Chances are, your favorite uniforms are a throwback to your team.

The world was never a better place than the summer before your senior year of high school.

And in that sense, the UIL gave Central Texas football fans a gift when realignment brought the old gang back together. The six-pack of La Vega, Connally, China Spring, Robinson, Lorena and Gatesville ended up together in one district again.

The same group that formed an identical district every year between 2004 and 2007, and then again during the 2010-2011 cycle, will compete against each other on the football field again for at least the next two seasons.

“I think the UIL did the right thing and that’s the way it should be,” Connally coach Terry Gerik said.

For the past 10 years, the UIL has split most football classifications into two divisions. Around here, that meant some schools like La Vega, China Spring and Gatesville were placed in Division I districts, at least for a time.

But when the UIL published the classification and subdivision limits last December, a different but still recognizable picture emerged.

China Spring and La Vega would both be 4A Division II schools. Lorena, on the other hand, would go from being one of the largest 3A Division I programs in the state to being one of the smallest in 4A Division II.

Since Robinson, Connally and Gatesville would compete in the 4A Division II, a merger of the six schools from Central Texas would be an obvious choice.

And that’s exactly what happened.

La Vega coach Don Hyde, who attended Robinson High School and coached in Gatesville, likes the familiarity.

“We know these guys and they know us,” Hyde said. “It’s like being among friends again and not having to travel as far. It brings more of a community feel to it. We don’t know the fans in Stephenville, but we know the fans in Robinson, we know the fans in Gatesville.”

Aaron Hunter is the head coach at his alma mater, Gatesville, where he played for the Hornets when they were in the running for the 17-3A season. Hunter’s only prediction for the reunion, if it is anything like its predecessors, is that it will be unpredictable.

“That’s the thing about 17-3A, anybody will tell you, anybody can beat anybody on any Friday night,” Hunter said. “There were some knockout games.”

Gatesville in Coryell County is the only school in the district outside of McLennan County, but the Hornets don’t consider the drive to the Waco area too far.

The other five are all in each other’s backyards. La Vega is only a seven-minute drive from Connally and less than twenty from China Spring and Robinson, even during rush hour.

Lorena spent the last four years in 3A Division I, but kept China Spring on the schedule the whole time and La Vega the last two seasons because they didn’t have to travel far for good games.

Short journeys also mean full stands on the guest side.

“We’re all close together here,” said Lorena coach Kevin Johnson. “These are great games. The fans are here, so you don’t have to travel much. Close rivalries develop.”

There’s a lot of context and meaning behind the rivalries, too. Five of the six programs have appeared in a state championship game since 2000. The remaining school, Connally, has been a regular in the playoffs recently, winning district championships in 2019, 2022 and 2023.

Of course, China Spring, La Vega and Lorena have won five state titles together in the last decade.

This season, La Vega is the established leader with the most returning starters and influential players, making the Pirates the clear favorite. But with China Spring and Lorena each having to replace a busload of departed stars, and Gatesville and Robinson looking to be on the rise, the order of play is pure speculation.

Robinson head coach Chris Lancaster only knows the district from the outside so far. But he knows what he’s getting into this season.

“I was able to coach at Baylor on and off for about 10 years,” Lancaster said. “You always knew that district and knew that they played very good football.”

“I can’t sleep at night.”