Sports

It has come down to this for the Calvert Trojans as they approach the end of district play. They have a one-game lead over the Bartlett Bulldogs going into the final game of the regular season.

The buzz this week in Calvert has been the UIL realignment for the 2020- 22 seasons. Calvert had figured they would add a team to the four-team district of Buckholts, Oglesby, McDade and themselves but the UIL had different ideas. Instead of adding a team to their district they removed the Trojans from the district altogether. Now instead of being in district 14-1A, they were shifted into 13-1A with Chester, Oak wood, and Apple Springs. Their old district is now Oglesby, Buckholts, Dime Box, and McDade. On paper, it would look to be a bit stronger group for the Trojans to compete against especially with Oakwood being one of the three. However, Apple Springs (5-5) and Chester (3-6) have been down the past few years and to be exact the last time Chester was on the Trojans schedule they forfeited the game in 2017. The other game was a 60-0 rout in 2016. The Trojans have never played Apple Springs so this will be their initial run-in with each other. Calvert is familiar with Oakwood, having played the Panthers five times before and losing only once in 2017, 54-50. The matchup between these two could prove interesting especially since the Trojans ran roughshod over them this year.

Realignment has come to UIL sports and especially to teams found in the Brazos Valley. The Hearne Eagles felt the brunt of the new plan when not only did they change district numbers but they find themselves in an entirely different region for the 2020 season. They went from Region 4 to Region 3 and from district 13-2A to district 12-2A. They lose two teams from the district and gain two others. Gone are Marlin and Milano and taking their place will be Bruceville-Eddy and Moody. That move seems odd not only to me but also to Coach Sargent who questioned why they drive past Marlin to go play Moody and Bruceville Eddy and Marlin is not in their district anymore. He thinks the district will get tougher with the addition of Bruceville Eddy who won their district last year and finished with a 9-2 record making the playoffs. Moody was in the same district but struggled mightily. These two additions replace the two weaker teams that departed. The new district includes Bruceville Eddy, Holland, Moody, Rosebud Lott, Thorndale, and Thrall. Along with Holland, Bruceville Eddy will be among the favorites along with the Eagles.