs F9 Arp

R11 Waskom vs T12 Hemphill

W11 Daingerfield vs F12 Kountze

R10 Omaha Pewitt vs T9 Edgewood

W12 Newton vs F11 Elysian Fields

R9 Troup vs T10 Hooks

 

REGIONAL CHAMPIONS

Newton over West Rusk

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