The Iowa High School Athletic Association today announced district assignments for high school football across the state for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

West Branch has been assigned to District 3 (Class 1A) along with the following teams:

• Bellevue (4-5 in 2015)
• Clayton Ridge (4-5)
• Durant (1-8)
• Jesup (6-3)
• Maquoketa Valley (7-2, Class A)
• North Cedar (2-7)
• Tipton (7-2, Class 2A)

During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, West Branch will face those seven teams during district play, both home and away.

As there are now eight teams per district, that means there are seven district games and only two out-of-district games.

Check out all district assignments over on the IHSAA's website by clicking here.

Next up for the IHSAA is to put together and release the entire 2016 and 2017 schedules. This will reveal not only the Bears' two out-of-district opponents but the locations of all games for each of the next two seasons. Typically, schedules are announced by the end of February so we can expect to see them released around that time.

Later this evening, look for a special out-of-season Talking Bear Football podcast to discuss the districts as well as some other West Branch Football news and events.