Division I

District 1-1A

1. Booker: Playing an outlaw schedule last year, the Kiowas posted a suitable 7-4 record. Year two in Six-Man looks to be even better as Booker possesses a strong passing game and experience gained from a learning curve of a first season.

2. Boys Ranch: Can the Roughriders close the experience gap quick enough in year one of Six-Man to make a difference in the district is the question. Look for the talent on the field to be enough to secure a spot in the playoffs.

3. White Deer: Numbers are back up in White Deer and that will give new head coach Kade Kittley more options and depth. The Bucks will be in the playoff hunt in a wide-open district.

4. Wildorado: Blu Washington will be the key to the offense as the Mustangs should be able to put up points. If Wildorado can put together a solid defense there’s no reason why the Mustangs can’t be in playoff contention.

5. Claude: The Mustangs could finish last in the district or second. That’s how wide open this district is behind Booker. Claude must replace multiple starters, but head coach Brantlee Lemons is excited about the group of players coming up to fill those spots.

Best Game

Boys Ranch at White Deer, 7 p.m. Oct. 11.

It looks like the second spot in the district is wide-open. This is the first game of the district season, and the winner will have a step up on the competition with a win. How quickly the Roughriders adapt to the Six-Man style of could play a huge factor.

District 2-1A

1. Happy: The Cowboys are looking to reload a roster that lost a bevy of starters.  Mason Hix and Jaxon Stoker is a great place to start from. For Happy to win the district and make another deep run in the playoffs will be dependent on how quickly the younger players step up and fill key roles.

2. Nazareth: A massive offensive line led by Kayle Rogers will keep the Swifts in games all season. The ability to run the ball will shorten games and limit the number of possessions for their opponents. That’s exactly how head coach Tyler Goodwin wants to draw it up as that type of game plan could be a recipe for success in November and December.

3. Kress: Don’t sleep on the Kangaroos. Kress has a wealth of starters returning, led by Cole Todd, and they will be looking to make their mark in district. The Kangaroos come out kicking against Nazareth to open district followed by a date with Happy. Where they stand after those two weeks will determine their fate.

4. Springlake-Earth: Another team will lack experience is the Wolverines. Earth plays Happy in a rare non-district game and that will let the green and gold know quickly where they stand when district starts.

5. Hart: In a tough district, the Longhorns may find success hard to come by so they will be looking to play the spoiler role for teams trying to make the playoffs.

Best Game

Happy at Nazareth, 7 p.m. Nov. 8. 

This should be an outstanding matchup of two teams which will only add fuel to the fire of this intense matchup regardless of the sport. Happy has gotten the better part of the Swifts since they dropped to Six-Man, but nothing makes the home crowd happier than a win over the Cowboys.

District 5-1A

1. Silverton: A retooled roster will lean heavily on Jace Alvarado and Zaden Ortiz to lead the Owls to a second straight district title. That duo gives Silverton a slight advantage over Valley for the title.

2. Valley: Hopes are high with a new coach in former NFL Baltimore Raven Crockett Gilmore. Damian Valdes leads the offense but will need some help. If the Patriots can get some of the younger players to step up, they have a great shot to take a district title.

3. Petersburg: If there’s a team that could throw a wrench into the district standings it’s the Buffaloes. A large senior class is looking to improve on last year’s 5-5 record.  Corbin McWilliams and Dayln Parraz create a dangerous backfield.

4. Spur: Despite a rough season last year, the Bulldogs feel like they have a shot to be a dark horse with a team that is built on speed.

5. Lorenzo: The Hornets showed grit last year and are looking to climb into the upper echelon of the district. Several teams look to be fairly even which could bode well for the purple and white.

Best Game

Valley at Silverton, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24. 

A mere 21 miles separate these two schools so you can guarantee the stadium will be packed for what might be a district title on the line. The passing attack for the Owls will be a threat to the Patriots secondary while size will favor Valley.

Division II

District 1-1A

1. Follett: It’s all there for a deep run in the playoffs. David Meeks is a playmaker; Wyatt Terrell can spin it, and the Panthers have a big line which will allow them to put a lot of points on the board.

2. Miami: So much talent was lost from last year’s state quarterfinal team, but the cupboards isn’t bare. Micah Hinshaw and Breken Early are talented ball hawks and Kris Gorecki is a load up front. The Warriors are hungry to show that success isn’t fleeting with the new guard taking aim at another playoff berth.

3. Groom: The Tigers are never the biggest or the fastest team on the field, yet they find a way to win posting six straight seasons with a playoff appearance. Greyson Peet will be dangerous slinging the ball around to a group of players that just won’t quit.

4. Lefors: It could be another tough season in Pirate country as they line up in a solid district with no easy wins and a solid non-district schedule.

Best Game

Groom at Miami, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8. 

This game likely decides the second spot in this district with Follett as heavy favorites to grab the title. Miami has some weapons back, but they must replace a ton of experience and talent. The defense could be the strength of the Warriors, and they will need it as the Tigers will bring their high-flying offense to town looking to waltz home with a playoff spot.

District 2-1A

1. Motley County: Never bet against a Mike Bigham led squad as the Matadors have historically been one of the better teams in Six-Man since he’s been there. Only three starters return on both sides of the ball, but expectations are high per usual.

2. Paducah: This will be Darren Mackey’s third year to run the offense. With a solid core around him, the Dragons look to use their speed to create mismatches. How well their defense performs will determine this season’s fate.

3. McLean: A very young team will take the field for the Tigers this year. The key will be to get the ball in the hands of Stran Henderson and let him use his speed to create offense.

4. Patton Springs: Over the last couple of years, the Rangers have struggled with numbers but that’s not the case this year. Twenty plus kids are in the program now and excitement fills the streets as they return all six starters on both sides of the ball.

5. Hedley: Speaking of numbers, the Owls are thin again this year as new head coach Allen Grant faces an uphill battle with a small roster of players. This district won’t help matters either as each opponent feels it has a shot at a playoff berth.

Best Game

Motley County at Paducah, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1. 

It’s tough to beat the Matadors deep in the season but Paducah hopes to do just that.  Darren Mackey is an impressive athlete who can throw the rock, and the Dragons will want to spread the ball around against a defense that’s typically solid. If they do, and their defense can get enough stops, then it could mean a district title for the Dragons. That could be asking a lot, though, as Mike Bigham’s squad knows how to play in big time situations.