2013 Preseason Games of the Year

No one will forget the show White Oak and Tatum gave to basketball fans in East Texas this past spring, but these two rivals could be battling it out for a district title this fall as well.

Intensity should be high on Sept. 7 at Rose Stadium in Tyler for the rematch between Class 4A powers Lancaster and John Tyler, who will both be looking for encores to superb 2012 seasons.

In one of the highest-scoring games involving East Texas teams in 2012, Sulphur Springs got out of Mount Pleasant in October with a 71-65 victory at Sam Parker Field.

A third-quarter run gave Jasper a 24-21 lead in Carthage last October before Panola County's Bulldogs turned on the jets to pull away for a 49-31 win.

For years now, whenever Whitehouse and Sulphur Springs have met on the gridiron, defensive stops have been at a premium. The two teams annually feature among the most explosive offenses in East Texas.

Two of East Texas' best Class A programs clash Oct. 18 in what could be the de facto District 10-A Division I championship game.

Some of the numbers and names may not be the same, but that won't diminish this year's District 16-3A battle between Gilmer and Henderson on Oct. 12 at Longview's Lobo Stadium.

A lot could be riding on this year's District 9-2A Division I matchup between Tatum and Troup on Oct. 18.

District 20-3A was strong in 2012 and should be even stronger this fall.

When Kilgore and Henderson matched up last season in Kilgore, what unfolded was one of the most physical and competitive games in the area all season, which is to be expected when a pair of old rivals get together.