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Smithville moves down, McDade to play six-man football
New district alignments are giving high school athletes a fresh field of competition across the state, though many area sports programs will see some familiar matchups to come over the next two years.
FOOTBALL
Under the University Interscholastic League’s realignment, the Wildcats enter 12-5A-Division II. Elgin football coach Rich Lucero had one thing to say about the move after a 2-8 finish in 2025.
“God is good,” Lucero said. “There is a plan for Elgin.”
Elgin joins previous 115A-DII mates Bastrop, Pflugerville and Austin Independent School District’s Crockett, Navarro and Liberal Arts and Science Academy.
While Bastrop and Pflugerville got the best of Elgin last fall, the Wildcats recorded their wins against Crockett and Navarro. LASA played an independent schedule each of the last two seasons, so projections favor Elgin returning to the postseason after missing it in 2025.
Bastrop, who finished 11-2 last year, is expected to be the early favorite following Liberty Hill’s move to another district. Austin McCallum and Pf lugerville Connally have also shifted away from local competition, save Cedar Creek.
In District 13-5A-Division I, the Eagles will match with McCallum, Austin Anderson, Boerne Champion, Kyle Lehman, Lockhart, Manor, Seguin and two-time defending state champion Smithson Valley.
“We are excited about the changes this off-season, the kids have done a great job. We look forward to continuing to build on last season,” said Cedar Creek coach Jared Shaw.
Shaw helped the Eagles end a 43-game losing streak last season with a 36-29 victory against Lehman. He said he is not surprised by the new district alignment, which features three of the same teams from their previous district — Anderson, Lehman and Lockhart.
“The district was very close to what we expected. It will be competitive each week,” Shaw said. “Great teams throughout the district.”
Smithville, under a new head coach and in the midst of a 20-game losing streak, is now a Class 3A school. The Tigers join 13-3A-DI with the likes of Hallettsville, Luling, Marion, San Antonio Cole, Universal City Randolph and defending state champion Yoakum.
Darby House took the Smithville program’s reigns last month, coming from 5A Nacogdoches.
McDade, who with a snapshot enrollment of 108 students, was four students shy of moving down to Class A, which would’ve made the Bulldogs eligible to play in a six-man football district.
McDade coach Jonathan Wells said the team still plans to play an independent six-man schedule for the next two seasons.
BASKETBALL
Districts remained largely intact for Elgin, Bastrop and Cedar Creek basketball. The Wildcats remain in 23-5A, while the Bears and Eagles stay in 24-5A.
The Bastrop schools join Austin ISD counterparts Anderson, Ann Richards (girls only), Crockett, LASA, McCallum and Navarro. Elgin still have Georgetown and the four Pflugerville Independent School District schools — Connally, Hendrickson, Pflugerville and Weiss, but Leander Glenn and Manor replace Georgetown East View, who moved up to 6A.
“I have only heard stories about the (Elgin- Manor) rivalry, but I’m sure both communities will be excited to compete against each other,” Lucero said.
Smithville will no longer be in the same district with traditional rivals Giddings and La Grange, as the Tigers move down to 23-3A. They’ll compete with schools west of the greater Houston area — Altair Rice, Columbus, East Bernard, Hempstead, Schulenburg and Wallis Brazos.
McDade remains in 27-2A against the likes of Bartlett, Granger, Holland, Milano and Thorndale. Only Rosebud-Lott is out after the Cougars were moved into 18-2A.
“When we looked at possible options district wise it really opens your eyes to how hard of a job it is that UIL does,” Shaw said. “We knew some would fare better than others with realignment, we have just tried to focus on the process daily.”
For volleyball, McDade remains in 26-2A, with Milano moving to 25-2A.
