Class 2A: Dave Campbell's Texas Football ranks New Deal to start the season

Stephen Garcia, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
·2 min read
New Deal's Slade Martin runs after a catch against Forsan in a Class 2A Division I area playoff Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Wolf Stadium in Colorado City.
New Deal's Slade Martin runs after a catch against Forsan in a Class 2A Division I area playoff Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, at Wolf Stadium in Colorado City.

New Deal is expected to carry the torch for Class 2A in the South Plains, according to Dave Campbell's Texas Football.

The Lions will begin the season ranked No. 14 in 2A Division I. New Deal is the only area 2A team to make DCTF's preseason top 25.

The Lions are coming off an 11-2 campaign in which they reached the Region I-2A D-I semifinals. Cisco won 34-13 over New Deal, which played the playoff game without starting quarterback Harley Patterson, who injured his ankle the week before.

Patterson and star running back/linebacker Leric Eaton have since graduated, but the Lions return an experienced bunch. New Deal has 14 starters coming back — seven on each side of the ball.

South Plains football: Dave Campbell's Texas Football projects Jayton, Motley County to be in title mix

DCTF sees the group winning District 2-2A D-I, which swapped Olton in for Hale Center. Floydada, Post, Sundown and Tahoka round out the league.

Post and Sundown each won a playoff game last season, but each will be under the direction of a new coach. Former Jacksboro head coach Brannon Rodgers took the Roughnecks job, while the Antelopes are looking for a replacement after Michael Pittman resigned earlier this week.

New Home and Seagraves also each earned playoff wins in D-II, and now the two share a district. DCTF has the Leopards finishing in front of the Eagles for the district title. Ropes, Plains, Smyer and Morton are set to duke it out for the other two playoff berths, according to the predictions.

Ralls is projected to win a new-look District 3-2A D-II. The Jackrabbits enter as favorites ahead of Bovina, Sudan, Lockney, Hale Center and Crosbyton. Ralls, Lockney and Crosbyton were together in Region II last alignment.

Dave Campbell's Texas Football projections

CLASS 2A DIVISION I

DISTRICT 1

1. Stratford

2. Panhandle

3. Farwell

4. Sanford-Fritch

5. Amarillo Highland Park

6. Stinnett West Texas

DISTRICT 2

1. New Deal

2. Post

3. Sundown

4. Olton

5. Floydada

6. Tahoka

CLASS 2A DIVISION II

DISTRICT 3

1. Ralls

2. Bovina

3. Sudan

4. Lockney

5. Hale Center

6. Crosbyton

DISTRICT 4

1. New Home

2. Seagraves

3. Ropes

4. Plains

5. Smyer

6. Morton

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: New Deal sole Class 2A team on Dave Campbell's Texas football rankings