Blitz Picks October 1/2
As we enter October, some schools will begin district play this week, others are still a week away and still others are just getting their season started.
The teams set to begin district play are doing so earlier than originally scheduled, as some districts have moved games around a bit due to COVID concerns. That means we get two great district rivalry games right off the bat with Brownwood hosting Stephenville and Sweetwater traveling to Snyder.
After a great week five, I outright whiffed on quite a few picks last week, Wylie/Brownwood, Bangs/Hawley, and Ballinger/Llano to name a few. Here’s hoping the “educated” guesses get back on track for week six.
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: 112 for 143 (78.3%)
Cooper (0-1) at Abilene High (0-1)
It’s the 60th edition of the Crosstown Showdown and both teams would love to pick up their first victory of the season. Cooper came up short in a 47-35 decision at Class 6A Permian last week, while the Warbirds fell at home to Class 5A Tascosa 26-20. The teams have alternated wins in the series since an Abilene High win in 2016, and Cooper came out on top 23-14 a year ago. The Dave Campbell’s computer has the Cougars as seven point favorites.
The pick: Cooper
Wylie (1-0) at Monterey (0-0)
The Bulldogs surprised just about everybody last week with their win at Brownwood, now they take travel to Lubbock to take on a Monterey team that will be playing its first game of the season. The Plainsmen went 6-6 a year ago and beat the Bulldogs 49-26, but this 2020 Wylie squad seems determined to turn things around. The Wylie defense, which dominated Brownwood to the tune of six turnovers and five sacks in week one, will be key again this week.
The pick: Wylie
Stephenville (2-3) at Brownwood (2-3)
Friday will mark the 79th meeting between the two schools, with the Lions holding the all-time series lead 46-30-2. On paper, Stephenville has all the momentum heading into this rivalry match-up after their win over state ranked Dumas. But, as the old cliche goes, you have to throw records and trends out the window with ballgames like this, and the Lions will be hungry to bounce back after their lackluster loss to Wylie. The Yellowjacket offense will be hard to stop, but Brownwood will counter with a special talent at tailback in Royshad Henderson. If Brownwood can hold onto the football (they turned it over six times against Wylie) then they’ll have a shot to open district play with a big win.
The pick: Brownwood
Sweetwater (3-1) at Snyder (2-2)
The Mustangs and Tigers will meet for the 68th time Friday night, as Snyder tries to run their win streak in the series to three. Sweetwater enters as one of the hotter teams in the Big Country, while the Tigers are on a two-game winning streak of their own.
The pick: Sweetwater
Jim Ned (2-1) vs #5 3A D1 Hallettsville (3-1) in Llano
The Indians missed out on playing Snyder a week ago due to COVID-19, now they replace the Tigers with what might be an even tougher match-up. Jim Ned will meet fifth ranked Hallettsville in Llano. The Brahmas are coming off a 59-7 win over Rice Consolidated two weeks ago and also have victories over Vanderbilt Industrial (44-0) and Ganado (49-7) and a loss to 2A Division I #1 Shiner (44-34) on their ledger. The Indians have decisive wins over Eastland (62-27) and Cisco (39-20) since a season opening loss to Ballinger (20-14) and have what it takes to pull off the upset.
The pick: Jim Ned
Eastland (1-3) vs #9 2A D1 Panhandle (3-1) in Post
The Mavericks have had a heck of a time as well playing the COVID shuffle this season, as they are picking up a game against state ranked Panhandle Friday night Post. Eastland got the offense clicking in a big way in last week’s 78-54 win over McKinney Christian, but their defense will have to step up to knock off a Panther team that has scored no fewer than 42 points in a game this season and has gone over 60 twice, including 62 in a 40-point victory over Stratford their last time out.
The pick: Panhandle
#2 2A D2 Hamlin (4-0) at #4 2A D2 Windthorst (5-0)
Another week, another rough non-district outing for the Pied Pipers. This one is up there in any game of the week rankings in the Lone Star state as the second ranked Pipers visit the fourth ranked Trojans. Hamlin did not get to play their homecoming game against Haskell last week, while Windthorst is coming off a 39-34 victory over 3A D2 Wichita Falls City View. As good as the Trojans may be, it’s hard to pick against the Pipers the way they’ve disposed of high quality opponents so far this season.
The pick: Hamlin
Seagraves (1-4) at Roscoe (0-5)
The Plowboys have another chance to bust into the win column before district play begins as they host Seagraves. The Eagles got their first victory of 2020 last week, beating Tornillo 41-20.
The pick: Seagraves
Meridian (2-2) at #8 2A D2 Albany (3-1)
District 8-2A Division II is one of the groups across the state that shuffled their schedule around, meaning we have games to pick this week that would have happened October 9 if the schedule had stayed the same. Albany shut out Haskell 43-0 their last time out, while Meridian is coming off a 34-9 loss at Hubbard to wrap up non-district play.
The pick: Albany
Cross Plains (4-1) at Hico (1-4)
The Buffaloes went an impressive 4-1 in non-district play and they hope to keep things rolling in the games that really count. They should not have much of an issue in their district opener at Hico. The Tigers have lost four straight, including suffering a 41-0 shut out at the hands of the Winters Blizzards last time out.
The pick: Cross Plains
Ranger (0-4) at Santo (3-2)
The Bulldogs battled but failed to pick up a non-district victory, now they have to refocus for the start of district play. Ranger only put six points on the board last week against Olney and the outing before that against Itasca. They’ll need to get the offense clicking against Santo. The Wildcats were shut out last week by Millsap, but scored 62 the week before in a win over Era.
The pick: Santo
Rule (3-2) vs Lorenzo (0-4) in Spur on Thursday
Rule and Lorenzo get the Big Country action started with a Thursday night meeting in Spur. The Bobcats rolled past Woodson last week 52-6, while Lorenzo dropped their fourth game in as many outings, 72-27 to Sands.
The pick: Rule
Aspermont (3-2) vs Gordon (3-1) in Throckmorton
The Hornets are on a three-game winning streak after dropping their first two games of the season. They will meet up with 3-1 Gordon in Throckmorton Friday night. The Longhorns are also riding a three-game winning streak as they’ve knocked off Sidney, Baird and Newcastle after a season opening loss to O’Donnell. Aspermont was originally scheduled to face state ranked Knox City this week.
The pick: Aspermont
Lueders-Avoca (0-5) at Baird (1-3)
Baird got their first win of the season last week over Permian Basin Athletics CO-OP, while the Raiders fell to Loraine 70-20 and are still in search of win number one.
The pick: Baird
Hermleigh (5-0) at Bronte (1-3)
The Cardinals look to keep things rolling as they travel to Bronte Friday night. Hermleigh has 45’d Wilson, Robert Lee and Lueders-Avoca in their last three outings, while Bronte returns to action after suffering a 50-19 loss to Grady a week ago. The Longhorns lone win is a 53-6 decision over Panther Creek in week two.
The pick: Hermleigh
Water Valley (0-2) at Highland (4-1)
The Hornets dropped their first game of the season last week at Ira and hope to get back to their winning ways against Water Valley. The Wildcats have only played two games so far this season, and both have been losses to state ranked opponents (#1 Westbrook 56-8 and #3 Borden County 46-0).
The pick: Highland
Ira (3-2) at Loraine (3-2)
It’s a battle of 3-2 Bulldogs Friday night in Loraine. Ira handed Highland its first loss of the season last week 70-52, while Loraine cruised past Lueders-Avoca.
The pick: Ira
#6 1A D1 May (4-1) at Newcastle (2-3)
The Tigers are on the road again this week as they head to Newcastle to face the 2-3 Bobcats. Newcastle has dropped their last two outings, 34-30 to Lubbock Homeschool and 64-16 to state ranked Throckmorton, while May beat up defending state champ Blum a week ago 74-28 and shut out Nueces Canyon 48-0 the week before that.
The pick: May
Moran (0-5) at Three Way (1-4)
The Bulldogs put forth their best effort of the season so far in a 70-59 loss to Lingleville last week. They visit 1-4 Three Way Friday. The Braves are coming off a 46-0 loss to Sidney.
The pick: Moran
Trent (0-5) at Wichita Falls Notre Dame (0-1)
The Gorillas had their best offensive effort of the season last week in a 64-14 loss to TLCA Midland, but they know they still have a ton of room for improvement. Notre Dame did not fare well in their season opener, a 58-6 loss to Lubbock Kingdom Prep.
The pick: Wichita Falls Notre Dame
Waco Eagle Christian (0-1) at Rising Star (2-3)
The Wildcats dropped a 62-24 decision to unbeaten Mullin on Saturday to fall to 2-3, now they turn their attention to a Waco Eagle Christian team that fell to Oglesby 72-26 in its season opener. Rising Star has now alternated wins and losses through five weeks, and have a good shot at keeping the trend going with a win this week in their final non-district outing.
The pick: Rising Star
#5 1A D2 Jayton (4-1) at Roby (4-1)
The Lions face their toughest test to date as they welcome fifth-ranked Jayton to town Friday night. Roby has won three in a row, including a 58-13 win over the Union Hill JV last week. Jayton fell to O’Donnell 54-52 two weeks back, but bounced back with a 78-47 win over Petersburg last Friday night.
The pick: Jayton
Rotan (4-0) at Hart (1-3)
The Yellowhammers will put a lot of miles on the bus the next two weeks as they travel to Hart (177 miles) and Sanderson (291 miles). The 1-3 Longhorns are up first, fresh off a 58-8 loss to state ranked Whitharral a week ago. Rotan rolled past Robert Lee Friday 61-14 and have 45’d all four of their opponents so far this season.
The pick: Rotan
Santa Anna (4-1) at Panther Creek (1-4)
The Mountaineers have already won as many games this season as the previous three combined, and have a great shot at win number five as they travel to Panther Creek. Santa Anna outscored Olfen 60-0 their last time out, while the Panthers were on the wrong end of a 50-0 decision against Veribest.
The pick: Santa Anna
Abilene Christian (1-0) at Lubbock Kingdom Prep (1-0)
The Wildcats hit the road for the first time this season for a visit with Lubbock Kingdom Prep. Both schools were victorious in week one: ACS by 30 over Amarillo San Jacinto and LKP 58-6 over Wichita Falls Notre Dame.
The pick: Abilene Christian
