Three recent state champions and five playoff teams from last year are in the District of Doom.

Jack Stallard of the Longview News-Journal says, "It's almost like the UIL is pulling a cruel prank on the teams in East Texas.  They threw in Bullard, Kilgore and defending state champion Chapel Hill. It's an incredible district. The playoff teams in the district played 20 extra games last year. How big is that? All of those extra practices for an extra four or five weeks, that means JV kids are practicing with the varsity, getting that experience. That's huge when young kids have playoff experience. Almost every team has that. A very good team, maybe a couple, are going to be left at home come playoff time because the top teams are just that good."