By Kevin Lonnquist
NTX Varsity Sports Columnist
Sometimes, as a journalist, you need to know when to step in and when to get out of the way.
Of course, a reporter has a job to do by collecting facts and talking to the parties involved in the story. However, the key is to use judgment and experience to not place yourself in the middle of it.
While it was movie, there were a lot of quotes from the 1987 movie Broadcast News that I adhere to when covering something. This line stemmed from a scene where a TV reporter had a cutaway of him tearing up when the woman being interviewed talked about a traumatic experience in her life.
While some in the newsroom watching the report heaped praise on what the reporter did, the cutaway drew the ire of the old guard reporter in the newsroom. He said succinctly: “Yes, let’s never forget that we’re the real story. Not them!”
With that in mind, your scribe will provide you reactions of this past Monday’s UIL realignment from our NTX Varsity Sports coverage teams, except for our private school All Saints.
We will link the districts each is in for football and the other sports. We will then share that school’s non-district schedule coupled with the reaction from each coach about what he thought. Snippets, if you will.
Let the coaches tell you what this move means. There is a caveat. If we could not collect the coach’s reaction, we will offer ours. This will go by classification order.
Class 6A
Robby Jones, Aledo
District for all sports (Class 6A): 3-6A Region I
Football Non-District Schedule (In order): North Crowley, Waco Midway, Euless Trinity
Reaction: On the Feb. 2 Aledo Coaches Show Podcast, Jones expressed surprise like many in Aledo about being grouped with the Arlington schools. Easy travel is a huge plus. Jones remained confident but happy to know they weren’t going West to be with the Midland and Odessa schools. The Bearcats’ Non-District schedule is nothing new. Aledo’s non-district schedule for 2024 and 2025 was against two 6A programs, Denton Guyer and Lancaster.
Bobby Allison, Granbury
District for all sports (Class 6A): 3-6A Region I
Football Non-District Schedule (in order): Cleburne, Waco, Irving
Reaction: Also surprised by the grouping with the Arlington schools. But Allison was relieved not to go West.
Aubrey Sims, Weatherford
District for all sports (Class 6A): 3-6A Region I
Football Non-District Schedule (in order): Burleson Centennial, Azle, Paschal
Reaction: I really anticipated going West. Travel was a big concern. This was the best-case scenario for us with travel.
Class 5A
A.J. Sheppard, Cleburne
Football District: 8-5A Division I Region II
Other Sports: 8-5A Region I
Football Non-District Schedule (in order): Granbury, Arlington Heights, Arlington Sam Houston
Reaction: Sheppard has been through this before when he was the defensive coordinator at Mansfield Lake Ridge. He was in a district with the Southern Dallas County schools – DeSoto and Cedar Hill – and understands what it will take to compete.
Jeremy Mullins, Eagle Mountain
Football District: 3-5A Division II Region I
Other Sports: 5-5A Region I
Football Non-District Schedule (in order): Decatur, Graham, Joshua, Krum, Nevada Community
Reaction: “There’s definitely no weeks off! Looking forward to the new challenges that are ahead in moving up two divisions for us football wise. We are going to get a good look at what the best teams in the state look like in our division.”
Eugene Robinson, Corsicana
Football District: 7-5A Division II Region II
Other Sports: 15-5A Region II
Football Non-District Schedule (in order): Irving, North Mesquite, Hallsville
Reaction: “Spot the ball”
Class 4A
Steve Huff, Decatur
Football District: 4-4A Division I Region I
Other Sports: 7-4A Region I
Football Non-District Schedule (in order): Eagle Mountain, Denison, Wichita Falls Memorial
Reaction: “I think it is a very strong district. That coupled with our non-district games (All Class 5A schools) we have a full slate of great matchups.”
Brian Hulett, Springtown
Football District: 4-4A Division I Region I
Other Sports: 7-4A Region I
Football Non-District Schedule (in order): Brock, Waco Robinson, Brownwood
Reaction: “District is a good one. Probably one of the top 2-3 in the state. Add to it the non-district schedule and it’s the toughest schedule we’ve had since I’ve been here. Really looking forward to it.”
Aaron Cupp, Bridgeport
Football District: 4-4A Division II Region I
Other Sports: 7-4A Region I
Football Non-District Schedule (in order): Gainesville, Bowie, Whitesboro, Ponder, Henrietta
Reaction: “District is roughly the same. Still some heavy hitters to overcome. There are a lot of good football teams.”
Cliff Watkins, Glen Rose
Football District: 5-4A Division II Region II
Other Sports: 6-4A Region I
Football Non-District Schedule (in order): Grandview, Gatesville, Godley, China Spring, Waco Robinson, Midland Greenwood
Reaction: “I knew there were a lot of different scenarios for the way our district could end up. But I did not see this one coming.”
Cody Worrell, Mineral Wells
Football District: 4-4A Division II Region I
Other Sports: 6-4A Region I
Football Non-District Schedule (in order): Vernon, Pilot Point, Andrews, Carrollton R.L. Turner, Boyd
Reaction: “I felt like this was where we’d end up. Obviously, there were several possible scenarios. You never know how it’s going to shake out. But it’s another tough, well-coached district. And the Rams are excited to compete with these great teams over the next two seasons.”
Chris Taber, Krum
Football District: 6-4A Division II Region II
Other Sports: 9-4A Region II
Football Non-District Schedule (in order): Kennedale, Burkburnett, Lake Dallas, Eagle Mountain, Paradise
Reaction: “Our district stayed about the same which is good. Less travel which is great.”
Class 3A
Tommy Koch, Paradise
Football District: 4-3A Division I Region I
Other Sports: 8-3A Region I
Football Non-District Schedule (in order): Ponder, Godley, Graham, Fort Worth Christian, Krum
Reaction: Koch said at halftime of the streamed broadcast of the girls basketball game this past Tuesday that the district was about what he expected. Koch also said the non-district schedule was arguably the most difficult in program history. There are three Class 4A programs on the schedule between Godley, Graham and Krum.
Shawn Sparks, Boyd
Football District: 4-3A Division I Region I
Other Sports: 8-3A Region I
Football Non-District Schedule: Tolar, Jacksboro, Henrietta, Pilot Point, Mineral Wells, Venus
Reaction: I’m happy with where we ended up. We are building still and it allows us to have some non-district games to improve and work.
Jamie Driskell, Malakoff
Football District: 7-3A Division I Region II
Other Sports: 15-3A Region II
Football Non-District Schedule: N/A
NTX Reaction: Jamie Driskell’s program rebounded from a slow start in the 2025 to finish with a solid season. Be assured he will have his team ready to compete against every demand for the next two seasons.
Jeff Callahan, Mildred
Football District: 11-3A Division II Region III
Other Sports: 16-3A Region II
Football Non-District Schedule: Palmer, Rockdale, Centerville, Thorndale, Axtell
NTX Reaction: Callahan has been through the move from 3A Division II to 2A Division I and now back up the ladder to 3A Division II. His program should be able to compete. The non-district is a challenge.
