Joey D. RichardsAbilene Reporter-News
We’re down to the last two weeks of the regular season, and we’re starting to separate the pretenders from the contenders when it comes to playoff spots and that all important district title.
Which teams will be playing in the second week of November, and which ones will stay home?
We’ll have a better idea after this weekend.
Amarillo High at Abilene High
7 p.m. Friday, Shotwell Stadium
This is the regular-season finale for Abilene High, and the Eagles can win the District 2-5A Division I title outright with a victory.
Abilene High (7-2 overall, 5-0 district) has already clinched at least a share of its first league title since 2016, while Amarillo High (4-4, 3-1) and Lubbock-Cooper (5-3, 3-1) all still have a shot at a piece of the title.
Abilene High beat Lubbock-Cooper 38-35, while the Pirates beat Amarillo High 49-14.
The Sandies still have Lubbock Monterey (3-5, 1-3) at home on Nov. 2, while Lubbock-Cooper plays Amarillo Caprock (1-8, 0-5) at home in its district finale Nov. 3.
So, it’s still possible the Eagles could be the No. 3 seed and open the playoffs on the road.
Abilene High, which has won five straight games, can avoid the mess with a victory — nailing down the No. 1 seed and a home playoff game.
Amarillo High, which won last year's meeting 17-10 in Amarillo, leads the series 11-10.
The pick: Abilene High 48, Amarillo High 17
More: High School football High School Football: Abilene High blasts Lubbock Coronado; Wylie races past Lubbock High
More: High School football High School Football: Second-quarter surge lifts Abilene Cooper over Plainview
Abilene Cooper at Lubbock High
7 p.m. Thursday, Lowrey Field
Cooper (3-5, 2-1) has a chance to take a three-game win streak into next week’s regular-season finale against Wylie at Shotwell Stadium — a game that should decide the No. 2 seed in District 2-5A Division II and a home playoff game.
Lubbock High (2-6, 0-3) is 0-9 all-time against the Cougars and most of those games have been over by halftime.
The Westerners, who have lost four consecutive games, have been outscored 151-43 in district thus far, including 52-7 against Wylie last week.
The pick: Abilene Cooper 45, Lubbock High 7
Amarillo Palo Duro at Abilene Wylie
7 p.m. Friday, Hugh Sandifer Stadium
Wylie (5-3, 2-1) can win its second straight game and gain some momentum going into next week’s grudge match with Cooper.
Palo Duro (3-4, 1-2) is tied with Plainview (5-3, 1-2) for the fourth and final playoff berth, and the Dons, who lost to Rider 49-20 last week, could use a big lift going into next week’s game with Plainview — which plays Wichita Falls Rider (6-2, 3-0) this week.
The pick: Wylie 38, Palo Duro 17
Stamford at Hawley
7 p.m. Friday, Forrest Field
The District 4-2A Division I title is up for grabs as defending state champion Hawley (6-2, 4-0) battles red-hot Stamford (7-0, 4-0).
Hawley, which has played in the state title game two consecutive years, has losses to Jim Ned (34-12 in the season opener) and defending 2A D-II champion Albany (27-14). Since that loss to Albany, Hawley has outscored district opponents 201-19.
Stamford coach Wayne Hutchinson, who led the Bulldogs to three consecutive state title game appearances (2011-13), winning the last two, before leaving for Lubbock Monterey, has the Bulldogs believing they can do it again in his first year back with the program.
Stamford has outscored foes 44.5-7.8 this season, including 47.5-9 in district.
The pick: Hawley 28, Stamford 27
Jim Ned at Vernon
7 p.m. Friday, Lion Stadium
While Clyde (8-0, 3-0) appears to be running away with the District 3-3A Division I title, Jim Ned (6-2, 2-1) and Vernon (7-1, 2-1) are still battling Iowa Park (3-5, 2-1) for the No. 2 seed.
Iowa Park hosts Clyde this week, before going to Jim Ned next week. Vernon still has Bowie (1-7, 1-7).
Jim Ned, which beat Breckenridge 42-14 last week, has a chance to finish the regular season strong and take some momentum into the playoffs.
That won’t be easy against a Vernon team that’s blistered its last two opponents — Breckenridge 42-20 and Iowa Park 48-27 — since a 60-36 loss to Clyde.
The pick: Jim Ned 35, Vernon 28
BEST SIX-MAN GAME
Jonesboro at May
7:30 p.m. Friday, Tiger Field
May (7-2, 3-0) has a chance to kill two demons in one night. The Tigers can win the District 14-1A D-I title outright and knock off the No. 5 team in the state in their regular-season finale.
Jonesboro (7-1, 2-0) has reeled off six consecutive wins since a 60-14 loss to defending 1A D-I champion Westbrook.
May has losses to No. 2 1A DI Knox City (64-14) and No. 2 1A D-II Oglesby (54-8).
The pick: May 54, Jonesboro 52
Big Country Power Rankings
Class 3A/4A
1. Clyde (8-0) – Beat Bowie 48-21; Up next: at Iowa Park
2. Stephenville (6-2) – Beat China Spring 31-21; Up next: at Alvarado
3. Brownwood (8-1) – Beat Lubbock Estacado 35-14; Up next: Andrews
4. Jim Ned (6-2) – Beat Breckenridge 42-14; Up next: at Vernon
5. Sweetwater (5-3) – Lost to Graham 58-14; Up next: Wichita Falls Hirschi
Class 2A
1. Albany (8-0) – Beat Roscoe 44-7; Up next: Hamlin
2. Stamford (7-0) – Beat Anson 41-7; Up next: at Hawley
3. Hawley (5-2) – Beat Olney 51-7; Up next: Stamford
4. Roscoe (6-2) – Lost to Albany 44-7; Up next: Miles
5. Coleman (6-2) – Bye; Up next: at De Leon
Class 1A
1. Benjamin (8-0) – Beat Harrold 69-6; Up next: Chillicothe
2. Gordon (8-0) – Beat Lingleville 61-0; Up next: at Baird
3. Knox City (8-0) – Beat Vernon Northside 62-0; Up next: at Turkey Valley (Thursday)
4. Jayton (9-0) – Beat Matador Motley County 60-14; Up next: at Afton Patton Springs (Nov. 4)
5. Westbrook (7-1) – Beat Hermleigh 76-30; Up next: at Ira
WEEK 10 SCHEDULE
Thursday's Games
CLASS 5A
*Abilene Cooper at Lubbock High, 7 p.m.
CLASS 3A
*Merkel at Comanche, 7 p.m.
CLASS 1A
*Lingleville at Perrin-Whitt, 7:30 p.m.
*Knox City at Turkey Valley, 7:30 p.m.
Priddy at Ranger, 7:30 p.m.
Friday's Games
CLASS 5A
*Amarillo High at Abilene High, 7 p.m.
*Amarillo Palo Duro at Abilene Wylie, 7 p.m.
CLASS 4A
*Andrews at Brownwood, 7 p.m.
*Lubbock Estacado at Big Spring, 7 p.m.
*Wichita Falls Hirschi at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
*Stephenville at Alvarado, 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 3A
*Bowie at Breckenridge, 7 p.m.
*Clyde at Iowa Park, 7 p.m.
*Eastland at Dublin, 7 p.m.
*Lubbock Roosevelt at Coahoma, 7 p.m.
*Jim Ned at Vernon, 7 p.m.
*TLCA-San Angelo at Ballinger, 7 p.m.
*Wall at Early, 7 p.m.
CLASS 2A
*Cisco at Anson, 7 p.m.
*Coleman at De Leon, 7 p.m.
*Cross Plains at TLCA-Abilene, 7 p.m.
*Electra at Haskell, 7 p.m.
*Hamilton at Bangs, 7 p.m.
*Hamlin at Albany, 7 p.m.
*Miles at Roscoe, 7 p.m.
*Olney at Colorado City, 7 p.m.
*Stamford at Hawley, 7 p.m.
CLASS 1A
*Aspermont at Guthrie, 7:30 p.m.
*Blackwell at Bronte, 7:30 p.m.
*Blanket at Sidney, 7:30 p.m.
*Brookesmith at Cherokee, 7:30 p.m.
*Bryson at Gorman, 7:30 p.m.
*Chillicothe at Benjamin, 7:30 p.m.
*Denton Cavalry at Abilene Christian High, 7:30 p.m.
*Eden at Robert Lee, 7:30 p.m.
*Gordon at Baird, 7:30 p.m.
*Gustine at Mullin, 7:30 p.m.
*Hermleigh at Highland, 7:30 p.m.
*Jonesboro at May, 7:30 p.m.
*Loraine at Trent, 7:30 p.m.
*Moran at Paint Rock, 7:30 p.m.
*Paint Creek at Throckmorton, 7:30 p.m.
*Panther Creek at Rising Star, 7:30 p.m.
*Rotan at Roby, 7:30 p.m.
*Santa Anna at Evant, 7:30 p.m.
*Strawn at Forestburg, 7:30 p.m.
*Westbrook at Ira, 7:30 p.m.
*Woodson at Lueders-Avoca, 7:30 p.m.
*District game
