Two long‑standing high‑school football rivalries in the ArkLaTex region are set to shape the playoff picture this weekend. In District 9‑3A Division II, New Boston and DeKalb will meet with the No. 2 seed on the line, while in District 10‑2A Division II, James Bowie and Maud will battle for the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds.
New Boston vs. DeKalb – District 9‑3A
Both teams have already secured a spot in the postseason and sit behind district champion Hooks, which leads the district at 5‑0. New Boston (5‑4 overall) and DeKalb (6‑3 overall) are tied at 4‑1 in district play, meaning the winner of their rivalry will claim the No. 2 seed and the loser will fall to No. 3.
New Boston entered district play with a 1‑3 record but rallied with four wins in their last five games, including a narrow loss to Hooks. The Lions are eager to snap DeKalb’s dominance in the series; the Bears have not lost to the Lions since 2016.
DeKalb started the season 1‑2 before stringing together five wins in six games, highlighted by a 66‑point outburst against Daingerfield last week. The Bears (6‑3) also sit at 4‑1 in district play, with their only district loss a 48‑46 defeat to Hooks.
James Bowie vs. Maud – District 10‑2A
In the neighboring district, the James Bowie Pirates and the Maud Cardinals are locked in a fight for the third and fourth seeds. Both clubs sit at 2‑2 in district play, trailing Clarksville and Detroit, who will contest the district title.
The Pirates (5‑4 overall, 4‑2 in their last six games) earned a playoff berth with a recent win over Big Sandy, propelled by a strong rushing attack led by Nate Potter and Cole Gipson. Maud (4‑5 overall) is guided by quarterback Ryker Bailey and has won the last two meetings in the series, the most recent victory coming in 2023.
Because both teams share identical district records, the outcome of this game will determine who receives the No. 3 seed and who settles for No. 4. The winner will also gain a tiebreaker advantage over Big Sandy, which could finish with the same district record as the loser.
Implications for the Playoffs
Securing a higher seed can provide a more favorable matchup in the first round of the postseason, potentially easing the path to a district championship. Both districts feature competitive fields, and these rivalry games add the extra intensity of local pride to the playoff stakes.
Fans in New Boston, DeKalb, James Bowie and Maud are encouraged to attend the games and support their teams as the season draws to a close. The outcomes will set the stage for the upcoming district playoffs, where the top seeds will look to continue their strong performances and vie for a state title.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
