It’s been a Southern Sector party in 6A-Region II the past few years as no one has been able to slow up the reign of terror that Duncanville and DeSoto have been on. With both teams returning a load of talent, there doesn’t seem to be much stopping either from rolling to another regional crown.

Although 9-6A has lacked playoff success over the past few seasons, the district internally has been among the most competitive in DFW. This year it appears Sachse and Wylie East have separated themselves from the field; that race for the title should be fun. Wylie, Naaman, Lakeview Centennial and Garland all can make a strong case for the last two playoff spots; that is where the fireworks will be in this long district race that cranks up Week 3.

District 10-6A is among the tougher districts in the state top to bottom and on any given night the seventh-place team can beat the first place team. Rockwall and its high-powered offense gets the early edge for the crown over Longview and Forney, who both are coming up from 5A-Division I. Longview’s got the best homefield advantage in the district, but the Lobos have to replace key pieces, while Forney now has to deal with being the hunted and not the hunter. North Forney, under new head coach Marcus Shavers, is the pick for the fourth spot, but the Falcons could be talented enough to push higher if things come together. Rockwall-Heath and Tyler Legacy are primed to take advantage if North Forney falters.

Both 6A defending state champions reside in District 11-6A and there’s no reason to believe either team can’t make it a three-peat. The odds say two teams from the same district winning three straight state titles in the state’s largest classification are quite long. Duncanville for me gets the early edge over DeSoto because the Panthers have the state’s (and maybe the country’s) top signal-caller. Cedar Hill struggled early but got on a roll late and made it all the way to a regional final. The Longhorns are the pick to get the three seed over Waxahachie. Lancaster, Dallas Skyline and Mesquite Horn are all dangerous and could factor into the playoff race with an upset win here and there.

In Central Texas, things will be competitive in 12-6A, but the bi-district matchup remains brutal against 11-6A. Harker Heights, who made a regional final in 2022, expects to win the district, but Midway, under new head coach Joe Gillespie, will be a formidable foe after turning things around late 2023. Shoemaker moves up from 5A-Division I and expects to be in the mix for a playoff spot, while Bryan and Temple will compete for the four seed.

Region II moves down to the far northern suburbs of the Houston area where, a year ago, QB DJ Lagway and Willis were the talk of Houston before falling in the regional semifinals to eventual state champion DeSoto. The Wildkats will be in the mix in 13-6A, but look for The Woodlands to take their place back as the district champion overtaking Conroe Oak Ridge and Willis. The battle for fourth looks to be a three-team race where Conroe gets the slight edge over The Woodlands College Park and Conroe Grand Oaks squad that expects to be much improved.

District 14-6A is still dominated by the Spring ISD schools, but Aldine ISD has made strides the past two seasons. With Aldine schools being able to be back home to play in Thorne Stadium, expect improvement across the board. Westfield and DeKaney are still the teams to beat, but Aldine Nimitz, Aldine Davis and Aldine Eisenhower all look to be much improved and they’ll compete with Spring High for the final two playoff spots.

The addition of the two Magnolia ISD schools into 15-6A makes this district even tougher, but the top two spots still belong to Klein Collins and Klein Cain; both teams bring back a boat-load of experience and have been consistent winners inside of Klein ISD. Tomball Memorial and Tomball have competed quite well inside of this district and should be in the mix once again. Tomball has been a consistent three-round team the past few years, while Tomball Memorial posted a 10-win season in 2023. Magnolia, up from 5A-Division I, along with much improved Klein Oak and Klein squads will be hot on the trail of the two Tomball ISD programs for the final two playoff spots.

It's always competitive inside of Cy-Fair ISD and 16-6A should be no different, especially when talking about who locks into those third and fourth spots. Defending district champion Bridgeland is poised for a repeat run as the Bears return a dozen starters, will playoff success be there in 2024 however? Surging Cy Springs has some holes to fill on offense after an 8-3 mark a year ago, but the Panthers with eight back on defense are confident. Cy Woods, Cy Ranch, Cy Lakes and Langham Creek all have a strong case for the final two playoff slots.

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 9-6A

1. Sachse
2. Wylie East
3. Wylie
4. Garland Naaman Forest
5. Garland Lakeview Centennial
6. Garland
7. Rowlett
8. North Garland
9. South Garland

District 10-6A

1. Rockwall
2. Longview
3. Forney
4. North Forney
5. Rockwall-Heath
6. Tyler Legacy
7. Royse City

District 11-6A

1. Duncanville
2. DeSoto
3. Cedar Hill
4. Waxahachie
5. Lancaster
6. Dallas Skyline
7. Mesquite Horn
8. Mesquite

District 12-6A

1. Killeen Harker Heights
2. Waco Midway
3. Killeen Shoemaker
4. Bryan
5. Temple
6. Killeen
7. Copperas Cove

District 13-6A

1. The Woodlands
2. Conroe Oak Ridge
3. Willis
4. Conroe
5. The Woodlands College Park
6. Conroe Grand Oaks
7. New Caney
8. Conroe Caney Creek
9. Cleveland

District 14-6A

1. Spring Westfield
2. Spring DeKaney
3. Aldine Nimitz
4. Aldine Davis
5. Spring
6. Aldine Eisenhower
7. Aldine MacArthur
8. Aldine

District 15-6A

1. Klein Collins
2. Klein Cain
3. Tomball Memorial
4. Tomball
5. Magnolia
6. Klein Oak
7. Klein
8. Magnolia West
9. Klein Forest

District 16-6A

1. Bridgeland
2. Cy Springs
3. Cy Woods
4. Cy Ranch
5. Cy Lakes
6. Houston Langham Creek
7. Waller
8. Cypress Park

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

DIVISION I

W9 Sachse vs R10 North Forney

W11 Duncanville vs R12 Bryan

W13The Woodlands vs R14  Aldine Davis

W15 Klein Collins vs R16 Cypress Ranch

W10 Rockwall vs R9 Wylie

W12 Waco Midway vs R11 Waxahachie

W14 Aldine Nimitz vs R13 Conroe

W16 Bridgeland vs R15 Klein Cain

DIVISION II

W9 Wylie East vs R10 Forney

W11 DeSoto vs R12 Killeen Shoemaker

W13 Conroe Oak Ridge vs R14 Spring DeKaney

W15 Tomball Memorial vs R16 Cypress Woods

W10 Longview vs R9 Garland Naaman Forest

W12 Killeen Harker Heights vs R11 Cedar Hill

W14 Spring Westfield vs R13 Willis

W16 Cypress Springs vs R15 Tomball

REGIONAL CHAMPIONS

Division I

Duncanville over Bridgeland

Division II

DeSoto over Cedar Hill