County schools get new neighbors

The last few months have found people asking the same question: where will our team be in the new UIL districts? The event, which happens biannually, usually puts coaches and athletic directors in a rush to find scrimmages, nondistrict opponents and get an early look at what to expect from the new teams in their district.

This round of realignment will be no different as one area team sees four new opponents, one is reunited with a rival and another will have to deal with several perennial playoff contenders.

Rusk Eagles

Rusk (5-5 in football last season) now joins District 17-3A, a district formerly known for housing 2009 state champion Gilmer. The Buckeyes are gone, but two of that district’s former residents – the Bullard Panthers (1-9) and Chapel Hill Bulldogs (5-5) – remain.

The Athens Hornets (4-7) and the Brownsboro Bears (8-2), formerly of District 20-3A, round out the five-team district.

Athens and Brownsboro both advanced to the playoffs last season. The Bears lost to Lorena in the bi-district round, 30-14, while the Hornets fell to Waco La Vega in bi-district, 21-20.

The Eagles will take on Center, Crockett, Gladewater, Fairfield, Westwood and Diboll in non-district play. They will scrimmage Huntington and Palestine.

Bullard’s girls basketball team (23-8) is currently ranked 13th in the state and their softball team is ranked fourth in preseason polls. The Lady Eagles defeated Bullard in a softball scrimmage Monday night.

Jacksonville Indians

In District 14-4A, the Jacksonville Indians say hello to a few former district rivals, several current rivals and one school that was formerly part of class 5A.

The Indians remain in district with Whitehouse (3-8), Kilgore (5-6) and Nacogdoches (3-7). Added to the mix are the John Tyler Lions (12-2), who were formerly in 5A, and former district rivals Marshall Mavericks (9-4), Hallsville Bobcats (3-7) and the Pine Tree Pirates (1-9).

“We’re excited,” said Jacksonville athletic director and football head coach Steve Wells. “There are going to be some good matchups in district. We’re really excited about the fact that, should we make the playoffs, we’ll definitely go Division II and we like the sound of that.”

The Lions advanced four rounds deep in the 5A playoffs last season, defeating Copperas Cove (49-21), Lake Highlands (53-46) and Klein Collins (37-23) before falling to Klein, 31-7.

“I’m sure that they’re excited about moving to 4A,” Coach Wells said about the team known as “Cujo.”

“They’ll be big school as long as they make it. I’m sure that Coach (Dereck) Rush and his guys are excited about the change.”

Marshall, Kilgore, Jacksonville and Whitehouse all advanced to the playoffs last season. In playoff action, Marshall defeated Kilgore and Corsicana and lost to Denison; Jacksonville lost to Texas High and Whitehouse fell to Longview.

Jacksonville defeated Marshall, Hallsville, Nacogdoches and Kilgore and lost to Whitehouse last season.

The Indians non-district schedule will consist of Carthage in zero week, followed by a home game against Texas High and an away game against Gilmer, pitting the Tribe against the defending 3A state champions and the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season.

“We’ll have good practice for district,” Coach Wells said. “We didn’t expect to be in an eight-team district, so we had to scramble to fill our nondistrict schedule.”

Coach Wells said that his returning squad was already working to meet the challenge of a tough district made that much tougher with John Tyler and three former district rivals.

“Our offseason kids are working hard,” he said. “We had some success last year and they got a taste of it, so they want to keep that going. We know it’ll be a challenging district, but we’re excited to play in it.”

Alto Yellowjackets

The Alto Yellowjackets receive three new district opponents. Along with the Cushing Bearkats (1-9) and Grapeland Sandies (5-5), Alto will meet the Timpson Bears (3-7) and former 2A opponents Garrison Bulldogs (9-3) and Shelbyville Dragons (2-8).

Of the six teams, only Alto and Garrison made the football playoffs last season. The Jackets fell to Tenaha in the bi-district round. Garrison defeated Jewitt Leon before falling to eventual 2A Division II state champion Daingerfield.

Alto’s reported non-district football schedule will include Groveton, San Augustine, Tenaha, Frankston and Kerens.

In basketball, Alto will be part of District 23-1A (Division I) with Grapeland, Latexo, Lovelady and Slocum.

The Mustangs are ranked first overall in the 1A Division II boys’ basketball rankings and number 11 in the girls’ rankings. Grapeland is currently ranked 25 in the 1A Division II boys’ rankings.

New Summerfield will play in District 21-1A in Division I along with Cushing, Mount Enterprise, Overton and Carlisle.

Wells will play in district 23-1A, Division II, with Apple Springs, Chireno, Centerville, Kennard and Martinsville.

Neches will be in District 22- 1A, Division II, with Douglass, Leveretts Chapel, Laneville, Oakwood and Trinidad.

Other area schools

In addition, Longview moved up to District 11-5A with Tyler Lee, DeSoto, Mesquite, Mesquite Horn and North Mesquite.

Lufkin is part of District 14- 5A with Conroe, Oak Ridge, The Woodlands, College Park, Humble Atascocita and Kingwood (Humble).

Henderson, Lindale and Mabank moved down to 3A. Crockett moved down to 11- 2A with Elkhart, Malakoff, Teague, Trinity and Troup.

Defending 3A state champions Carthage and Gilmer now find themselves in the same district in 3A, along with Henderson, 3A semifinalist Pittsburg, Gladewater and Spring Hill.

Palestine and Westwood move to District 20-3A with Fairfield, Groesbeck, Madisonville and Mexia.

District 18-3A now consists of Center, Diboll, Huntington, Jasper, Hudson, Central and Kirbyville.

Frankston is now in District 9-2A, Division II with Arp, Union Grove, Joaquin, West Rusk and Winona. Elkhart and Sabine will replace Joaquin for basketball (District 21-2A).

Overton and Carlisle will play football in District 9-1A, Division I with Big Sandy, Hawkins, Maud and James Bowie (Simms).

Defending 1A Division I state champion Cayuga and Cross Roads will move to District 8-1A with Kerens, Mart, Rice and Riesel.