ETX5AFOOTBALL
LONGVIEW LOBOS ADVANCE TO FACE LANCASTER TIGERS IN REMATCH
Longview is no stranger to deep playoff runs. They also aren't strangers to facing off against Lancaster.
The Lobos (11-1) are coming off of a dominating 52-14 win over Frisco Reedy in the Area round of the playoffs.
They will face off against district rival Lancaster (7-5) in the 5A Division I Region II semifinals Friday at 7PM in Forney.
Lancaster advanced with a 35-19 win over Frisco Wakeland.
Longview beat Lancaster on the road in September 52-35 in district play.
The Lobos are 5-0 against the Tigers all time including 3-0 in the playoffs and 2-0 as district rivals.
Longview has advanced to at least the third round of the playoffs for the 15th time in the last 24 seasons.
The winner of this game will advance to face the winner of the Forney Vs. North RIchland Hills Richland doe the 5A Division II Region II championship.
TEXAS HIGH ADVANCES WHILE MARSHALL FALLS IN HEARTBREAKER
The Texas High Tigers overcame a 14-0 deficit to Mansfield Summit to come away with a thrilling 17-14 win.
Texarkana (11-1) now advances to take on state ranked Lucas Lovejoy (11-1) Friday night at Pine Tree Stadium in Longview at 7PM.
The Tigers are looking to advance to the fourth round of the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
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Marshall took on the #2 team in the state in the Area round of the playoffs and pushed Midlothian Heritage to the brink of elimination before falling to the Jaguars 21-14 at Bruce Field in Athens.
The Mavericks jumped out to a 14-3 halftime lead before Heritage rang off 18 unanswered points to take the victory.
Marshall had a pair of potential late drives to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but bogged down near midfield before bowing out. The Mavs were looking to advance to the region semis for the third time since 2015.
UPCOMING GAMES
BI DISTRICT
NOV 11
NC Porter 7 Vs. Longview 59
Terrell 28 Vs. Texas High 51
Denison 20 Vs. Marshall 28
Whitehouse 21 Vs. Melissa 49
Pine Tree 6 Vs. Lovejoy 34
AREA
NOV 18
Frisco Reedy 14 Vs. Longview 52
Mansfield Summit 14 Vs. Texas High 14
Marshall 14 Vs. Midlothian Heritage 21
REGION SEMIS
NOV 10
Longview Vs. Lancaster
Texas High Vs. Lovejoy
ETX5A ZONE COVERAGE
DISTRICT 7-5A DIVISION I
LONGVIEW - No one is surprised that the Lobos are back in the third round of the playoffs. Deep playoff games have become an expectation. The rumor mill has been turning since Friday's win over Frisco Reedy concerning the health of 5-star recruit Taylor Tatum. He will likely be a game-time decision come Friday night. Speculation has been about a fracture to his hand/wrist. Stay tuned.
7-5A still has three of their four teams playing for the region II semifinals. At least one will be gone after this week with Longview and Lancaster facing off.
Forney is also still alive as they face off against North Richland Hills.
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REALIGNMENT NUMBERS
PROJECTED FOR 6A
Forney 2,353
Lancaster 2,322
Longview 2,280
McKinney North 2,273
PROJECTED FOR 5A DIVISION I
Lufkin 2,159
Tyler 2,101
North Mesquite 2,099
West Mesquite 2,083
Cutoff numbers will be announced in the coming weeks to end speculation as to which classification each school will fall into.
However the speculations will be wild as to which district they will land in.
Will Longview return to the Rockwall district they were a part of the last time they were in 6A? Will they form a new district with Forney and Lancaster that could include DeSoto?
Lufkin could stay with Tyler and the Mesquite schools, but history shows they will go south without Longview being part of the mix. LP could be headed to the north Houston area.
DISTRICT 7-5A DIVISION II
TEXAS HIGH- The Tigers are in the region semifinals for the second time in three seasons and are looking to advance to the fourth round for the first time since 2003 as they take on Lovejoy this week.
MARSHALL- The Mavericks nearly pulled off the upset of the week when they took #2 Midlothian Heritage to the wire in a 21-14 loss. Marshall was looking to return to the region semifinals for the first time since 2018 and the sixth time since 2004. They finish the season (6-6).
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REALIGNMENT NUMBERS
PROJECTED FOR 5A DIV II
Texas High 1,833
Nacogdoches 1,752
Mount Pleasant 1.562
Marshall 1,512
Whitehouse
Hallsville
Jacksonville 1,394
PROJECTED FOR 4A DIVISION I
Pine Tree 1,331
It appears that district 9-5A will see some changes headed into the 2024 realignment. The question is....will it be a small change or a monumental change?
Predictors have Pine Tree dropping to 4A Division I, sending the Pirates out of the district. However, it appears that Jacksonville could be returning to the district after dropping in 2022.
Some are speculating that Jacksonville will slide into Pine Tree's spot and leaving the rest of the district intact.
Some predictions could have Nacogdoches heading south into Region III or West with Jacksonville and Whitehouse while Marshall, Hallsville, MP, and Texas High could join former district mates Greenville or possibly Terrell. Stay tuned!