Mart’s domination of Region III will be threatened this year with a couple of new additions to the region and a one new addition to the Panthers district in Chilton, who gave Mart all they wanted in the state semifinals. Mart’s still the favorite but they won’t cruise to a regional title in 2024.

Celeste, a solid 8-4 team from Region II moves east into Region II where the Blue Devils expect to handle the competition in 9-2A Division II. Simms Bowie’s young offense will need to mature if they want to be in the mix for a second straight district title, while Maud’s fifteen returning starters gives the Cardinals plenty of confidence. Linden-Kildare is a sleeper under new head coach Jason Ferguson, who wins wherever he goes.

Mart gets the nod for the district 10-2A Division II title but they’ll get pushed by a Chilton squad who is 25-3 the past two years and lost 38-24 to the Panthers in the state semifinals a year ago. Bremond brings back a wealth of experience as the Tigers have eight starters back on both sides of the ball from a team that played after Thanksgiving a year ago. The battle for fourth should be fascinating as well as Wortham, Goldthwaite and Frost all could make a good case for being a playoff team.

Lovelady has consistently been the chief challenger to Mart’s dominance in Region III and despite some gaudy records the Lions have been several steps behind. They could fall back to the pack in 2024 but they still get the edge over an up and coming Overton squad, perennial power Tenaha and a Mount Enterprise bunch that returns ten starters on both sides of the ball. Grapeland is a deep sleeper, while Alto who is back competing for a playoff spot after a two-year ban should be fired up to compete after going with a youth movement in 2023.

There’s lots of questions down in Southeast Texas in 12-2A Division I, West Sabine brings back sixteen starters but Deweyville has the playoff pedigree so they get the edge as the Pirates are fresh off a 10-3 campaign in 2023. Evadale, Hull-Daisetta and Colmesneil will be the teams competing for the final two playoff spots, but none of the teams in this loop appear to be contenders for the regional crown. 

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 9-2A Division II

1. Celeste
2. Simms Bowie
3. Maud
4. Linden-Kildare
5. Clarksville
6. Cumby
7. Detroit

District 10-2A Division II

1. Mart
2. Chilton
3. Bremond
4. Wortham
5. Goldthwaite
6. Frost
7. Meridian
8. Hubbard

District 11-2A Division II

1. Lovelady
2. Overton
3. Tenaha
4. Mount Enterprise
5. Grapeland
6. Alto
7. Cushing

District 12-2A Division II

1. Deweyville
2. West Sabine
3. Evadale
4. Hull-Daisetta
5. Colmesneil
6. West Hardin
7. Sabine Pass

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

W9 Celeste vs F10 Wortham

R12 West Sabine vs T11 Tenaha

W10 Mart vs F9 Linden-Kildare

R11 Overton vs T12 Evadale

W11 Lovelady vs F12 Hull-Daisetta

R10 Chilton vs T9 Maud

W12 Deweyville vs F11 Mount Enterprise

R9 Simms Bowie vs T10 Bremond

REGIONAL CHAMPION

Mart over Bremond