The New World Order

High School Football districts are now set for the next two years. As usual there were winners and losers in aftermath of the UIL Realignment which took place on Monday. My take on some of the highlights.

1) The Little Southwest Conference is back...I am glad to see this. Abilene, Abilene Cooper, Midland, Midland Lee, Odessa and Odessa Permian back together in a six team district. Cooper moving up to 5A made it possible. This district makes sense from a travel and a rivalry standpoint. Defending State Champ Abilene should have some stronger competition that what they faced the last two years in Tarrant County.

2) 8-5A is a monster...take Allen, Plano, Plano East, Plano West, Hebron, Flower Mound Marcus and Flower Mound and throw them in the same district? Some good teams will be sitting on the sidelines come playoff time in this district.

3) Welcome to 5A Denton Guyer...the 4A power now really has a chance to prove they belong with the big boys as they enter a district with Southlake Carroll and Coppell among others. Coach John Walsh has some solid returning talent but this could be a tall order.

4) No rest for DeSoto...the Eagles were hoping to be put back in a DFW district but that was not the case as they will again have to travel to Tyler and now to Longview as the Lobos jump back into 5A.

5) Gas up the Bus Stephenville...it could have been worse, but the Yellowjackets will have some long road trips as they are in a district with the Waco ISD and San Angelo Lakeview. On the plus side, they don't have Everman or Aledo in their district.

6) 16-3A another monster...now with Carthage, Gilmer and Henderson in the same district, it is possible that 16-3A will be one of those rare districts that produces two state champions in the same year.

7)Things get tougher for defending champ Pilot Point as they move up into class 3A, they are joined by Aubrey at the next level as well.

Now the waiting game begins as we count down to Week Zero...among the first matchups of the year that I will be watching for will be Cedar Hill vs. Allen in the Tom Landry Classic, Denton Guyer vs. Waxahachie and Carroll vs. Copperas Cove. Is it wrong of me to already be counting down the days? Probably. But I am what I am and I LOVE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL!