Blitz Picks December 3/4
Playing December football is a huge preseason goal for just about every team in the state, and a handful of Big Country squads will get to do just that. Five are alive in the playoffs, two will begin the postseason next week and Wylie is playing wait and see, hoping they will be a playoff team as well.
I know you’re dying to hear how my turkey turned out… and it was good! It actually turns out it was good thing I had the smoker (which is an acorn, aka knock off Big Green Egg) going because our oven stopped working. On Thanksgiving. Great timing! So after the turkey was done we cooked ham and stuffing and even cookies in the smoker. The smookies (smoked cookies, patent pending) were decent. A little hard but it hasn’t stopped me from eating them…
Anyway, back to the football and some huge games on deck this week.
Week 14: 9 for 11 (81.8%)
Week 13: 15 for 17 (88.2%)
Week 12: 19 for 21 (90.5%)
Week 11: 19 for 21 (90.5%)
Week 10: 25 for 28 (89.3%)
Week 9: 23 for 25 (92.0%)
Week 8: 22 for 24 (91.7%)
Week 7: 26 for 27 (96.3%)
Week 6: 20 for 25 (80.0%)
Week 5: 21 for 28 (75.0 %)
Week 4: 22 for 26 (84.6%)
Week 3: 22 for 29 (75.9%)
Week 2: 22 for 30 (73.3%)
Week 1: 25 for 30 (83.3%)
Season: 290 for 342 (84.8%)
Jim Ned head coach Matt Fanning - Big Country Blitz photo
3A DIVISION I
Jim Ned (11-1) vs Pilot Point (10-3) - Thursday, 7 p.m. - Stephenville
The Indians pulled off one of the bigger upsets of the playoffs when they got past #1 ranked Brock, now they return to Tarleton State to try to repeat the feat against a team Brock beat by 35 points. Pilot Point is obviously playing better football now than they were in early November, as they have won their three playoff games over Clyde, #2 Shallowater, and Bushland by an average of 32.3 points per game. The Indians probably won’t run away with this one offensively, but their defense and special teams are good enough to keep them in any game.
History
Jim Ned is in the fourth round for the first time since 2003, while Pilot Point is returning to the round they were eliminated in last year (by Brock, 31-21.) The Bearcats knocked the Indians out of the playoffs in the bi-district round last season, 27-13.
Points per game: Jim Ned: 36.6 — Pilot Point: 35.2
Points allowed per game: Jim Ned: 14.9 — Pilot Point: 24.8
Playoff points per game: Jim Ned: 23.4 — Pilot Point: 51
Playoff points allowed per game: Jim Ned: 16 — Pilot Point: 18.7
Blitz Pick: Jim Ned
Eastland runs out before their game at Jim Ned on Sept. 11 - Big Country Blitz photo
3A DIVISION II
Eastland (10-3) vs Gunter (12-1) - Thursday, 7 p.m. - Globe Life Park, Arlington
Eastland got past a very good Holliday team last week and now prepares for one of their toughest tests of the season against top-ranked Gunter. The Mavericks have won ten in a row with an amazing offense, but Gunter has plenty of firepower offensively as well. Senior quarterback Behren Morton has had an outstanding season, rushing and passing for nearly 3,800 yards and 44 touchdowns and only throwing four interceptions. He will have to continue to play his best against a very tough Gunter defense for the Mavericks to keep their magical season alive Thursday night.
History
Eastland is in the regional finals for the first time since 2013 when they fell to Wall 40-28 to cap a 13-1 season. Defending 3A Division II state champion Gunter has become a December football regular, reaching the fourth round for the fifth straight season. The Tigers won it all in 2019 and 2016, lost in the championship game 2017, and fell to Canadian in the state semifinals in 2018. This will be the first playoff meeting between the two schools.
Points per game: Eastland: 49.1 — Gunter: 44
Points allowed per game: Eastland: 33.9 — Gunter: 10.4
Playoff points per game: Eastland: 44.3 — Gunter: 55
Playoff points allowed per game: Eastland: 22.3 — Gunter: 8.3
Blitz Pick: Gunter
2A DIVISION I
Cisco (10-3) vs Post (13-0) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Anthony Field, Abilene Christian
These two powerhouses have seemingly been on a collision course throughout the season, and the time has come. While the Loboes dropped three non-district games to bigger schools, the Antelopes have dominated everyone on their schedule. Cisco has been quite dominant against 2A schools, as their closest outcome was a 14-point win over Winters. Post is coming off a landslide 68-0 win over Panhandle that few predicted, as the Panthers entered state ranked and one of the hotter teams in the playoffs. Both teams are great on the ground and both have very good defenses. Win or lose, it’s certainly been a memorable first season in Class 2A for Cisco under first-year head coach Kevin Stennett.
History
Post is looking to get back to the a 2A D1 state championship game after falling to Refugio in the title tilt at year ago 28-7. The Antelopes’ run a year ago was their deepest since falling in the state semifinals to Van Alstyne in 2001. Cisco is in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2014. Their last, and only, playoff meeting with Post was a 49-7 victory in the area round of that same season.
Points per game: Cisco: 35.6 — Post: 55.9
Points allowed per game: Cisco: 15.5 — Post: 4.8
Playoff points per game: Cisco: 56.6 — Post: 64.5
Playoff points allowed per game: Cisco: 22.3 — Post: 3
Blitz Pick: Post
Kaden Halk - Photo Courtesy Ray Morris/Texas 1A Fan
1A DIVISION I
May (12-1) vs Blum (9-3) - Saturday, 6 p.m. - Dublin
The Tigers have already beaten defending state champ Blum once: do it again and they’re headed to Jerry World. May had a pretty easy time with a 74-28 win at Blum back on September 25, but they know things will likely be a bit tougher with such a huge opportunity on the line. The Tigers trailed Leakey at the half their last time out, but outscored the Eagles 40-0 in the second half to pick up the region four title, 72-38. May “only” won by 34, snapping a nine-game streak of 45-point mercy rule wins. Blum lost to Abbott the week after falling to May, but have won seven in a row since then, including a 62-50 win over Union Hill last week.
History
May is in the state semifinals for the first time since 2014 when they beat Blum 60-38 to advance to the state title game, where they lost to Crowell 62-16. Blum is trying to defend their 2019 state championship run they capped with a 58-52 win over McLean in Arlington. That is Blum’s only trip to the state championship game. May won it all in 1977 and finished as runner-up in 1976, 1984, 2013 and 2014.
Points per game: May: 58.2 — Blum: 47.7
Points allowed per game: May: 16.8 — Blum: 32.1
Playoff points per game: May: 60 — Blum: 58.7
Playoff points allowed per game: May: 27 — Blum: 35.3
Blitz Pick: May
ACS runs out before playing Amarillo San Jacinto on Sept. 26 - Big Country Blitz Photo
TAPPS 6-MAN DIVISION III
Abilene Christian (7-1) vs Lubbock Kingdom Prep (7-1) - Saturday, 3 p.m. - Hermleigh
The Panthers and Warriors meet for the second time this season, as Abilene Christian aims for a sweep and the trip to the state semifinals that goes to the victor. ACS handed Kingdom Prep their only loss of the season, 44-32 back in week two. The Warriors have won six straight since then, including a 44-26 victory over Irving Faustina last week to reach the third round. The Panthers got past Greenville Christian 56-22 last week. The Panthers’ only loss this year was to Wichita Falls Wichita Christian 44-6, a team the Warriors knocked off 60-42.
History
The Panthers have lost in this round the last three seasons, falling to New Braunfels Christian in 2018 and 2019 and Amarillo San Jacinto in 2017. The Warriors lost in the second round a year ago to Spring Branch Living Rock Academy. Abilene Christian has state titles in 1982, 1987, 2005 and 2011.
Points per game: ACS: 39.6 — LKP: 57.5
Points allowed per game: ACS: 24.6 — LKP: 27.1
Playoff points per game: ACS: 56— LKP: 44
Playoff points allowed per game: ACS: 22 — LKP: 26
Blitz Pick: Abilene Christian
REGULAR SEASON
Abilene High, Cooper and Wylie all have the final week of the regular season off. The Eagles and Cougars are getting ready for the playoffs, and the Bulldogs will be scoreboard watching. If heavily favored Lubbock Cooper wins at Wichita Falls then Wylie is in the postseason for the first time as a 5A program. The Pirates and Coyotes meet on Thursday night.
