Area teams learn UIL district fates
The University Interscholastic League finished the Texas Two Step it started back in November 2015 on Monday morning, announcing which districts teams across the state will be calling home for the 2016-2018 athletic seasons.
The first step for the UIL became public Nov. 20, with a press release announcing the conference cutoff numbers for the 2016-2018 reclassification and realignment. According to the UIL, conference cutoff numbers were set at:
-6A: 2,150 and above
-5A: 1,100 – 2,149
-4A: 480 – 1,099
-3A: 221 – 479
-2A: 105 – 220
-1A: 104.9 and below
Football realignments were further broken down, with schools in classifications from 1A-4A being subdivided into either “large” or “small” school designations based on enrollment figures: 1A Division I (59 – 104.9 students), 1A Division II (58 and below), 2A Division I (158 – 220), 2A Division II (105 – 157), 3A Division I (319 – 479), 3A Division II (221 – 318), 4A Division I (723 – 1099) and 4A Division II (480 – 722).
On Monday, football teams learned which district the UIL had placed them in, with county teams being shifted as follows.
-Canton: The Canton Eagles found themselves in exclusive company among football teams in Van Zandt County last season, not only qualifying for the playoffs but also winning a bi-district title. Redistricting proved to be kind to the Eagles, with Canton ditching perennial state title contender Gilmer to compete against rival Wills Point, as well as Dallas Lincoln, Dallas Roosevelt, Emory Rains and Ferris in 2016 and 2017. Those five teams combined to go 18-34 overall last season, with only Emory Rains and Ferris qualifying for the playoffs.
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