Hondo in 8-team football district; 7-team for volleyball/basketball

By Jeff Berger

Anvil Herald Publisher

There are some big changes – although, no real surprises – for Hondo football after the University Interscholastic League’s biennial Reclassification and Realignment announcements on Monday morning, Feb. 2.

The Owls will still be a member of District 14-3A-Div. I for the autumns of 2026-27. But the district has grown in membership from six to eight teams. Gone is San Antonio Cole, and coming to District 14 in the Cougars place are former 4As, Devine and Carrizo Springs, plus Natalia, which is moving up from 3A-II. The rest of 14-3A-I returns, including Crystal City, Jourdanton, Lytle and Poteet.

The eight-team format is easy for scheduling, meaning that there are now seven district games, with only three slots available for non-district contests.

The bi-district for 14-3A-I, which is 13-3A-I, has undergone a lot of changes. The only returning members from the 2024-26 alignment are Marion, Luling and Randolph. Cole has moved back to their previous spot in the district, but it has now shifted prominently to the east. Joining the league are Smithville (down from 4A), Hallettsville (up from 3A-II) and, moving in from Region III, the defending state champion Yoakum Bulldogs. Gone from that district are Llano and Ingram Tom Moore, which have been shifted to Region I.

Elsewhere within Region IV, Sinton has dropped from 4A to 3A. Corpus Christi London has made the opposite move. Falfurrias has dropped from DI to DII, and both Edna and Palacios have been moved to Region III.

“It turned out about like we expected,” said Hondo Athletic Director Dustin Templin. “It’s an eight-team district, which makes non-district scheduling easier, since you only have to find three games.”

Anticipating being in the eight-team alignment, Hondo already had its three non-district foes lined up. The Owls will open at home with Ingram, followed by a road game at Bandera, and a home game with Uvalde. In district, Hondo will host Jourdanton, Lytle and Devine, while traveling to Carrizo Springs, Crystal City, Natalia and Poteet. The bye week for all of 14-3A-I will land in week 6, on Oct. 2.

Volleyball & basketball

For Hondo’s two indoor sports, volleyball and basketball, the Owls will be in a seven-team district, still 28-3A, which like football, will have plenty  of changes, but with lots of familiar foes.

Dilley is gone, having dropped to 2A. Jourdanton and Poteet have been shipped east. Along with current holdovers, Cotulla, Crystal City, Lytle, Natalia and Hondo, as mentioned earlier, Devine and Carrizo Springs are dropping from 4A to 3A and will join 28-3A.

District 27-3A, where the bi-district opponents will come from, will be different for volleyball and basketball.

In volleyball, 27-3A is made up of Jourdanton, Poteet, Marion, Poth, Cole and Randolph. For basketball, it’s an eight-team district, with those six schools, plus Stockdale and for boys’ only, Young Men’s Leadership Academy (YMLA).

Part of what let the UIL keep Hondo’s volleyball/basketball district with its current familiar membership were decisions made by five San Antonio charter schools. The three Great Hearts schools all opted up to compete in either 4A or 5A, and the two Somerset Academies opted not to join UIL districts. All five schools in question are 3A in size.

Realignments for all other UIL activities will be released sometime before the end of March.

For complete UIL Realignment news across the state, visit the UIL’s website at uiltexas,org