PITTSBURG, Texas - With several district opponents dropping from Class 3A, Division I to Division II, Atlanta and New Boston will face a number of new opponents in District 6-3A, Division I play this fall.
The Rabbs and Lions will be joined by Gladewater, Sabine, Jefferson, Tatum and White Oak in the newly formed District 6-3A, D-I.
"We've been in the district with Tatum and Gladewater in the past," Rabbs head coach and athletic director Matt McClure said. "Some I am not familiar with are Sabine and White Oak. It is a pretty strong district; the good thing is the district will prepare us for playoff games."
Along with the storied rivalry game between New Boston and DeKalb, the Lions kept a couple of teams that played in their district before moving down to Division II this realignment.
"We're going to be in a tough district, but this is East Texas so no matter you land you're going to be facing tough competition," New Boston athletic director and head coach Justin Waltz said. "We're playing some teams we're familiar with in non-district; we've got New Diana, DeKalb, Hooks and Redwater on our schedule."
The 3A, Div. II schools in the area were split up between District 10-3A and 11-3A, Div. II.
DeKalb, Hooks, Redwater and Paul Pewitt, which was a state finalist in 2019, will be joined in 10-3A, Div. II by Daingerfield, Paris Chisum and Prairiland. The Hornets and Dragons are switching from Div. I to D-II.
"There are a few new schools who are somewhat unfamiliar to us," Brahma AD and head coach Triston Abron said about the district. "Going in there with Paris Chisum and Prairiland is going to be good for our kids because those are schools we haven't played in the recent past. To see new faces and go up against some different competition is going to be interesting. It's going to be fun to have something new, something fresh.
"With Daingerfield and DeKalb (returning to the district from last year), and we pick up Redwater and Hooks, whom we played in non-district, it should be a solid district."
In 11-3A, Div. II, Hughes Springs and Queen City will compete with New Diana, Elysian Fields, Harleton, Ore City and Waskom.
Linden-Kildare will play in District 9-2A, Div. I along with Beckville, Big Sandy, Frankston, Gladewater Union Grove, Hawkins and Price Carlisle.
Maud and James Bowie remain league rivals in 9-2A, Division II. The remainder of the district includes Clarksville, Cumby, Detroit and Quinlan Boles.
"Our district is about where we expected it to turn out; that's where I thought it would fall," James Bowie AD and head coach Eddy May said. "Like any small school, the teams we're in with will have years they're really good and years they struggle a little bit. We're going to work hard in the offseason and prepare; I think we've got as good a chance in that district as anybody. We're looking forward to competing in our district."
In basketball and volleyball, the District 14-3A field is filled with area teams, including Atlanta, DeKalb, Hooks, New Boston, Paul Pewitt, Queen City and Redwater. Hughes Springs, playing in 15-3A for basketball and volleyball, will be grouped with Daingerfield, New Diana, Gladewater, Sabine, Ore City and White Oak.
The 2A and 1A schools will play in different districts for volleyball and basketball.
In the basketball district of 16-2A, Linden-Kildare, Maud, McLeod and James Bowie will be joined by Rivercrest, Clarksville and Detroit. In the basketball district of 24-1A, Avery and Bloomburg are matched up with Avinger, Union Hill, Saltillo, Sulphur Bluff and Yantis.
In the hybrid volleyball district of 17-2A, L-K, Maud and James Bowie will be joined by 1A teams from Avery and Sulphur Bluff, as well as 2A schools Rivercrest, Clarksville and Detroit.