25 Games in 25 Days

Two of the newest members of the “District of Doom” square off in Chapel Hill on Oct. 26 in what could be a pivotal matchup down the stretch in District 16-3A.

The “District of Doom” schedule continues with a matchup involving the defending Class 3A Division I champion Chapel Hill Bulldogs and the Gilmer Buckeyes, winners of two state titles since 2004, on Oct. 5.

Not often do you see two top 10-caliber teams face off in a district matchup, but that’s exactly what Alto and new-to-Class A San Augustine will give football fans come Nov. 2 at Yellow Jacket Stadium.

No longer marooned in the non-East Texas district including Sherman, Denison, Royse City and Greenville, two powerful East Texas programs with a long history square off Oct. 19 in the middle of the District 14-4A schedule to potentially decide the league’s champion.

Fans of Class 3A football won’t have to wait too long for what could shape up as a playoff preview when La Vega and Palestine open the season following last season’s bi-district playoff.

Late in the regular-season schedule (Oct. 26) sits a game that could decide the District 9-2A Division II championship. Hughes Springs and Elysian Fields enter 2012 widely regarded as the favorites in the new 9-2A D-II, and for good reason.

Gilmer and Atlanta are very familiar with each other, and not only because they played twice in 2011 and have faced off five times since 2006. The Thursday night Aug. 30 season opener at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, which has a brand new turf surface, is the 44th meeting involving the Buckeyes and Rabbits.

Two teams that have scrimmaged each other regularly during the past few seasons will make their encounter count in 2012. But this year’s matchup between Whitehouse and Carthage isn’t the first in recent history.

Daingerfield and New Boston played a high-scoring barnburner a year ago and this season's Oct. 5 meeting could bring more of the same. Not only that, but the 2012 matchup could again have huge District 8-2A Division I implications as the Tigers and Lions are expected to finish at the top of the league.

In years past, this game has determined a district champion and this year might be no different. Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine has picked Carlisle to win District 9-A Division I with Big Sandy finishing second.