Placed in a district with No. 3 Stephenville, No. 4 Waco La Vega, No. 14 China Spring and Gatesville, a 7-4 playoff qualifier a year ago, the Brownwood Lions will have as tough a path to the postseason as anyone in 2018.

Add a nondistrict slate of Class 3A Division I No. 1 Brock, Snyder, Class 4A Div. II No. 6 Graham and strong 5A outfits from Wichita Falls Rider and Wylie, and you have a nine-game schedule that is sure to test the Lions’ strength and durability.

But don’t expect this Brownwood group to be intimidated by the road ahead. First-year Lions coach Sammy Burnett, a former Brownwood Lion himself, won’t allow that to happen.