Led by Class 1A, DII’s sixth-ranked Iredell, Bosque County’s five six-man football squads split into three districts, two divisions heading into 2024 as workouts began Monday
In a series of moves more dramatic than any in recent memory, the Bosque County six-man football landscape underwent seismic changes with the University Interscholastic League’s biennial realignment last February, sending ripple effects across the Heart of Texas.
Consequently, when the 65th edition of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine began to arrive in subscribers’ mailboxes in July, the way the new districts lineup up and how predictions shook out gave six-man football fans plenty to talk about looking ahead to the 2024 Texas high school football season.
With Bosque County’s five six-man football squads spread out across three districts in two divisions for the first time since 2014, the Class 1A, Division II’s sixth-ranked Iredell Dragons have been picked as the favorites in the five-team District 11-1A, DII, followed by 2023’s surprising Kopperl Eagles, while the Morgan Eagles led by new head coach Alan Berrios will attempt to take flight with a new head coach competing against the Bluff Dale Bobcats and the Three Way Braves, who will be dropping down from Class 1A, DI.
“Going this way crossed my mind, but it was definitely a surprise,” Iredell football head coach Luis Guereca said. “It’s been a while since we have had a five-team district, so I guess it was time. I think it was good for us, giving something new for our team. More teams equal more competition, and the new district will definitely be a competitive one. I know each team is going to bring a different look and will be competing each week.
“Overall, there some places it lined up well for us. And in other places, it got really competitive. There was definitely a lot of change, so we look forward to making our mark in this new realignment.”
After Kopperl’s Cinderella season produced its first postseason appearance since 2018, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football predicts the Eagles will make it two years in a row.
“It’s always fun to speculate,” Kopperl football head coach Ken Davis said. “And for us, we were expecting to be in the same district as Iredell and Morgan. Three Way and Bluff Dale make sense because we are all in the immediate area.
“Obviously, Iredell is the favorite after a good run in 2023, and the fact that they bring most of their team back. I would like to think that we will be in the mix again because we are losing no one to graduation. Morgan is always competitive, and Three Way drops to D2 from a very tough district. Bluff Dale was in with Iredell last year and played them very close.
“All in all, I think the district is going to be well-represented. Overall, I believe it is going to be a great district full of rivalries and it makes for a lot of good storylines.”
As the lone mainstay in a revamped District 14-1A, DII, the Cranfills Gap Lions were picked to make the playoffs as the district runner-up behind the top-ranked Oglesby Tigers in another five-team district that includes the Priddy Pirates, the Evant Elks and the Mullin Bulldogs.
“I did think there was a possibility of us being pulled into the district with Oglesby,” Cranfills Gap football head coach Josh Raulston said. “Adding Evant and Priddy to the mix was sure to change up the districts in our area.
“Being in a new district is always exciting because we get to see new teams, and it sort of refreshes the program. I think everyone in our district is excited about it, and it will be competitive. I look forward to next year. I think being separated from our Bosque County brothers it gives us an opportunity for more representation as long as we can take care of business.”
In possibly the biggest surprise of all, the Walnut Springs Hornets will be moving up to Class 1A, Division I for the first time since 2014 to compete against the 20th-ranked Avalon Eagles, the 21st-ranked Milford Bulldogs, the perennial playoff contender Blum Bobcats and the Covington Owls.
With the smallest enrollment in Class 1A, DI, the Hornets will be taking on the new challenge without veteran head coach Lonnie Flippen, who retired in May, handing the reigns over to new head coach Richard Dye.
“We have been playing Covington for years and used to play the other schools as well before the UIL set up the small school/big school divisions,” Flippen said. “As far as the alignment with the schools that make up the new district, I can say that I am somewhat happier with it than what could have happened. I really thought that Walnut Springs could have gone north and be with Gordon or east to end up with Abbott. So as competitive as this new district will be, it might not be as tough as the other two possibilities.”
Photos by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS
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