2014 Realignment for San Antonio = Monster Matchups!

RB Nathaniel Wells Jr. Photo: Marvin Pfeiffer/E-N

On Monday morning, the UIL announced the realignment and I want to chime in about the Judson Rockets and their District, the Northside Independent School District, the Northeast Independent School District, and the San Antonio Independent School District.

The Judson Rockets new District is 25-6A.  Joining them will be the Wagner Thunderbirds, the Steele Knights, the Clemens Buffaloes, the Smithson Valley Rangers, the New Braunfels Canyon Cougars, and the New Braunfels Unicorns.  Tough, tough District...the top teams are going to be Steele, Judson, Smithson Valley, and Clemens in no particular order.  Both New Braunfels teams will try and prove me wrong!!

I know this will be the most competitive District in the state of Texas where week after week every game will be a “game of the week” candidate.

My big question is can the Judson Rockets reach 38 consecutive winning seasons?  Gosh, I really have no clue!!!  It will be a challenge as I have heard the Brennan Bears, the Johnson Jaguars, Pflugerville Hendrickson, and the Brandeis Broncos as possible non-District opponents.

Intriguing 25-6A match-ups

Steele VS Clemens --- Both schools are in the Schertz Cibolo Universal City ISD plus for the past few years, Clemens has been in a different classification. Last year, Clemens was 8 and 3 (after going winless in 2012) but lost in the first round of the playoffs and Steele went 12 and 2 losing in the state quarterfinals.  Man, this game will be a packed house at Lehnoff stadium.

Wagner VS Judson (The Hammer Bowl) --- These are the only schools in the Judson ISD and this game is for bragging rights and a Hammer!!!  Records never matter as last year, Wagner lost the game and went winless for the year, but the fans showed up to support both teams

Smithson Valley VS Steele --- OMG, finally we get to see these two powerhouse teams play one and other!!  WOW!!!  My dream has come true…thanks UIL.  I really hope I get the opportunity to work this game.

Judson VS Steele --- Dude, all these games have been super exciting.  In 2010, Tommy Armstrong, the Steele QB and current Nebraska Cornhusker QB, scored on a two-point conversion to win the game (I still think he was short).  In 2012, Steele won 42 to 35 but had the Rockets not had the turnover bug (they had 5), they would’ve won the game.  Last year, the teams combined to score 85 points and they ran 145 total plays for 1,075 yards…unfortunately, Judson lost again but the Head Coach for the Steele Knights, Scott Lehnoff got his first win of his coaching career.

Judson VS Smithson Valley --- Man, both of these teams are on the list of the most storied High School Football programs in the state of Texas.  And, folks, when they collide, whether it is at Ranger stadium or D W Rutledge stadium, one can definitely expect a battle between two really smart coaches and all the players involved!!   These teams also don’t like each other and that just adds more MOJO to this heated rivalry.

The Northside ISD is now District 27-6A and they got all 10 Northside High Schools, but somehow and someway the UIL divided em up into two zones.  So, how awkward would it have been for all the other teams if the newcomer on the block, the Brennan Bears had won the state championship last season (they came pretty close)!!

Zone 1

• Brennan Bears
• Jay Mustangs
• Stevens Falcons
• Taft Raiders
• Warren Warriors

Zone 2

• Brandeis Broncos
• Clark Cougars
• Holmes Huskies
• O’Connor Panthers
• Marshall Rams

According to the SA Express News High School beat writers; this division format gives teams 4 scheduled District games.  The first place teams in both zones will clinch a playoff berth and they will play each other in Week 11 for the District championship.  Then the second place team in one Zone will play the third place team in the other Zone…the winners will clinch the final two playoff berths.

I just gotta say that it would be so unfair if Brennan, Warren, O'Connor, and Brandeis were in the same zone cause those 4 teams have been and are the cream of the crop.

Intriguing 27-6A match-ups

Brennan VS any team --- I am very interested to see how Brennan fairs with more competitive teams as the past few years, Brennan was in a different classification and the teams they played just couldn’t compete with the athleticism of the Brennan Bears.  I heard from the grapevine that Brennan will be playing Judson and Smithson Valley this upcoming season (wow!!!!).

Brandeis VS O’Connor (The Battle of 1604 or The Battle for Farris stadium) --- Last year, this game was my game of the year and probably yours also as Brandeis won on a field goal with no time left in the game after O’Connor was penalized.  This game always lives up to all the hype as it should!!!

The San Antonio ISD finally relieves themselves with the Brennan Bears leaving and that makes the coaches at Brackenridge, Burbank, Edison, Fox Tech (basketball only), Harlandale, Highlands, Sam Houston, Jefferson, Lanier, and McCollum extremely happy!!!  No more blow-out football games with the Bears on the winning end.  My biggest thrill of this new District 28-5A is the fact that they will be playing games in a brand new renovated Alamo stadium.  Documenting the renovation at the both the football stadium and the adjoining gymnasium has been one of my special projects.  If you want to see renovation pictures, please click here.  I will have brand new pictures posted on Sunday as I am making a site visit to the stadium on Friday.

All that changed for the Northeast ISD is they are now District 26-6A and I want to be the first to say that the Lee Volunteers will have something to say in the playoff race!!!  

Intriguing 26-6A match-up

Madison VS Johnson --- These teams were the last two standing last year as they both advanced to the state semifinals.  Plus, the head coach at Johnson used to be the offensive coordinator at Madison.

 By Mark Lieberman

Mark Lieberman is an experienced San Antonio High School football statistician for the Texas Sports Radio Network (17 years) and also CW35 (5 years).  He is passionate for High School football and since 2011, he has written about each game worked.  Mark can be emailed at mdl0477@gmail.com and his BLOG is @ mdlblog.com.  You can follow him on Twitter @mdlblog