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Shorthorns get their 6-man football district assignment

February 9th, 2012 under Education » Sports » Top Stories

By ALBERTO TOMAS HALPERN

MARFA – The University Interscholastic League announced last week the new realignment for school districts throughout the state. As has been reported in the past, Marfa ISD will now play six-man football, putting the school in a new football district conference.

Marfa will now compete in district football games against Fort Davis, Garden City and Rankin. Non-district competitors will include Grandfalls, Sanderson, Balmorhea, Sierra Blanca, Fort Hancock and a couple of private El Paso schools.

The realignment also affects basketball, pitting Marfa against district competitors Balmorhea, Dell City, Fort Davis, Sierra Blanca, and Valentine.

“I wasn’t surprised,” Marfa ISD Athletic Director Jeff Jones said of the realignment. “I’m really excited about it for the kids. It’s going to be a fun time,” Jones said, adding that there is a small but natural feeling of nervousness with a big change like this.

As far as the next football season goes, Jones said, “It’s going to be the best six-man district in Texas, bar-none.”

The new district will cut down on travel a bit but games in Rankin and Garden City will still be a trek.

“It has cut down travel for the most part, but we’re still going to have to travel no matter what,” said Jones.

Another reason Jones is excited about the coming changes is that the realignment will give Marfa a better chance to more junior varsity teams if there is the same level of participation as last year.

Marfa basketball district

Marfa

Fort Davis

Balmorhea

Dell City

Sierra Blanca

Valentine

Alpine football district

Alpine

Big Lake Reagan Co.

Coahoma

Crane