06/04/2026
Here's another district in East Texas that should be very competitive.
Class 2A Division 2 District 11
It had some big hires this offseason, some of which bring back familiar faces to programs and others going to district rivals. The experience level and winning pedigree within this district are top-ranked, while several head coaches have won state championships, which should make it that much more competitive.
(Alto Yellowjackets)
The MeanSting brings in a new head man, Scott Ponder, who recently was at Mount Enterprise and had the whole state of Texas tuned in to see the Wildcats. Alto posted a 4-6 record in 2025 and missed the playoffs. Coach Ponder looks to restore the tradition of tough, and talented Alto football.
(Cushing Bearkats)
The Bearkats, led by Coach Scott Holzhauer, finished 4-6 in 2025 and missed the playoffs. I don’t think their record shows just how good the Bearkats really are; this is a gritty group that was competitive in just about every game they played. The Bearkats look to make their way back into playoff contention in 2026.
(Grapeland Sandies)
The Sandies and Head Coach Jordan Wood are coming off a remarkable run in 2025, going 8-4 and playing in the Area Round of the playoffs. I think the Sandies put some people in the state on notice last season. Coach Wood and the Sandies look to continue their success in 2026.
(Cross-Roads Bobcats)
The Bobcats, led by Head Coach Robby May, had a tough outing in 2025, going 3-7 and missing the playoffs. The Bobcats are a solid group that brings back a lot of returning starters and kids with varsity-level experience for the 2026 season and should be competitive.
(Mount Enterprise Wildcats)
The Wildcats bring in new Head Coach Daniel Davis to replace Coach Ponder, who is now at Alto. Mount Enterprise is coming off a historic run in 2025, posting a 14-1 record and reaching the State-Semifinals before falling to a tough Shiner team. Led by standout Kaegan Ash, the Wildcats had one of the most prolific and dominant offenses in the entire state last season. With Ash graduated and heading to Texas Tech, I think everybody in East Texas is eager to see if Coach Davis and the Wildcats can continue the winning ways in Mount Enterprise.
(Overton Mustangs)
Coach Scotty Laymance and the Mustangs were also a tough and gritty group in 2025, finishing fourth in district play; the Mustangs went on to go 8-4 on the season and played in the regional semifinals before falling to Mount Enterprise. Coach Laymance has got some absolute studs over in Overton and are looking for an even deeper playoff run in 2026.
(Tenaha Tigers)
The Tigers bring back a familiar face as Head Coach Terry Ward makes his return to the sidelines in Tenaha. The Tigers had a tough outing in 2025, going 1-9 and missing the playoffs. Coach Ward, also the head coach for the Tigers in 2011 when they won the 1A D2 state championship.The Tigers are a very athletic young group with talent just about everywhere you can think of on the field. Tenaha and Coach Ward are looking to bring back the roar in Tigerland.
