As with Class 5A and 4A, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has analyzed and made preseason predictions for Class 3A Texas high school football teams across the Lone Star State.
Next up in the 2026 Texas high school football preseason predictions is Class 3A Division II.
In the Big Country and West Texas area, there are three 3A DI districts that include several of the most competitive districts in the greater Abilene area — Districts 3-3A, 4-3A DII and 5-3A DII.
Before diving into DCTF’s predictions for these highly-competitive West Texas districts, the three teams on the Big Country’s periphery from District 4-3A DII and 5-3A DII – Hamilton, Holliday and Jacksboro – clocked in at No. 14, 15 and 16 overall in Dave Campbell’s preseason 3A DII statewide rankings.
Coahoma quarterback Austin Joslin and San Angelo Grape Creek defensive end Hayden Simpson were recognized by DCTF as the Preseason All-District Offensive and Defensive MVPs, respectively, in District 3-3A DII.
Holliday quarterback Landon Jones and Jacksboro defensive lineman Will Treadway were named as the Preseason All-District Offensive and Defensive MVPs in District 4-3A DII by DCTF.
Tolar quarterback Briton Rice and Hamilton linebacker Easton Marwitz were tabbed by DCTF as the Preseason All-District Offensive and Defensive MVPs in District 5-3A DII.
Here is what Dave Campbell’s analyzed and predicted for the Big Country, Abilene-area’s Class 3A Division II districts.
District 3-3A DII
Preseason Offensive MVP – QB Austin Joslin, Coahoma
Preseason Defensive MVP – DE Hayden Simpson, San Angelo Grape Creek
1. Coahoma Bulldogs
Enrollment – 306
Head Coach – Chris Joslin
Lettermen – Returning 17, Leaving 13
Starters returning – Offense 5; Defense 5
2025 Season Results – Area finalist, 9-3 overall; 3-1 district
2. San Angelo Grape Creek Eagles
Enrollment – 303
Head Coach – Trey Morgan
Lettermen – Returning 15, Leaving 16
Starters returning – Offense 5; Defense 5
2025 Season Results – Area finalist, 7-5 overall; 2-2 district
3. Crane Golden Cranes
Enrollment – 317
Head Coach – Cannon McWilliams
Lettermen – Returning N/A, Leaving N/A
Starters returning – Offense 5; Defense 5
2025 Season Results – Bi-district finalist, 6-5 overall; 4-2 district
4. Alpine Bucks
Enrollment – 250
Head Coach – Jerry Dominguez
Lettermen – Returning 16, Leaving 11
Starters returning – Offense 6; Defense 5
2025 Season Results – Bi-district finalist, 2-9 overall; 2-4 district
5. Stanton Buffaloes
Enrollment – 322
Head Coach – Gary Griffin
Lettermen – Returning 12, Leaving 7
Starters returning – Offense 9; Defense 9
2025 Season Results – 1-9 overall; 0-4 district
6. Anthony Wildcats
Enrollment – 235
Head Coach – Michael Stephenson
Lettermen – Returning 20, Leaving 9
Starters returning – Offense 7; Defense 7
2025 Season Results – Bi-district finalist 2-9 overall; 0-6 district
District 4-3A DII
Preseason Offensive MVP – QB Landon Jones, Holliday
Preseason Defensive MVP – DL Will Treadway, Jacksboro
1. Holliday Eagles
Enrollment – 363
Head Coach – Kyle Atwood
Lettermen – Returning 15, Leaving 20
Starters returning – Offense 5; Defense 4
2025 Season Results – Area finalist, 7-5 overall; 2-3 district
2. Jacksboro Tigers
Enrollment – 324
Head Coach – Casey Hubble
Lettermen – Returning 19, Leaving 7
Starters returning – Offense 8; Defense 8
2025 Season Results – Area finalist, 7-5 overall; 5-0 district
3. Henrietta Bearcats
Enrollment – 273
Head Coach – Jay Jones
Lettermen – Returning 23, Leaving 10
Starters returning – Offense 7; Defense 7
2025 Season Results – Regional semifinalist, 8-5 overall; 3-2 district
4. Wichita Falls City View Mustangs
Enrollment – 343
Head Coach – Akeem Leviston
Lettermen – Returning 15, Leaving 21
Starters returning – Offense 3; Defense 5
2025 Season Results – Area finalist, 9-3 overall; 4-1 district
5. Breckenridge Buckaroos
Enrollment – 358
Head Coach – Casey Pearce
Lettermen – Returning 20, Leaving 12
Starters returning – Offense 8; Defense 8
2025 Season Results – Bi-district finalist 4-7 overall; 2-3 district
6. Merkel Badgers
Enrollment – 298
Head Coach – Wes Wood
Lettermen – Returning 13, Leaving 12
Starters returning – Offense 7; Defense 5
2025 Season Results – Bi-district finalist, 7-5 overall; 1-3 district
District 5-3A DII
Preseason Offensive MVP – QB Briton Rice, Tolar
Preseason Defensive MVP – LB Easton Marwitz, Hamilton
1. Hamilton Bulldogs
Enrollment – 248
Head Coach – Ryan Marwitze
Lettermen – Returning 16, Leaving 16
Starters returning – Offense 4; Defense 5
2025 Season Results – 2A DI UIL state champion, 14-2 overall; 5-0 district
2. Tolar Rattlers
Enrollment – 273
Head Coach – Blake Mouser
Lettermen – Returning 22, Leaving 5
Starters returning – Offense 9; Defense 9
2025 Season Results – Bi-district finalist, 4-7 overall; 2-3 district
3. Clifton Cubs
Enrollment – 303
Head Coach – Brent Finney
Lettermen – Returning 18, Leaving 11
Starters returning – Offense 7; Defense 6
2025 Season Results – Bi-district finalist; 8-3 overall; 4-1 district
4. Comanche Indians
Enrollment – 345
Head Coach – Jake Escobar
Lettermen – Returning 25, Leaving 8
Starters returning – Offense 7; Defense 6
2025 Season Results – 5-5 overall; 2-3 district
5. Millsap Bulldogs
Enrollment – 281
Head Coach – Jacob Johnson
Lettermen – Returning 21, Leaving 7
Starters returning – Offense 8; Defense 8
2025 Season Results – 3-7 overall; 1-4 district
6. Rio Vista Eagles
Enrollment – 281
Head Coach – Matthew Woodard
Lettermen – Returning 21, Leaving 12
Starters returning – Offense 9; Defense 6
2025 Season Results – 6-3 overall; 3-2 district
7. Dublin Lions
Enrollment – 311
Head Coach – Greg Hardcastle
Lettermen – Returning 13, Leaving 15
Starters returning – Offense 7; Defense 9
2025 Season Results – 1-9 overall; 1-4 district
8. Eastland Mavericks
Enrollment – 255
Head Coach – Matt Landers
Lettermen – Returning 18, Leaving 10
Starters returning – Offense 9; Defense 9
2025 Season Results – 0-10 overall; 0-5 district
Statewide postseason picks
Class 3A Division II
Region I – Idalou over Holliday
Region II – Edgewood over Hamilton
Region III – Newton over Troup
Region IV – El Maton Tidehaven over East Bernard
State Champion – Newton
Andrew McCulloch covers Big Country area high school sports and Abilene Christian University sports for The Abilene Reporter-News. Reach him at sports@reporternews.com. Follow him on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @ByAndyMcCulloch.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Dave Campbell’s predictions for 3A DII Big Country high school football teams
Reporting by Andrew McCulloch, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
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By Andrew McCulloch, Abilene Reporter-News | USA TODAY Network
