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Toughest districts
The UIL's biennial redistricting put six of last year's playoff teams in the Southeast Texas-based District 21-3A, making it among the most competitive in the state. Only three of the district's eight teams can qualify for the playoffs, meaning at least three teams will be sent packing after Week 10. Here's how 21-3A stacks up against other districts around the state:
5A - Six teams from the Dallas area-based District 9 went to the playoffs last year. Each of the eight teams in that district has made the playoffs at least once in the last two years. Four districts have four playoff qualifiers from a year ago. Division II state champion Southlake Carroll is the only team in District 5 that made the playoffs last year. Four teams qualify for the playoffs from each district this year in 5A, one more than in previous years.
4A - Southeast Texas-based District 22 is one of seven districts that has four playoff teams from a year ago. Central, Ozen, Dayton and Nederland are among last year's playoff qualifiers that will vie for three playoff spots this season. Two districts have five playoff qualifiers from last year.
3A - Two districts near the Dallas-Fort Worth area have five teams that made the playoffs last year, and five districts have four playoff teams. Five of the six teams in District 8 and four of the five teams in District 18 qualified for the playoffs.
2A - Division I state champion Newton is in one of five districts with five of last year's playoff teams. The five districts with five playoff teams are the most of any conference. Conferences 4A and 3A both have two districts in which five teams qualified for the playoffs, and 5A and A have none.
A - Only one district, No. 25, has as many as four playoff qualifiers. This is the first season in which three teams will qualify from each of the 24 districts that offer 11-man football. Only two teams qualified in previous seasons.