Realignment drops Coogs to 3A, lifts Falls to 5A

HOUSTON — The La Marque Cougars received good news and bad news at Thursday morning’s University Interscholastic League’s realignment meeting.

When La Marque football coach Mike Jackson opened the packet containing the realigned districts, he first saw that La Marque had dropped from Class 4A to Class 3A.

That was expected.

The Cougars were placed in District 24-3A with Sweeny, Stafford, KIPP Academy, KIPP Sunnyside and Columbia. The Cougars also found out they will remain in Region III, which means the path through the playoffs will go through the north and northeast area schools instead of south and southwest.

But at the end of the day, Jackson was upbeat about the move La Marque’s most passionate fans had dreaded for years — the drop from Class 4A because of dwindling enrollment.

“I’m happy for the kids because they’ll have the opportunity to compete against schools of similar size and resources,” Jackson said.

The biggest concern about La Marque’s move is the potential of rising travel costs to reach farther district opponents. La Marque’s new district foes are an average of 47.2 miles away instead of the 17.1-mile average separating the Cougars from their current District 24-4A opponents.

But because of a closer nondistrict schedule and a tight 50-mile radius that La Marque coaches will be mandated to stay within, Jackson anticipates minimal difference in travel costs.

“Taking all things into account, the travel situation will be very good,” Jackson said.

Next year, the Cougars will host the two district opponents farthest away — Sweeny and Columbia. La Marque’s road games will be against Stafford, KIPP Academy and KIPP Sunnyside, and the nondistrict football games will be against longtime rivals Texas City, Ball High and Friendswood. The Cougars had scheduled Santa Fe for Week 4, but Santa Fe’s eight-team district forced the school to scratch that game.

District 24-5A Loses Two, Gains One

District 24-5A will be even more Clear Creek ISD-concentrated next fall.

Clear Creek, Clear Brook, Clear Lake, Clear Springs and newcomer Clear Falls will join Dickinson and Brazoswood in District 24-5A, which loses Pearland and Alvin to District 22-5A.

Clear Springs coach Clint Hartman said the Chargers will scrimmage Pearland the next two years.

District 24-5A newcomer Clear Falls head coach Mike Zierlein said he was happy to see the Knights wouldn’t be facing Pearland in their first year of varsity competition.

“Anytime you take away a team that won a state championship two years ago, obviously, it’s a good thing,” Zierlein said. “But there are no cupcakes on the schedule.”

District 24-4A Gets A Baytown Look

In District 24-4A, Galveston County schools Ball High, Friendswood, Santa Fe and Texas City will stay together with Pearland Dawson. With the departure of Manvel, Clear Falls and La Marque, the district adds Baytown Lee, Goose Creek and Galena Park.

Ball and Texas City are expected to keep the rivalry with La Marque alive by playing the Cougars in nondistrict play.

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By The Numbers

2,090 — Minimum enrollment for Class 5A

1,005 — Minimum enrollment for Class 4A

185 — Days until football teams are allowed to begin practicing

25 — New schools in Class 5A, including Clear Falls and Manvel

15 — New schools in Class 3A, including La Marque

17.1 — Average mileage from La Marque to current District 24-4A opponents

47.2 — Average mileage from La Marque to future District 24-3A opponents