The time has finally come for schools across the Big Country and the state of Texas to suit up and hit the field.

For high school football fans, it is just about the best time of the year.

Week one in the Big Country features some key games that could set the tone for the season. These early season battles help teams find out just how good they are before district play rolls around.

Just how good was Blitz Picks last season? 474 out of 566, a solid 83.9%.

Here’s to a great season for all our area teams and, to a lesser extent, the success of the Blitz Picks (only if I’m picking your team...).

*The spread is from PigskinPrep.com for 11-man games and Pigskin Prep and sixmanfootball.com for six-man games.

**Thank you to Budget Blinds of Abilene for being the first sponsor of weekly content for 2024. Reach out (email cody@bigcountryblitz.com) if you’d like to sponsor a week of content on bigcountryblitz.com and Big Country Blitz social media!

TOP TEN GAMES OF THE WEEK

CLYDE AT CISCO

Cisco leads series 17-14

There will be plenty of newness for the Bulldogs this season, starting in week one with a new head coach and a new starting quarterback. Johnathon Haddock takes over for his friend Danny Dudgeon and hopes he can help the Bulldogs build on one of the best seasons in program history. Replacing Blake Carr will be tough and likely a key to how things go for Clyde this season.

Cisco weathered a down, for their standards, season in 2023 and still won a playoff game. Their depth should be better this year, and the experience gained a year ago by younger players will likely play big dividends in 2024

THE SPREAD: CLYDE BY 4
THE PICK: CISCO

WYLIE AT #7 BROWNWOOD

Wylie leads series 13-6

The Bulldogs fell at home in a bit of an upset to the Lions last year and would love to return the favor in 2024.

Brownwood may not have Ike Hall at quarterback anymore, but they still should pack a punch on offense and have some very good players returning on defense.

Wylie returns Bear Meng for his second season as starting quarterback, something they hope helps the offense get rolling sooner rather than later in 2024.

The Bulldogs have the advantage when it comes to numbers and depth, which they hope can help them get past the 4A Lions, who will be breaking in a new quarterback in week one.

THE SPREAD: BROWNWOOD BY 12
THE PICK: WYLIE

JIM NED AT ESTACADO (THURSDAY)

First meeting in series

The Indians open the Johnathon McClure era with a very tough Thursday night game at Lubbock Estacado.

The Matadors check in at #16 in the 4A Division II preseason polls, led by Bobby and Cedric Ross and James Bozeman. Bobby has five D1 offers, Cedric has three, and Bozeman ran for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Jim Ned gets Gray Beasley back at quarterback from injury and is set on throwing the ball around a little more than usual. They’ll need their defense to play very big to compete with the speed of the Matadors in the season opener.

THE SPREAD: ESTACADO BY 20
THE PICK: ESTACADO

#10 SWEETWATER AT IDALOU

Sweetwater leads series 1-0

The Mustangs turned some heads last year with a win over Idalou in the season opener, and they’d love to get it done again on the road in 2024.

Sweetwater, now a 3A Division I team, is poised for a great season, but they’ll have their hands full at Idalou. The Wildcats are #16 in the 3A Division II preseason poll and returning 11 starters from a team that went two rounds deep in the playoffs.

THE SPREAD: SWEETWATER BY 6
THE PICK: SWEETWATER

STRAWN AT CUSTER-HYSHAM-MELSTONE, MONTANA (SATURDAY)

First meeting in series

One of the cooler games of the week is Strawn making a long trip to Montana to battle Custer-Hysham-Melstone at Rocky Mountain College in Billings. It is part of a double-header, as Milford will also play Highwood, Montana that day.

Strawn is set for what could be a great season, and the opener will set the tone. Their opponent was a Montana six-man state semifinalist a year ago and ready to battle a traditional power like Strawn for state bragging rights.

THE SPREAD PIGSKINPREP: N/A
THE SPREAD SIXMANFOOTBALL: STRAWN BY 45
THE PICK: STRAWN

#4 JONESBORO AT #7 ABILENE CHRISTIAN

First meeting in series

The Panthers kickoff the season with a tough one, taking on 2023 1A Division I state semifinalist Jonesboro. The Eagles check in at number four in the preseason polls and should provide quite a test for Abilene Christian in week one.

The Panthers welcome back Brooks Armstrong, the leading rusher in the area a year ago and will be changing their offense to more of a spread look this season to be able to use all their weapons.

Jonesboro has some holes to fill after heavy losses to graduation.

THE SPREAD PIGSKINPREP: JONESBORO BY 7
THE SPREAD SIXMANFOOTBALL: JONESBORO BY 17
THE PICK: JONESBORO

#8 KNOX CITY VS #4 KLONDIKE (AT JAYTON)

Klondike leads series 1-0

Here is another matchup of top ten preseason teams, one of the great contests at the Jayton Gridiron Classic this weekend.

Knox City has to replace a great senior class and will lean heavily upon the likes of Cameron Hernandez and John Cross Utley.

Klondike made a run all the way to the state semifinals a year ago and return seven starters to what should be a very formidable squad.

The two teams have not played since 1980 when the Cougars defeated the Greyhounds 20-12 in the bi-district round of the playoffs in 11-man football.

THE SPREAD PIGSKINPREP: KLONDIKE BY 11
THE SPREAD SIXMANFOOTBALL: KLONDIKE BY 2
THE PICK: KLONDIKE

#7 HAWLEY AT ROSCOE

Roscoe leads series 13-9

Two Hardin-Simmons greats, Coach Mitch Ables from Hawley and Jake Freeman from Roscoe, will get their teams together to do battle in what should be a very entertaining season opener.

Both squads made deep playoff runs a year ago and are poised for even better 2024 seasons.

Keagan Ables returns as one of the top quarterbacks in the Big Country, while Roscoe will counter with running back Ivan McCann and a very good QB themselves in Jace Arnwine.

THE SPREAD: HAWLEY BY 13
THE PICK: HAWLEY

#3 WESTBROOK AT #3 JAYTON

Jayton leads series 5-1

The third-ranked team in 1A Division I, Westbrook, visits the third-ranked team in 1A Division II to kick off the season Thursday night as part of the Jayton Gridiron Classic.

The Wildcats have hopes of making a fourth straight trip to Arlington, while Jayton has a squad capable of playing for a title for the first time since 2006.

The Jaybirds welcome back nine starters and could have the early season edge experience-wise on a Wildcat team that only returns four starters, but Westbrook’s program has certainly reached a point where it reloads instead of rebuilding.

This will be the first matchup between the teams since 1999, a 45-0 Jaybird victory.

THE SPREAD PIGSKINPREP: JAYTON BY 12
THE SPREAD SIXMANFOOTBALL: WESTBROOK BY 12
THE PICK: WESTBROOK

#2 ALBANY AT #6 STAMFORD

Stamford leads series 25-15-3

The biggest game of the week in the Big Country goes down at Stamford Friday night as the Bulldogs play host to two-time defending 2A Division II state champion Albany.

The Lions bring a 27-game winning streak with them into the contest, currently the third longest streak in Texas behind Gunter (31) and Aledo (30).

The Bulldogs were likely the most hyped team in the Big Country this preseason, and for good reason. They welcome back 15 starters from a team that went 9-2 a year ago, led by running back/linebacker Kaston Vega and quarterback Christian Duran, among others.

Albany will have to replace Adam Hill, one of the best players in program history, on both offense and defense, but the cupboard is far from bare. Chip Chambers can sling it with the best of ‘em, and he has some quality receivers to work with in Calhan Fairchild and Branson Beal.

The Lions and Bulldogs haven’t met since 2011, when Albany beat Stamford 28-21 in the regular season, but lost to them by that same score in the regional round of the playoffs. Stamford went all the way to the state title game that season, falling to Mason in a 62-40 shootout.

THE SPREAD: ALBANY BY 1
THE PICK: STAMFORD

THE REST OF THE SCHEDULE

#8 Abilene High at San Angelo Central
Abilene High leads series 49-47-6
THE SPREAD: Abilene High by 31
THE PICK: ABILENE HIGH

Azle at Cooper
Cooper leads series 2-1
THE SPREAD: Cooper by 24
THE PICK: COOPER

Pecos at Sndyer
Pecos leads series 14-4
THE SPREAD: Pecos by 3
THE PICK: SNYDER

Breckenridge at #8 Holliday
Series tied 2-2
THE SPREAD: Holliday by 42
THE PICK: HOLLIDAY

Comanche vs #5 Poth – Alamodome, Thursday
First meeting in series
THE SPREAD: Poth by 26
THE PICK: POTH

Ballinger at Merkel
Ballinger leads series 31-11
THE SPREAD: Merkel by 19
THE PICK: MERKEL

Early at Bangs
Bangs leads series 34-29-1
THE SPREAD: Early by 30
THE PICK: EARLY

Coleman at Eastland
Coleman leads series 19-18
THE SPREAD: Eastland by 3
THE PICK: COLEMAN

De Leon at Dublin
Dublin leads series 46-40-2
THE SPREAD: De Leon by 25
THE PICK: DE LEON

Colorado City at Seymour
Colorado City leads series 1-0
THE SPREAD: Seymour by 34
THE PICK: SEYMOUR

Anson at Hamlin
Anson leads series 52-43-4
THE SPREAD: Anson by 10
THE PICK: ANSON

TLCA Abilene at Munday
Series tied 1-1
THE SPREAD: TLCA Abilene by 1
THE PICK: MUNDAY

Haskell at Cross Plains
Cross Plains leads series 3-1
THE SPREAD: Cross Plains by 1
THE PICK: HASKELL

Sonora at Miles
Sonora leads series 3-2
THE SPREAD: Miles by 11
THE PICK: SONORA

The Ice Bowl
Winters vs Frost - at Hamilton, Thursday
First meeting in series
THE SPREAD: Frost by 20
THE PICK: WINTERS

Hermleigh at Sands
Sands leads series 15-4
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Sands by 7
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Hermleigh by 32
THE PICK: HERMLEIGH

Highland vs Cherokee – at Jayton, Saturday
First meeting in series
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Cherokee by 25
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Highland by 1
THE PICK: CHEROKEE

Ira vs Bryson – at Jayton, Saturday
First meeting in series
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Ira by 7
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Ira by 45
THE PICK: IRA

Roby at Lorenzo
First meeting in series
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Lorenzo by 3
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Roby by 1
THE PICK: ROBY

Rotan at Trent
Rotan leads series 1-0
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Trent by 4
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Rotan by 45
THE PICK: ROTAN

Nueces Canyon at Baird
First meeting in series
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Baird by 13
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Baird by 18
THE PICK: BAIRD

#1 Gordon at Marfa - Saturday
First meeting in series
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Gordon by 45
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Gordon by 45
THE PICK: GORDON

Lometa at Gorman
Gorman leads series 27-6
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Lometa by 27
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Lometa by 27
THE PICK: LOMETA

Walnut Springs at Ranger
Walnut Springs leads series 1-0
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Walnut Springs by 5
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Walnut Springs by 2
THE PICK: RANGER

#7 May at #7 Sidney
May leads series 20-6
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Sidney by 5
THE SPREAD 6MFB: May by 30
THE PICK: MAY

Bronte at Santa Anna - Thursday
Bronte leads series 19-6-1
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Bronte by 5
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Bronte by 11
THE PICK: SANTA ANNA

Aspermont at Blackwell
Aspermont leads series 2-0
THE SPREAD DCTF: Blackwell by 9
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Aspermont by 5
THE PICK: ASPERMONT

Loraine at Robert Lee
Robert Lee leads series 20-10
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Robert Lee by 15
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Robert Lee by 18
THE PICK: ROBERT LEE

Lohn at Olfen
First meeting in series
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Olfen by 1
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Olfen by 8
THE PICK: LOHN

Lueders-Avoca at Moran
Lueders-Avoca leads series 21-8
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Pick ‘em
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Moran by 45
THE PICK: MORAN

Paint Creek at Gustine
First meeting in series
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Pick ‘em
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Gustine by 45
THE PICK: PAINT CREEK

Rule at Northside
Series tied 11-11
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Rule by 7
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Northside by 45
THE PICK: NORTHSIDE

Bluff Dale at Throckmorton
Throckmorton leads series 2-0
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Throckmorton by 1
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Throckmorton by 32
THE PICK: THROCKMORTON

Woodson at Harrold
Woodson leads series 19-17-1
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Harrold by 1 THE SPREAD 6MFB: Woodson by 1
THE PICK: WOODSON

Menard at Blanket
Series tied 1-1
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Menard by 16
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Menard by 11
THE PICK: BLANKET

Rising Star vs Leakey at Rochelle, Thursday
First meeting in series
|THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Rising Star by 14
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Leakey by 1
THE PICK: LEAKEY

Zephyr at Veribest
Veribest leads series 3-1
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Zephyr by 10
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Zephyr by 2
THE PICK: ZEPHYR

Mullin at Brookesmith
Mullin leads series 14-11
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Brookesmith by 8
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Brookesmith by 45
THE PICK: BROOKESMITH

Panther Creek at Priddy
Series tied 1-1
THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: Priddy by 2
THE SPREAD 6MFB: Priddy by 7
THE PICK: PRIDDY

COLLEGE

Hardin-Simmons, Howard Payne, and Cisco College won’t hit the field for a real game until September 7. ACU is the only local college team in action this week.

ACU AT TEXAS TECH - SATURDAY, 6:30 P.M. - ESPN+

First meeting in series

The Wildcats enter year three of the Keith Patterson era with a big-time ballgame at Texas Tech Saturday night.

ACU has battled well against FBS competition, falling at Texas A&M 38-10 last year and 34-17 at Missouri in 2022.

They’ll go up against Red Raider quarterback, and former Eastland Maverick, Behren Morton in the season opener for both teams.

Both teams hope to take a big step in their third season with their current head coach.

THE PICK: TEXAS TECH

Blitz Picks - Week 1