The Texas High School Football season is upon us and every school is optimistic of becoming one of those final two at AT&T Stadium for the state championships. While many of those hopes will be dashed, each team that begins on Friday, August 30 will draw the support of many fans, students, and parents in every county and in every corner of the state.
In the Bi-Stone corner, it all began in February when the University Interscholastic League did its biennial realignment. Over the years, the four corners of the counties, Fairfield, Teague, Mexia and Groesbeck were aligned together when they all made the drop to Class 3A. It has only been two years for Mexia joining that group since they were in Class 4A. It only seems right that these four be joined together if they are in the same classification, but UIL had other thoughts.
Not only are the four not together, but they are also now located in different regions. Teague and Fairfield maintain their natural rivalry and find themselves in District 9-3A Division I. Two of the four in the district have matched up with the Freestone County schools before in Crockett and Palestine Westwood. The others are new rivals when the Diboll Lumberjacks and Huntington Red Devils line up to play.
Mexia and Groesbeck reside in Region II, and they hold their natural rivalry and will face off in the “Battle of the River.” They will face off against teams Northwest of their location when powerhouse Grandview and West take their place in District 5-3A Division I. The remaining school, the Maypearl Panthers, will strive for a playoff spot in a district crowded with talent.
The Fairfield Eagles return some quality talent to the sideline under Head Coach John Bachtel. Jaylon Shed solidifies the backfield with his seven touchdowns and over 800 yards on the ground. He also proved to be a weapon in the passing game and looks for a bigger role in 2024. Finn Smith was a playmaker for the Eagles and looks to make more strides in extending opposing defenses. Kohl Collins had a good year on the gridiron but had a coming-out party on the basketball floor and will look to become a leader for the Eagles on both sides of the ball.
For the Eagle defense, Jason Brackens, Madden McElroy and KD Hicks seek to stymie the passing games of the area and put the ball back over to the offense. Michael Zachry and Derion Weatherall will continue to make plays for the Eagle defense.
Fairfield will travel to Maypearl in the opener and then host the Mexia Blackcats and Brownsboro Bears. They will move over to Leon County to battle the Buffalo Bison then travel to McGregor to take on the Bulldogs to complete the non-district portion of their schedule. The 9-3A Division I opener will be the intra-county rival at home against the Teague Lions. Their long trip of the season will be the following week to Huntington before a pair of home games against the Diboll Lumberjacks and Palestine Westwood Panthers. The Eagles will finish the regular season on the road in Crockett.
The Teague Lions enjoyed an eight-win season and a second-round loss to Winnsboro in the postseason. Head Coach Zack Linscomb takes his Lions into the new district for some new successes. Korey Silar has a solid return to the Teague defense and will make his presence known on offense. Lion quarterback Zak Leija returns to lead the offense with his running ability and downfield passing. J’Kybryan Harris lends his services and explosive speed on both sides of the ball.
Jaden Cole, Brandon Gautt, Ny’Land Coaster, and Bo Bowers return from considerable time in the Teague lineup and will play key roles each Friday night.
Teague opens the season on the road to take on the New Waverly Bulldogs before the home opener and state finalist Tolar comes to town. A road trip to Ferris and a home game against the Mexia Blackcats put the Lions at their final non-district tune up at Bullard to face the Panthers.
They open district play at Fairfield and take on the Crockett Bulldogs at home. The Lions are on the road in Palestine Westwood and Huntington for two of the longer trips of the season and then home to take on Diboll which could be a pivotal game in the district race.
The Wortham Bulldogs are seeking their fourth straight playoff berth under Head Coach Chad Coker and 2024 leaves an excellent opportunity for the Bulldogs to enter the postseason. Wortham loses some size in the offensive and defensive front but returns some blazing speed and skilled linemen. The reshuffling of the teams in Class 2A did not do the Bulldogs any favors. They remain in the district with perennial AT&T visitor Mart, along with Frost, Meridian, and Hubbard. Joining the district foes is Bremond and Chilton, both projected top 15 teams as the season progresses. The final team in the large district is the Goldthwaite Eagles, a first-time opponent for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs return Jon Ross Black and Yancey Bean to the lineup on both sides of the ball, as well as James Johnson, who will remain one of the top tier defensive ends in the area and will log some time in the Wortham receiving corps. Jesse Saldana, Kymani Johnson, Trett Carroll and Lance Jones will fill roles on offense and defense. Evan McCoslin and Charlie Cortes will play big roles on defense with some time in the Bulldog offense.
Wortham will open with their first two games on the road with trips to face the Valley Mills Eagles and Rio Vista Eagles. They return home for the first time behind the walls to take on the Leon Cougars with an open week coming before district play begins.
The Bulldogs open District 10-2A Division II play when they host Frost and then travel to Bremond. They will take to the road in mid-October with road trips to Mart and Meridian. On October 25, the Bulldogs will travel to Goldthwaite in what could be the pivotal game in district play. Wortham finishes the season at home against the Chilton Pirates and then concludes the regular season at Hubbard.
The Oakwood Panthers split their twelve games last season and made the area round. They come into the 2024 season ranked 15th in the Texas Football poll and are projected to win their four-team district.
The Panthers begin the season at Gilmer Union Hill and Burkeville and Aquilla before returning to their home stadium for the opener against the Coolidge Yellowjackets on September 20. Avalon and Bryan Christian Homeschool mark the final two home games before the Panthers begin district play. The final three weeks of the season, the Panthers travel to Mount Calm and have their final two games at home against the Bynum Bulldogs and Trinidad Trojans.
