WEEK 1 PICKS: 30-40, 75%
WEEK 2 PICKS: 34-44, 77.3%
WEEK 3 PICKS: 42-47, 89.4%
WEEK 4 PICKS: 32-43, 74.4%
WEEK 5 PICKS: 38-45, 84.4%
WEEK 6 PICKS: 28-30, 93.3%
WEEK 7 PICKS: 35-40, 87.5%
WEEK 8 PICKS: 33-38, 86.8%
WEEK 9 PICKS: 32-38, 84.2%
WEEK 10 PICKS: 37-42, 88.1%
WEEK 11 PICKS: 30-32, 93.8%
WEEK 12 PICKS: 28-32, 87.5%
WEEK 13 PICKS: 12-17, 70.6%
WEEK 14 PICKS: 8-9, 88.9%
WEEK 15 PICKS: 5-5, 100%
WEEK 16 PICKS: 2-2, 100%
SEASON: 426-509, 83.7 %

The end is near, but what a season it’s been.

Four Big Country Blitz coverage area schools will make the trip to Arlington this week looking to bring home state championships.

Westbrook won it all last year, while Hawley came up a win shy of a championship.

Loraine has never been here until now and Albany hasn’t won a state title since 1961.

Here’s hoping all four can bring home the hardware and celebrate in Arlington.

Big Country Blitz will be there for all four games Wednesday and Thursday and provide coverage. A big thank you to Veteran’s Plumbing and Davis Transport for sponsoring the coverage. Reach out via email (cody@bigcountryblitz.com) if you’d like to join them.

Thank you so much for your likes and shares on social media this year, it truly has been a great year three of growth for Big Country Blitz!

Hawley (15-0) vs. Refugio (14-1) - Thursday, 11 1.m. - AT&T Stadium, Arlington

Series: First meeting

The Bearcats are back at Jerry World for the second straight season and hoping the ending to the 2022 season goes better than 2021.

Shiner knocked them off 47-12 in the 2A D1 state title game last year and now many of the same players are excited to get another shot at winning it all.

Hawley WR/DE Diontay Ramon - Big Country Blitz photo

The opponent this time around is another state power: Refugio. The Bobcats are five-time state champs and sixth on the all-time Texas high school football wins list with 776 victories.

The Bobcats fell to Hitchcock, a 3A D1 team who ended up with 11-wins, 49-12 in the season opener but won their next 14 straight to reach the final game for the first time since winning the 2019 state championship. Refugio has some impressive victories on the resume, including a 40-22 over 3A D1 semifinalist Edna, two wins over defending state champ Shiner 38-27 and 27-21 and last weeks 24-21 win over #1 ranked Timpson in the semifinals.

The Bearcats knocked off previously unbeaten Crawford 34-20 a week ago to advance and beat district rival Cisco 40-7 the week before that. Their 36-33 win over Cisco in district was the only game that was decided by single digits as Hawley won their 15 games by an average of 32.3 points per game.

This Hawley team has already scored more points than any other in a single season in program history, and they have the weapons to light up the scoreboard one more time. Austin Cumpton missed the championship game last year due to injury and will be counted on to make a difference this time around. Rodey Hooper has been solid and spectacular this year and his improved his numbers across the board with a great quartet of receivers to throw to in Will Scott, Diontay Ramon, Chandlin Myers and Kason O’Shields. The offensive line has been a rock, punching holes for Cumpton and proving plenty of time for Hooper to find his receivers.

Hawley RB/LB Austin Cumpton - Big Country Blitz photo

The defense has allowed a few more points than the 2021 squad but, thanks to many of the same players on the offensive side of the ball, have been very good once again. Hez Parker is the leading tackler, while Cumpton and Scott are also in triple-digits in tackles on the season. The Bearcats have handled very good running attacks from Cisco and Crawford over the past two weeks and will have to stop another good running team this week. Refugio ran for 274 yards against Timpson in the semifinals, 102 against Shiner in the quarterfinals, 374 against Ganado in the regional round, 198 in the area round against Holland and 265 versus Ben Bolt in bi-district.

The Bobcats have the history on their side, but the Bearcats have been building toward this game all season under head coach Mitch Ables. Hawley has been getting better weekly and has enough in the tank to knock off Refugio and bring home its first state championship.

PLAYOFF HISTORY

Refugio: 54th appearance, 31st straight appearance, 1968 5A runner-up, 1970 5A co-champions, 1982 4A champions, 1987 3A runner-up, 2011 3A D2 champions, 2013 3A D2 runner-up, 2015 2A D1 runner-up, 2016 2A D1 champions, 2017 2A D1 runner-up, 2019 2A D1 state champions
Hawley: 12th appearance, 10th straight appearance, 2021 2A D1 runner-up

TEAM STATS

Points per game: Refugio: 45.1 — Hawley: 43.8
Points allowed per game: Refugio: 14.9 — Hawley: 11.5
Point differential: Refugio: +30.2 — Hawley: +30.3
Streak: Refugio: won 14 — Hawley: Won 15

STAT LEADERS
Refugio
Ernest Campbell: 35 rec, 597 yds, 11 TD; 277 yds, 2 TD rushing; 4 int
Kelan Brown: 2388 yds, 29 TD passing

Hawley
Rodey Hooper: 168-242, 3109 yds, 32 TD, 7 int; 251 yds, 4 TD rushing
Austin Cumpton: 2021 yds, 40 TD rushing; 111 tkl, 16 tfl, 4 int
Will Scott: 43 rec, 731 yds, 9 TD; 110 tkl, 10 tfl, 4 int
Kason O’Shields: 38 rec, 645 yds, 7 TD; 66 tkl, 4 int
Chandlin Myers: 37 rec, 680 yds, 8 TD; 68 tkl, 3 int
Diontay Ramon: 47 rec, 1054 yds, 9 TD; 66 tkl, 24 tfl, 8 sacks, 3 ff
Hez Parker: 144 tkl, 17 tfl, 2 int, 5 ff
Maddox Salazar: 88 tkl, 7 tfl, 1 int
Landon Sykora: 68 tkl, 16 tfl, 7 sacks

THE PICK: HAWLEY

Albany (13-2) vs. Mart (15-0) - Wednesday, 7 p.m. - AT&T Stadium, Arlington

Series: First meeting

Coach Denney Faith has Albany in a state championship game for the fifth time in his 36 year tenure, and the Lion faithful is hoping this is finally the time they break through.

Albany cruised past New Home 53-25 last week and will face unbeaten Mart, who is aiming for state championship number nine after blowing out Burton 41-14 in their half of the semifinals.

Albany QB Cole Chapman
Photo: Julia Vega/Albany Lions Photos

Mart’s most recent title came in 2019 when the Panthers outlasted Hamlin 25-20 in the 2A Division II championship game. They dropped a 22-21 decision to Windthorst in the 2020 title tilt.

These are two of the winningest programs in Texas high school football history. Mart is second all-time with 820 victories, while Albany is 11th with 736.

Many folks around the Mart program in Central Texas will tell you this is one of the best Mart teams to ever take the field, and that is saying something with the likes of Quan Cosby counted among the Panther alumni. The Panthers’ only real test this season was a 21-20 win over Centerville, a 2A Division I team that lost in the third round of the playoffs. Other than that, Mart has been absolutely dominant and won its 15 games by an average of 50.6 points per game. They won their five playoff games by a combined 369-41.

Albany WR/DB Branson Beal
Photo: Julia Vega/Albany Lions Photos

Mart is far from a shoe-in to win state, however, against this group of Albany Lions. Albany has already scored the second most points in a single-season in program history with 684, second to the 714 the 2017 team scored in just 14 games before falling to Muenster in the quarterfinals. They have done it against a brutal non-district schedule that included TAPPS state semifinalist Lubbock Trinity Christian, 2A D1 state championship game participant Hawley and a 3A Comanche squad that went 10-2 this season. The Lions have been untouchable since the start of district play, and their closest contest was a 35-18 win over Wink in the third round of the playoffs.

The Panthers have been heavy favorites to win it all in their last two state championship appearances and found themselves in big-time battles. Windthorst upset Mart with a touchdown and two-point conversion in the final seconds in the 2020 championship and Hamlin was the better team in 2019, in my opinion, and would have won if they could have avoided the turnover bug. Those teams are not this team, obviously, but the recent success from schools “out this way” against Mart in recent years has to give Albany hope.

Albany WR/DB Wyatt Windham
Photo: Julia Vega/Albany Lions Photos

PLAYOFF HISTORY

Albany: 49th appearance, 21st straight appearance, 1960 3A champions, 1961 3A champions, 1954 3A runner-up, 1991 3A runner-up, 2009 2A D2 runner-up, 2014 2A D2 runner-up, 2015 2A D2 runner-up.
Mart: 53rd appearance, 19th straight appearance, 1957 3A co-champions, 1969 3A champions, 1986 3A runner-up, 1999 3A D1 champions, 2000 3A D2 runner-up, 2006 3A D2 champions, 2008 2A D1 runner-up, 2010 2A D1 champions, 2012 2A D1 runner-up, 2017 2A D1 champions, 2018 2A D2 champions, 2019 2A D2 champions

TEAM STATS

Points per game: Albany: 43.3 — Mart: 57
Points allowed per game: Albany: 13.7 — Mart: 6.4
Point differential: Albany: +29.6 — Mart: +50.6
Streak: Albany: won 10 — Mart: won 15

STAT LEADERS
Albany
Cole Chapman: 95-154, 1462 yds, 19 TD, 1 int; 439 yds, 6 TD rushing
London Fuentes: 25-40, 420 yds, 6 TD, 3 int; 243 yds, 2 TD rushing; 30 rec, 502 yds, 6 TD; 51 tkl, 6 int
Adam Hill: 1424 yds, 23 TD rushing; 20 rec, 378 yds, 8 TD; 100 tkl, 21.5 tfl, 8.5 sacks, 3 ff
Coy Lefevre: 1074 yds, 19 TD rushing; 21 rec, 371 yds, 5 TD; 69 tkl, 3 int
Cason Fairchild: 33 rec, 489 yds, 4 TD; 58 tkl, 6 int
Jayden Lucas: 119 tkl, 12 tfl
Coy Cauble: 119 tkl, 8 tfl, 1 sack
Tye Edgar: 90 tkl, 14.5 tfl, 8 sacks
Wyatt Windham: 122 tkl, 6.5 tfl, 5 int
Samuel Rosas: 385 yds, 6 TD rushing; 78 tkl, 2 int, 2 fr

Mart
Jonah Ross: 144-212, 2423 yds, 36 TD, 3 int; 1009 yds, 21 TD rushing; 86 tkl, 5 int, 2 fr
JD Bell: 1887 yds, 34 TD rushing
Brandon Lundy: 45 rec, 879 yds, 18 TD
Averion Johnson: 37 rec, 520 yds, 5 TD
Abram Ross: 147 tkl, 13 tfl
Monte Swaner: 110 tkl, 29 tfl, 6 sacks

THE PICK: MART

Westbrook (13-1) vs. Abbott (14-0) - Wednesday, December 14 - 2 p.m. - AT&T Stadium, Arlington

Series: First meeting

The Wildcats quest to repeat has just one obstacle left in the way: unbeaten Abbott.

Westbrook avenged its only loss of the season in the playoffs against Garden City a few weeks back but the Panthers have not lost all season. In fact, they hadn’t really been tested until the last two weeks when they topped Gordon 32-24 in the quarterfinals and Irion County 88-60 in the semifinals. Abbott earned mercy-rule wins in its first 12 games this season.

Westbrook had some close calls and a loss in the regular season against one of the toughest (probably the toughest) six-man schedule in the state. They now have state title game experience as well after knocking off May in the 2021 state championship game.

Cedric Ware and Grayson Jeffrey provide a one-two punch on offense that hardly anyone in the state can match, but they are far from the only weapons in the Wildcat arsenal. Parker Matlock has been very good at quarterback distributing the ball through the air to Ware, Bo Payne, Colton Waters and Hadley White behind a solid offensive line.

Pahton Dominguez is yet again among the best defensive players in Texas, while Matlock, Ware, Jeffrey, White and Ethan King have been top-tier as well.

Abbott has given up a miniscule 9.9 points per game this season and recorded seven shutouts, including five in a row from week five to the end of the regular season. Their offense is a just a touch below the Westbrook attack, averaging a half a point less per contest.

Westbrook beat Happy for the second time last week 40-30 in their only close game of the playoffs. The Wildcats are on a roll entering the state title game and should be able to continue their high level of play and bring home their second consecutive state title.

PLAYOFF HISTORY

Westbrook: 6th appearance, third straight appearance, 2021 1A D1 state champions
Abbott: 21st appearance, third straight appearance, 2015 1A D1 state champions, 2012 1A D1 state runner-up

TEAM STATS

Points per game: Westbrook: 55.5 — Abbott: 55
Points allowed per game: Westbrook: 19.4 — Abbott: 9.9
Point differential: Westbrook: +36.1 — Abbott: +45.1
Streak: Westbrook: won 9 — Abbott: won 14

STAT LEADERS
Westbrook
Parker Matlock: 62-93, 771 yds, 14 TD, 3 int; 42 yds, 1 TD rushing; 81 tkl, 14 tfl, 5 int
Cedric Ware: 1584 yds, 40 TD rushing; 17 rec, 239 yds, 5 TD; 52 tkl, 7 tfl
Grayson Jeffrey: 1207 yds, 22 TD rushing; 5 rec, 61 yds, 1 TD; 43 tkl, 7 int
Hadley White: 12 rec, 183 yds, 3 TD; 46 tkl, 10 tfl, 2 int
Bo Payne: 14 rec, 108 yds, 3 TD; 54-83 PAT
Pahton Dominguez: 86 tkl, 23 tfl, 4 int, 2 int return for TD, 5 sacks, 3 ff, 1 fr; 262 yds, 6 TD rushing

Abbott
Mason Hejl: 1185 yds, 26 TD rushing; 40 tkl, 1 int; 1 punt return TD
Karsyn Johnson: 23-43, 458 yds, 13 TD, 1 int; 276 yds, 5 TD rushing; 46 tkl, 4 int
Joey Pavelka: 14 rec, 254 yds, 8 TD; 116 tkl, 12 tfl, 4 int
Isaiah Singleton-Brooks: 200 yds, 7 TD rushing; 78 tkl, 15.5 tfl
Brady Schulz: 302 yds, 7 TD rushing; 57 tkl, 19 tfl

SPREADS
SIXMANFOOTBALL.COM: WESTBROOK BY 6

THE PICK: WESTBROOK

Loraine (13-1) vs. Benjamin (13-0) - Wednesday, December 14 - 11 a.m. - AT&T Stadium, Arlington

Series: Benjamin leads 1-0

The best season in Loraine history ends with a shot at redemption.

The Bulldogs only loss of the year came against powerful Benjamin, and now Loraine gets another crack at a the juggernaut Mustangs in the 1A Division II state championship game.

Loraine fell 61-30 in week six to Benjamin, which is still the only full game the Mustangs had to play this season.

Since that loss the Bulldogs have been dominant, especially against fellow 1A D2 competition. They displayed dominant defense in playoff wins over Panther Creek, Richland Springs and Cherokee and proved they could put some points on the board as well in their 86-38 win over Oakwood in the semifinals last week.

The main task for the Bulldog defense will be trying to stop sophomore sensation Grayson Rigdon. He has scored 49 total touchdowns this season: 36 rushing, five receiving, three on interception returns, two fumble returns, two kickoff returns and a punt return. He ran for 127 yards and three scores and also passed for 90 yards against Loraine in the first meeting. Rigdon is coming off a 285-yard, seven touchdown rushing performance in the Mustangs win over Whitharral in the semifinals and he accounted for 426 yards and nine touchdowns as a freshman last season at Jerry World to lead Strawn to the 1A D2 state title.

Loraine leans on AJ Williams and Davion Walthall quite a bit offensively. The duo has combined for nearly 3,000 yards rushing and has scored 66 of the Bulldogs 93 offensive touchdowns in 2022.

The Bulldogs have a tough task on their hands against Benjamin and will need to get some turnovers and score a lot to knock off the Mustangs.

PLAYOFF HISTORY

Loraine: 14th appearance, fourth straight appearance
Benjamin: 10th appearance (From what I could find from records online, not exactly sure on this one), third straight appearance

TEAM STATS

Points per game: Loraine: 52.9 — Benjamin: 62.1
Points allowed per game: Loraine: 20.4 — Benjamin: 7.5
Point differential: Loraine: +32.5 — Benjamin: +54.6
Streak: Loraine: won 8 — Benjamin: won 13

STAT LEADERS
Loraine
Jadrian Limones: 17-37, 385 yds, 8 TD, 0 int; 180 yds, 2 TD rushing
AJ Williams: 1565 yds, 35 TD rushing; 26-42, 449 yds, 10 TD, 2 int; 66 tkl, 6 int
Davion Walthall: 1384 yds, 24 TD; 10-25, 159 yds, 5 TD, 1 int; 10 rec, 191 yds, 7 TD; 118 tkl, 22 tfl, 12 sacks, 7 fr, 6 ff
Damion Delgado: 11 rec, 240 yds, 2 TD
Wrangler Little: 127 tkl, 10 tfl, 2 fr, 1 ff
Zannon Perez: 75 tkl, 7 tfl, 4 ff, 2 fr
Malaki Williams: 69 tkl, 5 int

Benjamin
Grayson Rigdon: 1539 yds, 36 TD rushing; 26-28, 642 yds, 12 TD, 0 int; 5 rec, 199 yds, 5 TD; 7 int
Brody White: 392 yds, 11 TD rushing; 9-10, 329 yds, 8 TD, 0 int;
Nicholas Ham: 13 rec, 427 yds, 10 TD
Weston Weatherford: 3 int