By Michael Adams
michael@otssports.com
I went through each region featuring Austin-area teams from Williamson, Travis, Hays and Bastrop counties. Here are my regional championship predictions:
6A Division I Region II
Regional championship prediction
Duncanville over Rockwall: Unfortunately for the Hutto Hippos, they drew Duncanville in the first round. Duncanville had little trouble getting out of this region last year and I think that’s a pretty safe bet. Waxahachie is a potential darkhorse and there’s a chance the Indians plays Rockwall in the area round. The winner will meet Duncanville in the regional title game.
6A Division I Region IV
Regional championship prediction
Westlake over Lake Travis: All signs point to a Westlake-Lake Travis showdown, but that’s contingent on the Cavaliers beating Vandegrift. Westlake’s path to the regional championship on Dec. 2 is pretty easy, but Lake Travis’ is a little tougher. The Cavaliers will have to get through Vandegrift first and then a good San Antonio Johnson team in the second round. I picked Lake Travis to beat Vandegrift, so I’m sticking with that. If the Vipers win, replace Lake Travis with Vandegrift.
6A Division I Region II
Regional championship prediction
DeSoto over Weiss: Weiss is a good football team and gave DeSoto a fight in last year’s first round matchup. The Wolves could be one of the only teams in this region to challenge DeSoto. Fortunately for Weiss, the Wolves won’t have to worry about seeing last year’s 6A-Division II champion until the regional championship.
6A Division I Region IV
Regional championship prediction
Dripping Springs over Cibolo Steele: With Vandegrift moving to Division I, Dripping Springs has a pretty clear path to the regional championship game. The TIgers are big upfront and have a playmaker at running back in Jack Tyndall and at wide receiver in Kyle Koch. Cibolo Steele is the only team in this region that will give the Tigers any trouble, but Dripping Springs has the team to beat the Knights.
5A Division I Region III
Regional championship prediction
Fulsher over College Station: The bottom part of this bracket is loaded. Smithson Valley, Magnolia and College Station make for some interesting early matchups. The unfortunate part for Georgetown is they play Smithson Valley in the first round. Look for College Station to get out of that part of the brackett. On the other side, undefeated Fulshear is the favorite, but there’s a potential upset in the second round against A&M Consolidated. Cedar Park has a favorable path to the regional semifinals, where the Timberwolves would likely play Fulshear.
5A Division II Region III
Regional championship prediction
Belton over Port Neches Grove: Rouse will likely have a second round matchup with Port Neches Grove. Montgomery Lake Creek and Nederland are also in this part of the bracket, so one of those three teams will face Belton in the regional final. Belton who plays Austin Travis in the first round may have some problems with LBJ in the regional semifinals, but the Tigers are the favorite in this region.
5A Division II Region IV
Regional championship prediction
New Braunfels Pieper over Corpus Christi Flour Bluff: Pieper is the heavy favorite in this region, which features Liberty Hill. The Panthers could potentially get to the regional final and have a fairly easy path to a semifinal matchup with Flour Bluff should they get past a first-round matchup with Harlandale.
4A Division I Region IV
Regional championship prediction
Boerne over Lampasas: Taylor got an unlucky draw with the Boerne Greyhounds, who are a consensus favorite among the state media to win the 4A-Division I state championship. Borene may have a challenge in the semifinals against Comal Davenport, but the Greyhounds have a clear path to the state semifinals.
4A Division II Region IV
Regional championship prediction
Wimberley over Lago Vista: District 13 will provide the two teams in the regional championship. It’s just a matter if it’s going to be Geronimo Navarro or Lago Vista, who should meet in the regional semifinals. Lago Vista is the only team to give Wimberly much of a fight this season, so I think the Vikings pull off the upset and beat Navarro to set up a rematch with the Texans. Wimberley, however, is the favorite to win the region and the 4A-Division II state championship.
2A Division I Region IV
Regional championship prediction
Mason over Refugio: Thrall drew the Punchers in the first round. Baring an upset by the Tigers, Mason should roll to the regional championship and beat Refugio.