The release of the new High School Football District shows a major change for a Lakes Area School.

The Forsyth Panthers has moved up to Class 3 and will join fellow Lakes Area Schools Hollister and Reeds Spring in District 6, which will also include Aurora, Cassville, East Newton, and Seneca. With Hollister and Reeds Spring also joining Forsyth in the Mid-Lakes Conference this year, this could mean a possible second match-up between the schools. 

Meanwhile, the Branson Pirates, who themselves moved to the newly formed Ozark Mountain Conference this season, could see some old Central Ozark Conference foes in postseason. Republic and Willard join the Pirates in Class 5 District 6 as will Springfield Schools Central, Glendale, Hillcrest, and Parkview. Hillcrest is also a member of the new Ozark Mountain Conference and will play the Pirates this season while Parkview is one of Branson's non-conference opponents. Glendale is one of the school's that took Branson's place in the COC and lost to the Pirates in last season's Class 5 District Playoffs. 

The first nine games of the regular season will determine the rankings in each district and the match-ups for Week 10 of the season.