By Robert Proctor
The Cuero Record

Yoakum High School athletics dropped from the UIL 4A-Division II to 3A-Division I on Monday, Feb. 1. Cuero remains at the 4A-Division II level, but the Gobblers will continue their county rivalry with the Bulldogs.

Cuero will meet Yoakum during non-district along with longtime rival Gonzales and renew an old rivalry with Floresville.

The Gobblers open non-district against Houston Kipp Generations High School, followed by Yoakum, Floresville, Gonzales and Columbus, per Cuero athletic director and head football coach Travis Reeve.

During district, Cuero will continue to play Sinton and Ingleside. Wharton, Aransas Pass and Sweeny have also moved into the Gobbler’s district for the following two seasons in Class 4A-Division II, District 15.

“Wharton coming in put us in a scramble mode,” Reeve said.

The Wharton Tigers had been a non-district oppenent of the Gobblers of late, but that changed on realignment day, forcing Reeve to find an extra non-district oppenent.

With Gonzales moving from 4A-Division I to Division II, there was the possibility of the Gobblers and Apaches meeting again in district. When it was determined that would not be the case, the rivalry games with Gonzales and Yoakum became a natural fit for non-district.

Houston Kipp Generations High School is a private school who generally plays 4A teams and have many athletes with speed from the Houston area. Adding Sweeney and Wharton to the district, coach Reeve was looking for oppenents with speed in non-district.

Floresville, a 5A school, called looking for an oppenent, per coach Reeve, and Columbus was a team Cuero has played the last few seasons.

Coach Reeve noted, “When you have success, it’s harder to find games.