Class 2A Division I Region III & IV are quite possibly the most competively balanced and entertaining pair of regions in the state at any level from Class 5A to Six Man to the Private Schools. In both regions, there are a number of teams that could potentially come directly out of either regions and win their way right into collecting the state championship trophy in late December. The attention of both regions could come directly out of three primmary districts. District 9-2A1, 10-2A1 and 13-2A1. The three districts in 2011 sent a combined 60 percent of their current teams to the playoffs. Those numbers are quite staggering when you factor in that two of the three districts have a total of eight teams.
Looking at Region III, the contenders are no stranger to the Texas HS Football School of hard knocks and grind busters. The favorite is quite possibly the Newton Eagles, who return QB/DB D.J. Dean and junior RB Kevin Shorter, who compiled over 1,700 yards of offense and 20 touchdowns in 2011. And with Corey Jenkins back at linebacker, the Eagles should find the leadership and tools they need to make a very deep run into the month of December. While Crockett may not have Dominique Wheeler anymore, they do have Devin Chambers and an experoenced line led by Michael McKnight to help lead them in 2012. Crockett has no shortage of athletes and should be a team that gets progressively stronger as the season builds.
The Tatum Eagles dodged the big bullett in realignment by remaining in Class 2A Division I rather than being pushed up into the Class 3A ranks. RB Shaquille Johnson and LB Kiano Lucas should help the Eagles work around a very solid and talented offensive and defensive front. Much like Crockett, Tatum lost their big playmaker in Jalen Overstreet to graduation. And much like Crockett, the longer the season goes, the more dangerous Tatum becomes.
If there are a pair of darkhorses in Region III, Kirbyville, Franklin and Jefferson could all fill the much anticipated challenge with Tatum, Crockett and Newton. Kirbyville, falling into 3A, doesn't automatically guarantee them success, but it should give them a bigger chance to capitalize on their recent success. LB Harrell Brooks and OL Jacob Keene should have a very big year for the Wildcats. Jefferson has a load of experience and has the potential to knock Tatum off the top of the 9-2A1 throne with RB Deion Williams returning. Williams rushed for over 1,800 yards in 2011 and there should be no reason he cant repeat that performance in 2012 with even better numbers. The Franklin Lions bring back their own star rusher in Darius Floyd, who has over 2,000 yards of dirt to his credit in 2011. The defense will have to turn it up a notch if the Lions intend to make it through a deep playoff run in 2012.
Over in Region IV, the attention turns to the massive gorilla in the region in 13-2A1. Four of the eight teams in the district were playoff teams in 2011 and seven of them could make their own noise in the playoffs in 2012. The only problem is that three teams will adavance and that means a couple of high quality teams could be left sitting at home in time for the playoffs. The big hype out of the region could come from the Cameron Yoe Yoemen, who returns 16 starters to its 2012 squad including DT Edgar Luna, QB Jason Kopriva and OT Josh Smitherman. The hype for the Yoemen has certainly been building over the last couple seasons and for good reason. This Yoemen squad has viortually been in tact the last couple seasons and improving in every way possible.
District foes Lago Vista, Troy and Marlin certainly has the experience and defensive firepower to spoil the party in Cameron. The Troy Trojans bring back one of the more experienced teams in all of Class 2A Division I. LB Jeff Stark and DE Chance Oiver should have a monster year for Jay Siebert's squad. Lago Vista has the solid linebacker core of Addison Elliott and Brad Hood to help get the Vikings back into the big playoff chase. And as far as Marlin goes, not only is their defense good, the could have one of the more exciting players in the region in WR Ladarian Hopwood over on offense. For Troy and Marlin, the Week 10 match up in Marlin could loom extremely large as it could be the difference between making and missing the playoffs.
Other contenders in Region IV includes Hempstead, George West and potentially Odem. For the Hempstead Bobcats and coach Ricky Sargent, getting back to the state championship game could be the ultimate icing on the cake after a very controversial off-season. An experienced offensive line and a team that will be taking its playoff experience to heart could be the perfect storm for the Bobcats to make it back up to the top with a different result in 2012.
Much like Troy, the Texas HS Football World could very well be sleeping on the George West Longhorns as a potential contender in 2012. And much like Troy, the Longhorns return nine on both sides of the ball. The big X Factor for Tim Holt's Longhorns could be do everything QB/DB Brady Jones. On toop of the return of Jones, its star rusher Bobby Torres and TE Andrew Katzfey could be in for a monster year. Torres in 2011 rushed for over 1,200 yards and those numbers may just scratch the surface as to his potential. |
REGION III |
1 |
Newton |
2 |
Crockett |
3 |
Tatum |
4 |
Kirbyville |
5 |
Franklin |
6 |
Godley |
7 |
Jefferson |
8 |
East Chambers |
REGION IV |
1 |
Cameron Yoe |
2 |
Hempstead |
3 |
Lago Vista |
4 |
George West |
5 |
Troy |
6 |
Marlin |
7 |
Odem |
8 |
Mathis |
|
