The Early Longhorns are ahead of last year’s pace, when first-time head coach and athletic director Marvin Wilson was learning on the run.

“My feet are good and wet now,” said Wilson, who finished 5-6 and gained a share of the district championship in his initial season as Early’s coach. “When we started practice this year, you could tell we were way ahead of last year. Everyone knew what to do, and things went a lot smoother.”

It’s a good thing the Longhorns are ahead of their 2025 pace because the UIL realignment elevated them to Class 3A Division I and placed them in a district with Wall, Llano and Ingram Moore. Wall won the Class 3A DII state championship with a 16-0 record last year before also elevating. Llano (13-2) advanced to the Class 3A DI state semifinals last year, and Ingram (7-6) reached the regional semifinals.