Refugio and Shiner have dominated Region IV the past few years, but in 2023 a new face emerged as Ganado stunned Refugio in the regional final and now the Indians with much of their team returning has their sights set on advancing to AT&T Stadium.

Much of 13-2A Division I comes over from Region II and they will add some depth and talent to the Region IV mix, Marlin, who won the regional title in 2021 brings back a solid cast from last year’s team that advanced to the regional final. Riesel brings back fifteen starters and gets the nod over perennial power Crawford who may be doing a bit of rebuilding in 2024. Rosebud-Lott looks like a strong bet for the four seed.

Is Mason ready to step back to the forefront in Region IV? The Punchers return fifteen starters from a team that was 11-1 a year ago, Hollard, a 12-1 team a year ago does have a new head coach in 2024, so it’ll be interesting to see how they adjust after years of success. Johnson City took some hits to graduation, but they have enough to hold off what looks to be a much-improved San Saba squad.

Ganado fresh off a state semifinal run a year ago looks primed for a repeat with eighteen returning starters back, including ten starters back on the defensive side of the ball. Weimar isn’t short on returning experience with seventeen starters returning from a 10-3 squad, they will try to hold off Schulenburg who returns 21 of 22 starters from a year ago.

Perennial powerhouse Refugio is going through a bit of change this off-season as legendary head coach Jason Herring stepped away from coaching and the Bobcats lost an elite senior class. That being said Refugio still is the heavy favorite to win 16-2A Division I. Three Rivers with eight back on both sides of the ball is a solid selection to get second, while the battle for third will be hotly contested between Santa Maria and Freer.

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 13-2A Division I

1. Marlin
2. Riesel
3. Crawford
4. Rosebud-Lott
5. Moody
6. Bruceville-Eddy

District 14-2A Division I

1. Mason
2. Holland
3. Johnson City
4. San Saba
5. Thorndale
6. Harper

District 15-2A Division I

1. Ganado
2. Weimar
3. Schulenburg
4. Flatonia
5. Kenedy
6. Danbury
7. Bloomington

District 16-2A Division I

1. Refugio
2. Three Rivers
3. Santa Maria
4. Freer
5. Skidmore-Tynan
6. Premont
7. Riviera Kaufer

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

W13 Marlin vs F14 San Saba

R16 Three Rivers vs T15 Schulenburg

W14 Mason vs F13 Rosebud-Lott

R15 Weimar vs T16 Santa Maria

W15 Ganado vs F16 Freer

R14 Holland vs T13 Crawford

W16 Refugio vs F15 Flatonia

R13 Riesel vs T14 Johnson City

REGIONAL CHAMPION

Ganado over Marlin