Dave Campbell's predictions for 5A DII Big Country high school football teams

[ASFN Admin]

With summer nearing its end and fall just around the corner, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has analyzed and made preseason predictions for Class 5A Texas high school football teams across the Lone Star State.

Next up in the 2026 Texas high school football preseason predictions is Class 5A Division II.

In the Big Country and West Texas area, there is one 5A DII district that includes many of the most talented teams in the greater Abilene area — District 2-5A DII.


Before diving into DCTF’s predictions for this West Texas district, the Amarillo Palo Duro Dons were the only District 2-5A DII squad to secure a spot in Dave Campbell’s preseason 5A DII statewide rankings at No. 18 following their trip to the area round of the 5A DII UIL football playoffs last year.

Amarillo Palo Duro quarterback Julian Reese II and Abilene Wylie linebacker Bo Kates were recognized as DCTF’s Preseason Offensive and Defensive MVPs, respectively, for District 2-5A DII.

Here is what Dave Campbell’s analyzed and predicted for the Big Country, Abilene-area’s Class 5A Division II district.

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District 2-5A DII​

Preseason Offensive MVP – QB Julian Reese II, Amarillo Palo Duro

Preseason Defensive MVP – LB Bo Kates, Abilene Wylie

1. Amarillo Palo Duro Dons

Enrollment – 1,893

Head Coach – Chip Darden

Lettermen – Returning 23, Leaving 42

Starters returning – Offense 6; Defense 5

2024 Season Results – Area finalist, 8-4 overall; 2-4 district

2. Abilene Wylie Bulldogs

Enrollment – 1,517

Head Coach – Clay Martin

Lettermen – Returning 33, Leaving 44

Starters returning – Offense 5; Defense 2

2024 Season Results – Area finalist, 9-2 overall; 6-0 district

3. Abilene Cooper Cougars

Enrollment – 1,695

Head Coach – Marc Bindel

Lettermen – Returning 25, Leaving 40

Starters returning – Offense 5; Defense 5

2024 Season Results – Area finalist, 9-3 overall; 5-1 district

4. Lubbock Cooper Pirates

Enrollment – 1,900

Head Coach – Eric Mims Sr.

Lettermen – Returning 25, Leaving 18

Starters returning – Offense 8; Defense 8

2024 Season Results – 5-5 overall; 2-4 district

5. Wichita Falls Memorial Mavericks

Enrollment – 1,777.5

Head Coach – Aaron Roan

Lettermen – Returning 24, Leaving 27

Starters returning – Offense 7; Defense 4

2024 Season Results – Bi-district finalist; 4-7 overall; 3-3 district

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6. Wichita Falls Legacy Leopards

Enrollment – 1,436

Head Coach – Wyatt Martinez

Lettermen – Returning 27, Leaving 21

Starters returning – Offense 9; Defense 4

2024 Season Results – 3-7 overall; 1-5 district

7. Lubbock Coronado Mustangs

Enrollment – 1,868

Head Coach – Greg Davis

Lettermen – Returning 28, Leaving 10

Starters returning – Offense 6; Defense 5

2024 Season Results – 0-10 overall; 0-6 district

Statewide postseason picks​

Class 5A Division II

Region I – Argyle over Lucas Lovejoy

Region II – South Oak Cliff over Brenham

Region III – Port Neches-Groves over Fort Bend Crawford

Region IV – Boerne over Alamo Heights

State Champion – South Oak Cliff

Andrew McCulloch covers Big Country area high school sports and Abilene Christian University sports for The Abilene Reporter-News. Reach him at [email protected]. Follow him on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @ByAndyMcCulloch.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Dave Campbell's predictions for 5A DII Big Country high school football teams

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