Region III Football Outlook - 2018

Last week, we took a lot at the teams that comprised 10-3A the past two seasons, and now I want to branch out a little further and examine what could be in store for the region in 2018 and 2019. A majority of these teams will remain in the region once realignment is released at the beginning of February, so this will give you a good idea of the teams to watch come August.

9-3A

Elkhart (3-7/1-6)

Number of seniors lost: 11 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: 1 1st team defense

Number of all-district players return: Co-Punter of the Year; 1 1st team offense; 1 2nd team offense; 2 2nd team defense

Eustace (6-4/3-4)

Number of seniors lost: 14 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: 1 1st team offense; 1 2nd team offense; 1 1st team defense; 2 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: 1 1st team offense; 1 1st team defense; 2 2nd team defense

Groesbeck (6-5/4-3; Bi-District Finalist)

Number of seniors lost: 14 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: 4 1st team defense; 2 2nd team offense

Number of all-district players returning: Co-Offensive Newcomer of the Year; Co-Punter of the Year; 1 1st team offense; 2 2nd team offense; 2 2nd team defense

Malakoff (9-2/6-1; Bi-District Finalist)

Number of seniors lost: 10 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: Offensive MVP; 2 1st team offense; 3 2nd team offense; 3 1st team defense; 1 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: Defensive Newcomer of the Year; Kicker of the Year; 2 1st team offense; 1 2nd team offense; 1 1st team defense; 3 2nd team defense

Palestine Westwood (1-9/0-7)

Number of seniors lost: 13 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: Co-Offensive Newcomer of the Year;

Number of all-district players returning:

Teague (11-3/6-1; State Quarterfinalist)

Number of seniors lost: 16 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: District MVP: Offensive Lineman of the Year; Returner of the

Year; 2 1st team offense; 1 2nd team offense; 2 1st team defense; 1 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: 3 1st team offense; 2 2nd team offense; 1 1st team defense; 2 2nd team defense

West (10-3/6-1; Regional Semifinalist)

Number of seniors lost: 16 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: Defensive MVP; Utility Player of the Year; 2 1st team offense; 2 2nd team offense; 3 1st team defense; 3 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: Defensive Lineman of the Year; 1 1st team offense; 2 2nd team offense; 2 1st team defense

Whitney (5-5/2-5)

Number of seniors lost: 15 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: 2 1st team offense; 1 2nd team offense; 2 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: 1 1st team offense; 1 2nd team defense

11-3A

Buna (6-3/4-2; Bi-District Finalist)

Number of seniors lost: 8 (Hudl)

Number of all-district players lost: 2 1st team offense; 1 2nd team offense; 2 1st team defense; 1 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: 3 1st team offense; 2 1st team defense; 2 2nd team defense

Coldspring (6-4/5-1)

Number of seniors lost: 16 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: Offensive MVP; 2 1st team offense; 1 2nd team offense; 2 1st team defense; 2 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: Co-Defensive MVP; 3 1st team offense; 1 2nd team offense; 4 1st team defense; 1 2nd team defense

Kirbyville (3-6/2-4)

Number of seniors lost: 15 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: Co-Lineman of the Year; 4 2nd team offense; 1 1st team defense; 2 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: 3 2nd team offense; 1 1st team defense; 3 2nd team defense

Kountze (1-7/0-6)

Number of seniors lost: 8 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: None

Number of all-district players returning: 1 1st team offense; 2 2nd team offense; 3 2nd team

defense

Trinity (3-8/3-3; Bi-District Finalist)

Number of seniors lost: 12 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: 2 1st team offense; 3 2nd team offense; 3 1st team defense; 2 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: 1 1st team offense; 3 2nd team offense; 2 1st team defense; 2 2nd team defense

Warren (1-8/1-5)

Number of seniors lost: 12 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: 5 2nd team offense; 2 1st team defense; 1 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: 1 1st team offense; 2 2nd team defense

Woodville (9-2/6-0; Area Finalist)

Number of seniors lost: 9 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: 4 1st team offense; 5 1st team defense; 1 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: District MVP; Co-Defensive MVP; CO-Lineman of the Year; 5 1st team offense; 2 2nd team offense; 3 1st team defense; 1 2nd team defense

12-3A

Anahuac (4-5/1-4)

Number of seniors lost: 12 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: 2 1st team offense; 2 1st team defense

Number of all-district players returning: 1 1st team offense; 2 2nd team offense; 2 2nd team defense

Hardin (4-6/0-5)

Number of seniors lost: 16 (Maxpreps)

Number of all-district players lost: 3 1st team offense; 1 1st team defense; 1 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: None

Hempstead (4-6/2-3; Bi-District Finalist)

Number of seniors lost: 11

Number of all-district players lost: Co-District MVP; 1 1st team offense; 1 2nd team offense; 2 1st team defense; 2 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: 3 1st team offense; 2 2nd team offense; 1 2nd team defense

Hitchcock (7-4/5-0; Area Finalist)

Number of seniors lost: 9

Number of all-district players lost: Co-District MVP; 3 1st team offense; 3 2nd team offense; 3

1st team defense; 2 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: Newcomer of the Year; 5 1st team offense; 2 2nd team offense; 4 1st team defense; 4 2nd team defense

La Marque (6-6/3-2; Area Finalist)

Number of seniors lost: 17

Number of all-district players lost: 3 1st team offense; 3 2nd team offense; 3 1st team defense; 3 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: Offensive MVP; 2 1st team offense; 1 1st team defense; 1 2nd team defense

East Chambers (7-4/4-1; Area Finalist)

Number of seniors lost: 11

Number of all-district players lost: Defensive MVP; 1 1st team offense; 1 2nd team offense; 3 1st team defense; 1 2nd team defense

Number of all-district players returning: 5 1st team offense; 4 2nd team offense; 2 1st team defense; 4 2nd team defense

Outlook

Don’t expect too many changes in terms of who some of the tops dogs are in region III. We will see if Malakoff stays in region III or moves over to region II as they were collevitley young, but lost their big impact quarterback. I do believe Teague will probably take a step or two back in 2018 with the loss of so many crucial to end playmakers. West loses good talent, but has continually been improving and was one of the top teams in the state this past season. Though Rockdale is the defending state champs, Franklin is going to be the odds on favorite to win the district again as Rockdale and Cameron have questions marks at key positions. Much like 2017, it is probably going to be Woodville ant then everyone else in Southeast Texas.

Next week, I will reveal my preseason top 20 teams in the state.