Another year of realignment in Texas is here, and once again, a number of interesting developments.  Here are some that have caught my eye:

• There was no surprise Midway and Killeen moved up to 5A, but what is surprising is the two schools placement, along with the holdovers from the old 12-5A (Temple, Belton, Ellison, Harker Heights, Shoemaker, Copperas Cove) in Region I.   The new 8-5A in football will  have to battle the likes of DeSoto, Euless Trinity, and Southlake Carroll just to get to the state semifinals!  A much harder path, than it has been in the past, for all these schools.
• 8-4A has a new look with the Panthers and 'Roos jumping up a classification.  Waco High and University now combine with the south Ft. Worth area schools in the new district.  Outside of the traditional football powerhouse Everman, the Lions and Trojans should like their chances in getting to the postseason and further.
• Goodbye Gatesville, and Hello West!  The Hornets have been shipped out west, and out of the old district 19-3A, joining the likes of Brownwood, Burnet, Lampasas, Liberty Hill and Llano.  Meanwhile, the Trojans, who usually play schools to the north, join the Waco area schools in the new district 17-3A (China Spring, Connally, La Vega, Lorena, Robinson).  As a media member, it would be nice if all 7 schools could somehow just be grouped all together, to make our job of covering them easier!!
• The fun really gets started with the smaller classifications!  In 2A, Salado switches classification once again.  After moving up to Class 3A in the last realignment, the Eagles are moving back down.  Salado joining Academy, Cameron Yoe, Marlin, McGregor, Troy, Lago Vista and Florence in 13-2A Division I.
• In the Division II ranks, two 1A schools make the jump to 2A, Moody and Reisel.  They join Bruceville-Eddy, Crawford, and Rosebud-Lott, along with Buffalo and Centerville, in 11-2A Division II.  The football matchups next fall should be very interesting and competitive.  Rogers is the odd man out, heading south to district 14-2A with Jarrell, Blanco, Johnson City Johnson, Lexington, Schulenburg and Universal City Randolph.
• I have a new favorite district for football season, 12-1A Division I.  You have two 2A schools dropping down, in Axtell and Jewett Leon, along with three really good football teams in Mart, Bosqueville and Valley Mills.  I have a feeling we'll have a couple of 'Automax Marquee Matchups' coming out of this district next season.
• And in the 1A Division II ranks, Chilton and Bremond leave Hubbard, Dawson, Wortham and Frost.  The Pirates and Tigers are in 12-1A Division II with Lovelady and Normangee.  The four other remaining schools add Meridian, which finally heads south.