We head into the fourth round of the playoffs with five area teams still on the quest for a state title. If everything goes great we’d have four standing after this weekend, and two of them facing off for a six-man state title.

The picks have been pretty good over the past two weeks, 20 for 22, with the only miss last week being the Jim Ned/Brock game. It’s hard to pick against a team like the Indians that have been on such a great run.

Season: 370-465, 79.6%
Week 1: 31-41, 75.6%
Week 2: 29-41, 70.7%
Week 3: 30-37, 81.1%
Week 4: 31-41, 75.6%
Week 5: 33-38, 86.8%
Week 6: 23-28, 82.1%
Week 7: 25-31, 80.7%
Week 8: 28-41, 68.3%
Week 9: 31-40, 77.5%
Week 10: 33-37, 89.2%
Week 11: 32-39, 82.1%
Week 12: 24-29, 82.8%
Week 13: 14-15, 93.3%
Week 14: 6-7, 85.7%

We move on to Week 15 and here’s hoping your team is still playing next weekend!

2A DIVISION I REGION I CHAMPIONSHIP

Hawley (13-0) vs Cisco (11-2) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Shotwell Stadium, Abilene

It’s an all-Big Country showdown for the regional title Friday night at Shotwell. Cisco got past #6 New Deal to move on to the round they fell to Post a year ago, while Hawley is in the fourth round for the second time ever and second time in three years thanks to their 21-7 victory over Coleman. Just like against Coleman, you have to give the advantage to Hawley in the passing department as Cisco just doesn’t throw that often. Hawley got ahead of Coleman and the Bluecat running game just couldn’t do enough to help them catch up. The scenario could be similar this week as Cisco quarterback Hunter Long has more than 1,000 more yards running than passing this season. Running the football has been a Cisco staple for years and served them well, and Long and Trent Huston will be tough to stop. Hawley is no slouch in the rushing department either with Austin Cumpton carrying the load. Both defenses are really good, with Hawley’s just over six points per game allowed this season still standing out as one of the best defensive marks in the state.

THE NUMBERS

How they got here: Cisco beat Haskell 55-28 in bi-district, beat Panhandle 69-21 in area, beat New Deal 34-14 in regionals; Hawley beat San Saba 56-9 in bi-district, beat Sundown 40-22 in area, beat Coleman 21-7 in regionals.
Playoff History: Second meeting. Cisco won 54-20 in the regional round in 2020.
Points per game: Cisco 41.5 — Hawley 42.8
Points allowed per game: Cisco 16.7 — Hawley 6.1
Streak: Cisco won five— Hawley won 13

Key Players

Cisco
QB Hunter Long: 57-115, 929 yds, 11 TD, 5 int; 2,020 yds, 30 TD rushing
RB Trent Huston: 1,413 yds, 18 TD rushing
WR Tre Brackeen: 14 rec, 285 yds, 2 TD; 163 yds, 1 TD rushing; 6 int, 2 fumble recoveries
TE/LB Dawson Hearne: 12 rec, 166 yds, 6 TD; 2 int

Hawley
QB Rodey Hooper: 138-231, 2,100 yds, 26 TD, 9 int; 72 yds, 4 TD rushing
RB Austin Cumpton: 991 yds, 17 td rushing; 2 rec, 44 yds, TD
RB Lawson Bailey: 672 yds, 9 TD rushing; 1 rec, 34 yds
WR Kason O’Shields: 44 rec, 708 yds, 8 TD; 193 yds, 1 TD rushing;
WR Aeneas Segura: 34 rec, 504 yds, 8 TD; 41 tackles, 2 int
WR Diontay Ramon: 13 rec, 202 yds, 3 TD; 269 yds, 7 TD rushing; 47 tackles, 8 sacks, 1 ff, 4 pbu
Kyle Nichols: 85 tackles, 11 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries
Hez Parker: 89 tackles, 1 int, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Will Scott: 98 tackles, 7 int, 3 forced fumbles, 8 pbu
Corley Williams: 78 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 1 int, 1 fumble recovery

Winner plays winner of: Marlin (10-3) vs Crawford (13-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Belton’s Tiger Field

THE SPREAD: HAWLEY BY 2
THE PICK: HAWLEY

2A DIVISION II REGION II CHAMPIONSHIP

Albany (12-0) vs Windthorst (12-1) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Graham

The Lions meet their old nemesis once again, hoping to knock them off for the second time in their postseason history. This will be the sixth playoff meeting between the two schools since 2003, and the Trojans have won four of the previous five, including an 18-13 third round victory in 2020 on their way to winning the state championship. This looks like Albany’s best team team in a number of years and one fully capable of beating Windthorst and reaching the state semifinals for the first time since falling to Gruver in 2018. Albany’s 13 point victory over Muenster last week, a team that beat the Trojans 16-8 in district play, was its closest contest of the season. Windthorst’s only loss of the year was the one to Muenster, but they have had some closer games this season, including a 22-15 season opening victory over Henrietta (a 3A Division II playoff team) and a 42-40 squeaker over Archer City in the area round. Both teams are capable of moving the ball via the run and the pass on offense , but Windthorst has given up about twice as many points this season on defense. The two teams have four common opponents in Hamlin, Hico, Muenster and Santo - Albany beat Hamlin 50-0 while the Trojans beat them 45-0, Albany knocked off Hico 57-0 and Windthorst won 54-20, Albany beat Santo 33-6 while the Trojans won 40-7 last week and the Lions topped Muenster and the Trojans lost to them.

THE NUMBERS

How they got here: Albany beat Era 68-0 in bi-district, beat Olney 32-10 in area, beat Muenster 34-21 in regionals; Windthorst beat Hico 54-20 in bi-district, beat Archer City 42-40 in area, beat Santo 40-7 in regionals.
Playoff History: Sixth meeting — Windthorst won 21-14 in the quarterfinals in 2003, Windthorst won 28-19 in the quarterfinals in 2004, Albany won 20-16 in area in 2008, Windthorst won 24-20 in area in 2019, Windthorst won 18-13 in regionals in 2020.
Points per game: Albany 52 — Windthorst 42.8
Points allowed per game: Albany 6.3 — Windthorst 12.2
Streak: Albany won 12 — Windthorst won six

Key Players
Albany
QB Cole Chapman: 109-165, 1,960 yds, 28 TD, 3 int; 677 yds, 7 TD rushing
RB Jaheim Newton: 1,568 yds, 21 TD rushing; 4 rec, 31 yds
Robert Bailey: 478 yds, 6 TD rushing; 42 tackles, 3 int, 8 pbu
Coy Lefevre: 436 yds, 7 TD rushing; 4 rec, 66 yds, TD; 49 tackles, 1 sack, 1 int
WR Cooper Fairchild: 44 rec, 649 yds, 8 TD
WR London Fuentes: 25 rec, 502 yds, 7 TD
WR Adam Hill: 20 rec, 430 yds, 9 TD; 72 tackles, 3 int, 12 pbu
Taren Farmer: 114 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 1 int, 2 forced fumbles
Brooks Neece: 125 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 0.5 sacks

Windthorst
QB Logan Cope: 147-250, 2,117 yds, 21 TD, 3 int; 450 yds, 7 TD rushing
RB Haven Vieth: 1,378 yds, 26 TD rushing; 21 rec, 333 yds, 5 TD; 81 tackles, 1 sack, 2 int, 1 fumble recovery
RB Clay Hoff: 875 yds, 14 TD rushing; 16 rec, 152 yds, TD; 37 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery
WR Zane Hackley: 31 rec, 539 yds, 4 TD; 29 tackles, 5 int, 11 pbu
WR Brayden Berend: 22 rec, 389 yds, 3 TD; 23 tackles, 1 int
Hunter Herndon: 84 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 int, 2 fumble recoveries
Eddie Llamas: 79 tackles, 6 sacks, 4 forced fumbles
Jayden Friddle: 73 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 4 fumble recoveries
Moises Quiroz: 71 tackles, 4 int, 3 forced fumbles, 6 pbu

Winner plays winner of: Wellington (9-3) vs Stratford (12-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Amarillo’s Bivins Stadium

THE SPREAD: ALBANY BY 9
THE PICK: ALBANY

1A DIVISION I SEMIFINALS

Westbrook (9-4) vs Happy (10-3) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Slaton

The Wildcats beat district foe Sterling City for a second time this season last week to advance to the state semifinals against Happy. The winner will advance to the state championship game for the first time in program history. Westbrook started the season 2-4 against a very tough schedule but has been on a roll since the start of district play. Happy was the runner-up in District 1 but avenged a regular season loss to Turkey Valley last week, 38-36. The Cowboys also lost to Springlake-Earth in week three 68-36 and to Sterling City, twice beaten by Westbrook, 58-8 in week five. They too have gotten better as the season has progressed, the proof being their bi-district 48-44 victory over the same Springlake-Earth team they lost to in non-district play. Both squads have also beaten Borden County this season: Westbrook topped them 48-0 in week two while Happy eliminated them from the area playoffs 61-35.

THE NUMBERS

How they got here: Westbrook beat Ira 64-14 in bi-district, beat Rankin 86-38 in area, beat Sterling City 44-41 in regionals; Happy beat Springlake-Earth 44-40 in bi-district, beat Borden County 61-35 in area, beat Turkey Valley 38-36 in regionals.
Points per game: Westbrook 52.9 — Happy 50.5
Points allowed per game: Westbrook 28.8 — Happy 33.4
Streak: Westbrook won seven — Happy won five

Key Players
Westbrook
Jimmy Roberts: 2 rushing TD, interception return for TD vs Sterling City
Jeremiah Ramirez
Cedric Ware: 212 yds, 9 TD rushing, 7 tackles vs Rankin; 2 TD vs Sterling City
Shammah Stark: 2 TD passes vs Sterling City

Happy
Camden Sperry: 131 yds, 4 TD passing vs Turkey Valley
Pace Bressler: 273 yds, 5 TD rushing; 3-3, 60 yds, TD passing vs Borden County

Winner plays winner of: May (13-0) vs Abbott (13-0) - Saturday, 6 p.m. - Dublin in state championship

THE SPREAD DCTF: WESTBROOK BY 16
THE SPREAD SIXMANFOOTBALL: WESTBROOK BY 19
THE PICK: WESTBROOK

May (13-0) vs Abbott (13-0) - Saturday, 6 p.m. - Dublin

The Tigers trek back to Jerry World has only one more stop — meeting unbeaten Abbott in Dublin Saturday night. May knocked off previously unbeaten Jonesboro in Dublin two weeks ago and beat previously unbeaten Water Valley in Robert Lee last week, so they are no stranger to facing great postseason competition. While the Tigers postseason opponents ended the year a combined 31-5, Abbott has beaten Avalon, Newcastle and Coolidge squads that combined to go just 20-15. The key matchup looks to be the May offense against the Abbott defense. The Panthers have five shutouts on the season, two more than May, but the Tigers 885 points scored this season are the most in 1A Division I and second most in the state to Strawn’s 905. Abbott, however, has allowed the fewest points in the state this year, 103, and are one of only four teams to have given up fewer than 200 points this season.

THE NUMBERS

How they got here: May beat Irion County 68-20 in bi-district, beat Jonesboro 84-55 in area, beat Water Valley 70-49 in regionals; Abbott beat Avalon 67-22 in bi-district, beat Newcastle 54-8 in area, beat Coolidge 74-27 in regionals.
Points per game: May 68.1 — Abbott 56.1
Points allowed per game: May 22.3 — Abbott 7.9
Streak: May won 13 — Abbott won 13

Key Players
May
Kaden Halk: 865 yds, 20 TD rushing; 16 rec, 369 yds, 7 TD
Avery Williford: 728 yds, 18 TD rushing; 12 rec, 348 yds, 8 TD
Blake Harrell 45-75, 1,143 yds, 22 TD passing; 536 yards, 12 TD rushing
Damian Salinas: 187 yds, 6 TD rushing; 9 rec, 196 yds, 6 TD

Abbott
Karsyn Johnson: 13-16, 274 yds, 3 TD int; 468 yds, 13 TD rushing; 70 tackles, 4 int, 3 fumble recoveries, 13 pbu
Isaiah Singleton: 316 yds, 10 TD rushing; 64 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 7 pbu
Kane Klaus: 17 rec, 342 yds, 6 TD; 249 yds, 6 TD rushing; 105 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries

Winner plays winner of: Westbrook (9-4) vs Happy (10-3) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Slaton in state championship

THE SPREAD DCTF: MAY BY 19
THE SPREAD SIXMANFOOTBALL: MAY BY 19
THE PICK: MAY