25 Coastal Bend Football Teams Face First Round of UIL Playoffs

Twenty-five high school football programs from the Coastal Bend region advance to the first round of the University Interscholastic League playoffs this week. The slate includes matchups across the 5A, 4A, 3A, and 2A divisions. Most games are scheduled for Friday evening, while a smaller group plays on Thursday night.

The region’s most recent state championship came in 2019 when Refugio won the title. The team has also finished as runner-up in 2022, 2017, 2015, 2013, and 1987. Other Coastal Bend schools have deep playoff histories. Calallen reached the state final in 2016 and 2005. Sinton made the final in 2001, and Mathis did so in 1999. Older records show state titles for schools like Ray in 1959 and Solomon Coles in 1960.

The 5A-DI division features three Coastal Bend teams. Veterans Memorial plays McAllen Memorial at 7 p.m. Friday at Buccaneer Stadium. Carroll faces La Joya Palmview at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Cabaniss Field. Flour Bluff takes on McAllen Nikki Rowe at 7 p.m. Thursday at McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium. In 5A-DII, No. 8 Gregory-Portland hosts Pioneer at 7 p.m. Friday at Ray Akins Wildcat Stadium. Ray plays Laredo Cigarroa at 7 p.m. Thursday at Buccaneer Stadium.

The 4A-DI bracket lists four Coastal Bend entries. No. 4 Calallen faces Hidalgo at 7 p.m. Friday at Phil Danaher Stadium. Miller plays Zapata at 7 p.m. Friday at Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Javelina Stadium. Tuloso-Midway meets Alice at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Alice. In 4A-DII, Rockport-Fulton plays Gonzales at 7 p.m. Friday at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Beeville. London faces Navarro at 7 p.m. Friday in Karnes City. Ingleside plays Cuero at 7 p.m. Thursday in Beeville. H.M. King hosts Bandera at 7 p.m. Thursday in Pleasanton.

Three teams represent the region in the 3A-DI division. No. 8 Sinton plays Lyford at 7 p.m. Thursday in Sinton. Orange Grove faces Raymondville at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Falfurrias. San Diego plays Mathis at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Odem. The 3A-DII bracket includes two Coastal Bend teams. No. 3 George West hosts Nixon Smiley at 7:30 p.m. Friday in George West. Hebbronville plays Blanco at 7 p.m. Friday in Natalia.

The 2A-DI division features three Coastal Bend teams. Refugio plays Weimar at 7 p.m. Friday in Cuero. Taft faces Ganado at 7 p.m. Thursday in Taft. Freer plays Shiner at 7 p.m. Thursday in Karnes City. The 2A-DII division has two entries. Three Rivers plays Ben Bolt at 7 p.m. Friday in Sinton. Agua Dulce faces Falls City at 7 p.m. Thursday in Pettus.