Brownwood head football coach and athletic director Sammy Burnett had openly hoped the Lions would find their way back into Region I of Class 4A Division I, and the UIL delivered positive news with the release of its biennial realignment Thursday night.

For the 2022 and 2023 football seasons, the Lions will reside in District 2-4A Division I – located in Region I – and will compete against Andrews, Big Spring, Lubbock Estacado and San Angelo Lake View in league competition.

“We feel like it’s a blessing and new life playing new people,” said Burnett, who is 23-21 in four seasons coaching his alma mater, with four trips to the playoffs. “After four years of playing the same opponents it’s nice to get a fresh look at some other teams around the state. That’s exciting for us as coaches and our kids.”

Burnett stated the Lions coaching staff felt a move to Region I might become a reality after closer examination Wednesday.

“Yesterday we were looking as coaches and trying to get some kind of idea where we could go to try and finish our pre-district schedule,” Burnett said. “Coach (Andy) Howard mentioned if you look out west there was one district that had four teams, and that would be the only district with four teams and it would be difficult for them to schedule games. That gave me a little hope and sure enough when we pulled it up this morning we were moved to Region I with Andrews, Lubbock Estacado, Big Spring and San Angelo Lake View. Adding us made it a five-team district so now there’s no four-team districts out there.”

A year ago, the Lions’ future district foes combined for a 20-24 record – Estacado (7-4), Big Spring (5-5), Andrews (5-7), Lake View (3-8) – as three teams reached the playoffs, but only one (Big Spring) logged a postseason victory. Brownwood – which last won a playoff game in 2019 and last won a district championship in 2010 – is coming off a 4-7 season, but is expecting an influx of talent in 2022 from a junior varsity squad that posted a 10-0 record this fall.

The Lions’ home the last two seasons – District 5-4A Division I – kept reigning state champion Stephenville, perennial power Waco La Vega, Alvarado, and Waxahachie Life, while adding 2021 Class 4A Division II state champion China Spring. Brownwood and Midlothian Heritage, which moved up to 5A Division II, are the schools not returning.

“Regardless of where we were sent we’d be ready to face those opponents,” Burnett said. “Our kids are working hard but it’s nice to run into some districts where we feel like they’re about the same level now as our program. It gives us some hope and an opportunity to see different opponents and that’s exciting for kids and coaches to get a new look and see how you compete with other regions in other areas of the state. All in all we had a good draw today.”

As for the rest of Class 4A Division I Region I, District 1 – which Brownwood would meet in the opening round of the playoffs – consists of El Paso Austin, El Paso Bowie, El Paso Irvin, El Paso Riverside, and San Elizario. District 3 is made up of Canyon, Canyon Randall, Dumas, Hereford, and Pampa, while District 4 is comprised of Burkburnett, Decatur, Mineral Wells, Springtown, and Wichita Falls.

Burnett also revealed Brownwood’s pre-district foes for the next two seasons – Abilene Wylie in Week 1; Marble Falls in Week 2; Burnet in Week 3; Glen Rose in Week 4; Waco Connally in Week 5; and Stephenville in Week 6.