Smithville was placed in District 26-3A with familiar foes Giddings and La Grange along with newcomers Cuero, Gonzales and Yoakum.

The Tigers will also move to the San Antonio region (Region IV), which is a welcome move after spending the last two years in the Houston region Region III).

“I like being in Region IV,” said head coach Justin Wiley. “I feel like we have kids that can compete with the other kids in that region.”

Smithville’s new district is a little tougher than the one they came from, but not by much.

State football powerhouse Navasota is no longer a part of Smithville’s district. Neither are Caldwell or Rockdale, which moved into District 18-3A with Taylor, Madisonville and the new College Station high school, which will not play varsity football in 2012.

However, the trade-off for the Tigers is perennial Class 3A powerhouse Cuero and Gonzales, which was 10-0 last year during the regular season.

“It’s a little tougher,” Wiley said. “We will have a few ranked teams like we have in the last couple of years. It’s going to be a battle every week.”

The move to Region IV was a bit of a shock for Wiley, as the six-year Smithville head coach said no one anticipated that move.

Smithville’s bi-district (District 25-3A), the one that will provide first round playoff matches, includes Bellville, Columbus, El Campo – which moved down from Class 4A – Needville, Brookshire Royal, Sealy and Wharton.

Wiley said his schedule was still incomplete, but nothing will be official until Feb. 21 when coaches can officially sign two-year contracts.

The Tigers have not been in Region IV since 2008-2009 when they competed with Bellville, Columbus, La Grange and Giddings.

Bastrop, Cedar Creek and Elgin joined Georgetown – which dropped from Class 5A –former District 16-4A opponents Hutto, Connally and Manor and new school Georgetown Eastview to make up District 17-4A.

Just as predicted.

While the district alignment was what most coaches were expecting, the move to Region III (Houston) was kind of surprising.

“I wasn’t expecting Region III,” said Bastrop head coach Gerald Perry. “We are up against a good Brenham district for our bi-district and we have never seen those teams before. It’s what makes the day exciting.”

Elgin head coach Wade Griffin said he thought there was a possibility of a couple of changes, but figured it was going to be just how it turned out.

“It’s about what we expected,” he said. “Moving to Region III was a bit of a shock, but if you look at it, we could have gone to any of the three regions (Dallas, Houston or San Antonio.”

Georgetown and Eastview replace Hendrickson, which jumped to Class 5A, and Bryan-Rudder, which was aligned with Brenham, Conroe Caney Creek, Huntsville, Magnolia, Magnolia West, Montgomery, Waller and Willis in District 18-4A.

The move to Region III will make most regional competitions much closer in Huntsville while when Elgin and Bastrop were part of Region II, the schools traveled over 200 miles.
The new alignment also brings a much greater challenge, according to Perry.

With the addition of Georgetown, which is a state powerhouse in baseball and girls basketball, 17-4A will be much more competitive.

“Georgetown is good in a lot of sports,” Perry said. “This is going to be a good competitive district.”

Griffin welcomed the addition of Georgetown, where he served as defensive coordinator prior to being hired by Elgin in the summer of 2011.

“I’m pretty excited about getting to play Georgetown,” he said. “Competitive wise, this district is going to be tough, which is a good thing.”

Another interesting side note, both Perry and Griffin were candidates for the head coaching job at Georgetown East View in February 2011 when the district was looking to hire East View’s first football coach.

Thursday was an exciting time for Cedar Creek’s coaches as they took part in its first district realignment in the school’s short two-year history.

The Eagles will play their first football varsity schedule in the fall, while the other sports will play in their second varsity season.

Cedar Creek head coach Dan Hernandez said it was a good day for Eagle football.

“I’m pretty excited and look at this as a challenge,” Hernandez said. “Our kids were excited (Wednesday) at our banquet and they were already talking about what they needed to do. Now that we know where we are going, we have something to work with to get ready for next year.”

District 17-4A coaches met Thursday after realignment was set and finalized their schedules.

Schedules will not be official until Feb. 21 when coaches can officially sign two-year contracts, but all three area schools in District 17-4A tentatively set their schedules.

Bastrop’s non-district schedule will be Vista Ridge, Gonzales and Akins (Sept. 13).

Elgin’s non-district schedule will be Rudder, Lehman and Vista Ridge.

Cedar Creek’s non-district schedule will be Travis, Lanier and Lockhart.

Notable district games are Bastrop at Cedar Creek (Oct. 12); Bastrop at Elgin (Nov. 2) and Elgin at Cedar Creek (Nov. 8).

Bastrop and Cedar Creek will share BISD Memorial Stadium for all varsity football games.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULES
BASTROP
Aug. 31    Vista Ridge    A    7:30 p.m.
Septl. 7    Gonzales    H    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 13     Akins    H    7 p.m.
Sept. 21    Manor*    A    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28    Eastview*    H    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5    Open
Oct. 12    Cedar Creek*    A    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19    Hutto*    H    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 26    Connally*    A    7:30 p.m.
Nov. 2    Elgin*    A    7:30 p.m.
Nov. 9    Georgetown*    H    7:30 p.m.

CEDAR CREEK
Aug. 31    Travis    A    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 7    Lanier    H    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14    Lockhart    H    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21    Hutto*    H    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28    Connally*    A    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5    Open
Oct. 12    Bastrop*    H    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19    Georgetown*    A    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 26    Manor*    H    7:30 p.m.
Nov. 2    Eastview*    A    7:30 p.m.
Nov. 8    Elgin*    H    7 p.m.

ELGIN
Aug. 31    Bryan-Rudder    H    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 7    Lehman    H    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14    Vista Ridge    A    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21    Georgetown*    H    7:30 p.m.
Sept. 28    Hutto*    A    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5    Open
Oct. 12    Manor*    A    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19    Connally*    H    7:30 p.m.
Oct. 26    Eastview*    A    7:30 p.m.
Nov. 2    Bastrop*    H    7:30 p.m.
Nov. 8    Cedar Creek*    A    7 p.m.

If Carl Padilla’s predictions hold true, Bastrop will say goodbye to Bryan-Rudder and Hendrickson, which is expected to move up to Class 5A.
In Rudder and Hendrickson’s place, current District 16-4A opponents will possibly add Georgetown, which is expected to drop to Class 4A, and new schools Georgetown Eastview and Cedar Creek to their schedules.

That’s the realistic look at it.

However, there are always a few surprises.

In 2010, Bastrop and Elgin were placed in the Dallas region (Region II) in District 16-4A which was a surprise to many at the time, including Bastrop head coach Gerald Perry and former Elgin head coach Danny Lauve.

Carl Padilla has Bastrop, Elgin and Cedar Creek making the move to the Houston region (Region III) in District 17-4A for the 2012 redistricting.

While nothing is ever scientific when it comes to predicting redistricting, there is a better chance of figuring out Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity, there are some conclusions that can be drawn from current enrollment numbers and past trends that might make Padilla’s predictions come true.

In 2010, however, Padilla’s predictions were way off as he had Bastrop in a district with Hays, Dripping Springs, Lehman, Lake Travis and Lockhart.

The thing that could hold true with his 2012 predictions are the geographical handcuffs for the two Georgetown schools.

Hendrickson is expected to jump to Class 5A after turning in an enrollment of 2,276. Cedar Ridge, which competes in District 16-4A this year in every sport but football, is also expected to move to Class 5A with the rest of Round Rock ISD schools. It turned in an enrollment of 3,065.

That pretty much leaves Georgetown ISD nowhere else to go, especially with Killeen also being expected to move up to Class 5A.

Lake Travis is moving up to Class 5A as well, leaving a hole in District 25-4A (Cedar Park, Vista Ridge, Rouse, Vandegrift, Dripping Springs and Marble Falls).

However, with Leander expected to drop from Class 5A with an enrollment of 1,970, the Lions are going to be the perfect replacement.

Don’t expect a reunion with Hays, Lehman and Lockhart for Bastrop and Elgin.

New Braunfels Canyon (27-4A) is expected to jump to Class 5A, but that could be remedied easily with Seguin’s expected return to Class 4A.

The Austin ISD district – 26-4A – is pretty much locked up with seven schools and while Elgin and Manor could move over to that district geographically, there is little speculation that the UIL will put together a nine-team district.

That pretty much leaves the only option to have the two Georgetown schools replace Rudder and Hendrickson and place them with Bastrop, Cedar Creek, Elgin, Manor, Hutto and Connally.

Of course, nothing is certain until Feb. 2 when the UIL releases the new districts for 2012-14.

Stay tuned.

BY THE NUMBERS
Here is enrollment numbers turned in to the UIL on snapshot day in Dec. 2011. The three Class 5A schools are projected to drop down to Class 4A when realignment is announced on Thursday.

Class 5A
Leander    1,970
Georgetown    1,990
Seguin    2,044

Class 4A
Bastrop    1,513
Cedar Creek    1,260
Cedar Park    1,796
Cedar Ridge*    3,065    Connally     2,004
Dripping Springs     1,307
Georgetown Eastview    1,418
Elgin    1,200
Killeen*    2,192.5
Lake Travis*    2,218
Lehman    2,064
Lockhart    1,325
Manor    1,642
Marble Falls    1,112
NB Canyon*    2,101
Rouse     1,863
Vandegrift    1,458
Vista Ridge    1,779
Hays    2,015
Hutto    1,325
Hendrickson*    2,276
Crockett    1,566
Eastside Memorial**    771
Lanier    1,659
LBJ    1,869.5
McCallum    1,763.5
Reagan    1,051.5
Travis    1,483
* Projected to move to 5A
**Opting to move up to 4A

2010 Classification numbers
Class 5A: 2,065 and above
Class 4A: 990-2,064
Class 3A: 430-969
Class 2A: 200-429
Class A: 199-below

PADILLA REALGINMENT PROJECTIONS
District 17
Bastrop
Cedar Creek
Elgin
Georgetown
Georgetown Eastview
Hutto
Manor
Connally

District 28
Alamo Heights
Boerne Champion
Hays
Lehman
Kerrville Tivy
Lockhart
Schertz Clements
Seguin

District 25
Vandegrift
Cedar Park
Vista Ridge
Leander
Rouse
Dripping Springs
Marble Falls

The Bastrop County Complex Fire, which started Sept. 4, burnt 1,645 homes and over 34,000 acres of land.

It was difficult to find anyone not affected in some way by the fires.

The state’s most destructive wildfire destroyed the homes of 11 Bastrop football players, a few assistant coaches, several Smithville football players and homes of Bastrop and Smithville volleyball players

Sporting events were cancelled for the week as athletes from Bastrop and Smithville spent their time off volunteering in shelters.

Rivalries were non-existent as there was an overwhelming level of reaching out from both schools rivals and opponents for that week.

Volleyball players from Elgin collected athletic clothing for players on the Bastrop volleyball team as did the Round Rock Cedar Ridge volleyball team.

Wimberley’s football team held an intra-squad scrimmage to raise money for the Smithville football players affected by the fires. The Texans were the Tigers scheduled opponent for Sept. 9.

Bastrop returned to the football field on Sept. 15 against San Marcos in front of a televised audience in Central Texas.

Everyone across the state was cheering on a team that had four practices in 12 days and was looking to triumph over something much bigger than football.

As the Bastrop football team ran onto the field, the Bears came through a banner that read, “Out of the ashes, we rise.”

And Bastrop did just that.

The Bears defeated San Marcos 48-23 in front of a packed house at BISD Memorial Stadium.

Running back Trae Bunton had one of his biggest games of the year, scoring four touchdowns while rushing for 101 yards on 16 carries.

Bunton said after the game, “We played with the town on our back.”

While the game was a distraction from the destruction of the fires, Bastrop’s win over San Marcos sparked the beginning of the healing process.

Meanwhile, just down the road on Texas 71, the Smithville football team also helped its town begin the healing process.

The Tigers defeated Needville 69-0 in front of a packed house at Barry Field, only holding offensive possession for a little more than nine minutes the entire game.

Smithville jumped out to a 27-0 lead in the first quarter and scored 14 points in less than two minutes.

Bastrop’s volleyball team returned to the court on Sept. 14 and battled with Connally.

While the Lady Bears didn’t pick up the win, they played one of the best games of the year.

Connally won the match in four sets, 25-23, 25-22, 25-27, 25-15.

Bastrop’s players honored the fire fighters before the game with each player individually thanking the first responders for saving their house.

However, in 2011 the Tigers football team went from their fourth 0-10 season in 2010 to a 7-3 record and made the playoffs for the first time in 13 years.

Smithville started the season winning their first seven games, but did have a game against the Class 3A-Division I state champions – Wimberley- cancelled due to the wildfires on Sept. 4.

The Tigers opened their season with 18 returning starters and shocked the reigning Class 2A-Division I state finalist Lexington 27-21.

It would be a sign of things to come as Smithville won their next four games by a combined score of 184-36, including a 69-0 win over Needville in the Tigers return to the football field after the Bastrop County Complex Fires.

The Tigers moved to 6-0 after being tested by Rockdale, in a game that featured a late fourth quarter rally despite their first half struggles.

Smithville got the ball into the red zone on all five first half possessions, but only came away with seven points in the first half.

Kegan Bledsoe scored late in the quarter on a 1-yard run to give Smithville the lead and a Justin Teague interception at the 50-yard line saved the undefeated record.

The Tigers winning streak culminated with a 21-14 win over rival Giddings, a team in which Smithville had a 0-9 record against dating back to 1998.

The win over the Buffaloes was the first since 1997 and gave the Tigers their first 7-win season since 1971.

Despite a 3-0 record in District 23-3A, the Tigers’ win over Giddings didn’t clinch a playoff berth, but did put Smithville in position to play for the district title.

However, Navasota ended Smithville’s winning streak the following week by defeating the Tigers 47-18.

The Rattlers, who won the district title with the win over Smithville, became the first team to hold Smithville scoreless in the first three quarters.

The Tigers entered their final regular season game with La Grange needing to either defeat the Leopards or lose by three points or less to clinch a playoff berth.

In what was probably the most gutsiest coaching move, Central Texas and Bastrop County Coach of the Year Justin Wiley made the decision to go for the win in overtime after Jeremy Kadlecek put Smithville up by six in overtime after the Leopards took the lead in overtime.

Kadlecek didn’t convert the two-point try and La Grange won the game 13-12, but the one-point loss sent Smithville back to the playoffs for the first time since 1998.

The playoff trip was short lived as Columbus avenged a 23-17 loss to the Tigers in the regular season by defeating Smithville 21-14 in the first round of the playoffs.

Defensive end Jeremy Mowdy, along with Wiley, was selected to the Austin American-Statesman’s All-Central Texas team.

The Tigers received several postseason honors and had several selections to the all-district and All-Bastrop County football teams.

Te’Rel Simmons (7) gets tackled by Bastrop’s Thomas Solomon on Oct. 28 at Wildcat Stadium.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Te’Rel Simmons, Soph., QB, Elgin
As a sophomore, Elgin quarterback Te’Rel Simmons nearly eclipsed 3,000 yards in total offense and led Elgin to a 6-4 record and to their first win over Bastrop since 1989.
Simmons threw for 1,527 yards and completed 92 of 174 passing attempts. He threw for 20 touchdowns with eight interceptions and averaged 152.7 yards per game through the air.
He was just as dangerous on the ground.
Simmons eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark with 1,025 yards on 177 carries, averaging 5.79 YPC with eight rushing touchdowns.
His 2,552 yards of total offense was 469 yards more than former two-time All-Bastrop County Player of the Year winner Josiah Monroe during Monroe’s sophomore season.

OFFENSIVE MVP
Trae Bunton, Sr., RB, Bastrop
Bastrop running back Trae Bunton became Bastrop’s first 1,000-yard rusher not named Josiah Monroe in Gerald Perry’s tenure at Bastrop. Bunton had 1,262 yards on 188 carries, averaging 6.71 YPC, and score 11 touchdowns. He was Bastrop County’s leading scorer with 80 points. Bunton was a first team all-district selection.

DEFENSIVE MVP
Jeremy Mowdy, Sr., DE, Smithville
Jeremy Mowdy was the heart of Smithville’s stellar defense in 2011. He calculated 71 total tackles, including 11 for a loss to go with 10.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Mowdy was a first team all-district selection at defensive end and led the county in sacks. He was a big reason Smithville’s defense averaged 17.4 points against per game.

OFFENSIVE NEWCOMER
DaAaron Jackson, Jr, RB, Smithville
DaAaron Jackson was the fourth leading rusher in Bastrop County with 596 yards on 116 carries. He was the Tigers go-to back in a backfield that featured nine players that had carries. He averaged 5.1 YPC and scored eight touchdowns on the ground. Jackson was a first team selection on the all-district team.

CO- DEFENSIVE NEWCOMER
Denton Cooper, Jr., LB, Smithville
Smithville linebacker Denton Cooper made quite an impact in his first season on the Tigers’ varsity team. Cooper had 69 total tackles, including six tackles for a loss. He also had one fumble recovery and 28 solo tackles. Cooper was a first team all-district selection at linebacker.

Chris Walker, Jr., LB, Elgin
Elgin’s Chris Walker had 46 total tackles including 25 solo as well as one sack. Walker was a big part of an Elgin defense that allowed 24.4 points against it per game. He also had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He was an honorable mention selection on the all-district team.

SPECIAL TEAMS MVP
Jamie Swartz, Sr., P, Smithville
Behind every good defense is a great punter. That was Smithville’s Jamie Swartz this season. Swartz gave the Tigers defense great position all year and handled kicking duties as well. Swartz was 21-of-26 for extra points and kicked only one field goal from 24 yards. He was a first team all-district selection as a punter.

IRONMAN AWARD (top 2-way player)
Geno Perez, Sr., WR/DB, Elgin
There wasn’t much Geno Perez couldn’t do. He had 397 yards receiving on 37 catches with six touchdowns and was Elgin’s second leading tackler with 94 total tackles, including 69 solo, to go with 7 pass deflections and one fumble recovery. He was a second team all-district selection at wide receiver.

HEART AWARD
Dillon Becekr, Sr., QB, Bastrop
There wasn’t a player that showed more heart than Dillon Becker. The senior returned to the Bears as the backup quarterback after missing most of 2010. He won his job back in Bastrop’s opener, but lost it again three weeks later in favor of junior Alec Kana. Becker made the move to tight end just to get a chance to play.

COACH OF THE YEAR
Justin Wiley, 5th year, Smithville
Smithville head coach Justin Wiley did the improbable. Wiley took his team from an 0-10 record to a 7-3 season in 2011, which included Smithville’s first win over Giddings in 13 years and its first playoff berth since 1998. The Tigers jumped out to a 7-0 start before losing their final three games of the season.

OFFENSE
QB: Coltyn Brown, Sr., Smithville
925 passing yards, 8 TDs, 6 INTs… 2nd leading passer in Bastrop Co… 1st team all-district.

RB: Charlestin Matthews, Sr., Elgin
679 rushing yards in five games before season ending injury… 3rd leading rusher in Bastrop Co.

RB: Brandon Lincoln, Jr., Smithville
330 yards rushing on 52 carries, 2 TDs… avg. 6.34 YPC… honorable mention all-district.

WR: Aundoy Thomas, Sr., Elgin
Led area with 570 yards receiving with 20 receptions and 7 TDs… First team all-district.

WR: Mason Foytik, Sr., Bastrop
400 yards receiving with 32 receptions… 2nd leading receiver in area… honorable mention all-district

TE: Bryce Helmcamp, Jr., Smithville
130 yards receiving with 8 receptions and 4 TDs… honorable mention all-district as tight end.

OL: Mason Morris, Sr., Smithville
No statistics were provided… first team all-district selection as offensive lineman.

OL: Jacob Guerra, Sr., Bastrop
No statistics were provided… second team all-district as offensive lineman.

OL: Lukas Burkland, Sr., Elgin
Elgin’s top offensive lineman…. second team all-district as offensive lineman.

OL: Marquee Miller, Sr., Elgin
No statistics were provided… honorable mention all-district as offensive lineman.

OL: Keaton Holcomb, Sr., Tribe Consolidated
Top graded offensive lineman in T-CAL… all-state as offensive lineman.

KR/PR: Gray Morris, Jr., Smithville
Created great field position as a kick returner and punt returner… 3 TDs on returns.

DEFENSE
DL: Leo Castro, Sr., Elgin
42 total tackles, 29 solo, 9 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery… second team all-district.

DL: John Thorne, Sr., Bastrop
60 total tackles, 30 solo, 12 assisted, 2 TFL, 1 fumble recovery… second team all-district.

DL: Konnor Hurta, Jr., Smithville
53 total tackles, 15 solo, 18 assisted, 9 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 2 FF… second team all-district.

DL: Kegan Bledsoe, Jr., Smithville
50 total tackles, 15 solo, 28 assisted, 7 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR… first team all-district.

LB: Trey Eskew, Sr., Bastrop
77 total tackles, 38 solo, 38 assisted, 5 TFL, 1 INT, 1 FR, 2 FF, 2 sacks… honrable mention all-district.

LB: Russell Eppinger, Sr., Elgin
113 total tackles, 87 solo, 26 assisted, 2 sacks, 3 FF, 1 FR… 2nd team all-district.

LB: Paul Whitmill, Jr., Bastrop
42 total tackles, 30 solo, 12 assisted, 2 TFL, 1 FR… first team all-district selection at linebacker.

DB: Darby Plentl, Jr., Tribe Consolidated
Team MVP… led TCAL in interceptions while missing time due to injury… TCAL all-state selection.

DB: Anthony Perez, Sr., Bastrop
69 total tackles, 47 solo, 22 assisted, 7 TFL, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 sack… first team all-district.

DB: Justin Teague, Sr., Smithville
20 total tackles, 8 solo, 11  assisted, 1 TFL, 1 FF, 1 FR, 2 INTs… honorable mention all-district.

DB: Khalil McCathern, Soph., Smithville
56 total tackles, 21 solo, 31 assisted, 4 TFL, 2 INTs… second team all-district.

K/P: Hart McMillan, Jr., Bastrop
19-of-19 with extra points, 5-of-7 with field goals, season long from 38 yards.

First team
Offense
QB: Ryan Higgins, Sr., Hutto
RB: Trae Bunton, Sr., Bastrop; Dae Payton, Jr., Connally; Tae Howard, Sr., Hutto
WR: Jerryl Yarbrough, Sr., Connally; Aundoy Thomas, Sr., Elgin; A.J. Lopez, Jr., Hutto; Straton Jones, Sr., Manor
TE: Reid Mitchell, Sr., Hendrickson; Shane Fielder, Sr., Hutto
OL: Jay Tijerina, Jr., Hutto; Adam Burns, Sr., Connally; Carlos Lopez, Sr., Manor; Daniel Diaz, Sr., Connally; Clement Oyewate, Jr., Manor

Defense
DL: Nelson Lugala, Sr., Connally; Kencel Bradford, Sr., Hendrickson; Terrell Wise, Sr., Manor
DE: Darrell Songy, Jr., Connally; Victor Irokansi, Sr., Hendrickson; Tanner Thrift, Jr., Hutto; Brenton Watson, Sr., Manor
LB: Anthony Allen, Sr., Connally; Jacob Studdard, Sr., Hutto; Paul Whitmill, Jr., Bastrop; Amir Adkins-Shakur, Sr., Hutto
DB: Anthony Perez, Sr., Bastrop; Ed-drick McDonald, Jr., Connally; Jordan Townes, Sr., Hendrickson; Greg Pitre, Sr., Hutto; Brendon Steptoe, Sr., Hutto

Special Teams
K: Colton Bayer, Jr, Rudder
KR/PR: A.J. Lopez, Jr, Hutto
P: James Potts, Sr., Hendrickson

Bastrop Second team selections
OL: Jacob Guerra; DE John Thorne; DB  Luke Greigo

Elgin Second team selections
OL Lukas Burkland; TE Matt Valdez, QB Te’Rel Simmons; WR Geno Perez; DL Leo Castro; LB Russell Eppinger

First team
Offense
QB: Ethan Brinkley, Jr., Rockdale; Coltyn Brown, Sr., Smithville
RB: DaAaron Jackson, Jr., Smithville; Deon Hickey, Jr., Giddings; Jacob Malek, Jr., Navasota
WR: Cassel Tezeno, So., La Grange; Solomon McGinty, Jr., Navasota; Austin Collins, Jr., Navasota; Cody Skubal, Sr., Rockdale
TE: Deon Hutchinson, Sr., Giddings
OL: Chad Childs, Sr., La Grange; Patrick David, Sr., Rockdale; Kyle Orlando, Sr., Navasota; Josh Thomas, Sr., Navasota; Mason Morris, Sr., Smithville; LaPear Wilrich, Sr., Giddings

Defense
DL: Jeremy Mowdy, Sr., Smithville; Kegan Bledsoe, Sr., Smithville; Deon Hutchinson, Sr., Giddings; Robert Kitchen, Sr., La Grange; Josh Thomas, Sr., Navasota; Koltyn Woolverton, Sr., Rockdale
LB: Brent Haas, Sr., Giddings; Kolby Kolek, Jr., La Grange; Jaylyin Minor, Jr., Navasota; James David, Soph., Rockdale; Denton Cooper, Sr., Smithville; Antwan Heath, Jr., Caldwell
DB: Jacob Malek, Sr., Navasota; Xavier Creeks, Jr., Navasota; Jacob Krchnak, Sr., Giddings; Jamil Jackson, Sr., Giddings

Special teams
K: Michale Rangel, Jr., Giddings; Marco Cerda, Soph., La Grange
KR/PR: Joseph Glenn, Jr., Giddings
P: Jamie Swartz, Sr., Smithville

Smithville Second team selections
WR Keith Jaynes; TE Bryce Helmcamp; OL Kyle Stovall; DL Konnor Hurta; LB Jeremy Kadlecek; DB Khalil McCathern; KR Gray Morris

It’s brutal.

Cedar Creek’s boys basketball team has an unfortunate circumstance ahead of them.

The Eagles were thrust into a difficult nine-team district in its first varsity season. It is like  throwing Texas State’s football team into the SEC.

The Eagles got a taste of what lies ahead in the next two months Tuesday when they took on the top of the class in 16-4A Hendrickson.

Hendrickson defeated Cedar Creek by 27 points, but you cannot ignore the fact that the very young Eagles were tied with the district favorite after the first quarter.

Before you send me that hate e-mail you are writing in your head as you read this, let me say that I truly believe Cedar Creek will be competitive in this district.

But when you’re a second-year program in a nine-team district, especially one as competitive as 16-4A, you are going to take some lumps along the way.

Hendrickson and Elgin are likely going to be the top of the class in a district that looks like it will be a dogfight every Tuesday and Friday night.

Elgin shocked a lot of people Tuesday by defeating Manor, a team touted by myself and others as a dark horse, by nine-points.

I personally would have thought it would be a lot closer than that.

The fact that Elgin held a 24-2 lead after the first quarter was even more surprising than the final result.

Manor’s speed makes the Mustangs dangerous and their athleticism, matched with that speed, should make Manor a contender.

Either Elgin is really good or Manor just had an off night. I think Elgin is just really that good. The Wildcats are arguably the most experienced team in 16-4A.

As for Bastrop, expectations are high from fans that watched the Bears march to the Region II-4A semifinals last year.

First year Bastrop head coach Tim Davis said prior to the start of the season, he thinks a team with a sub-.500 district record has a shot at making the playoffs.

I don’t disagree with him.

When you have a district like 16-4A, teams are going to beat on each other every game.

It likely isn’t out of the cards for the district champion, whoever it ends up being, to have four losses.

Tuesday’s results were kind of telling of what this district is going to be.

A young Bryan-Rudder team erased a 13-point Bastrop lead to defeat a younger Bears team by three points.

Bastrop should have won that game, but just as Davis said, youth played a big part into that.

Newcomer Cedar Ridge defeated Connally and as mentioned before, Elgin beat an athletic Manor team by nine points.

Hutto, which reloaded in the offseason after reaching the regional quarterfinals last season, was off and starts its 16-game district schedule Tuesday.

If you’re a basketball fan such as myself, you are the real winner this season if you live in Bastrop County.

Every game will be a battle and on any given night every team has a chance.

Saddle up folks. You’re in for an exciting boys basketball season.