WEEK 1: 33-47, 70.2%
WEEK 2: 39-61, 63.9%
WEEK 3: 52-64, 81.3%
WEEK 4: 43-56, 76.8%
WEEK 5: 50-64, 78.2%
OVERALL: 217-294, 74.3%

The lights will be off in quite a few stadiums across the area as open dates hit en masse this week.

All of the area six-team districts are off this week and will fire up district play in Week 7.

But the show must go on for the rest of the Big Country, including a pair of massive college games in Abilene on Saturday afternoon.

Here are your Blitz Picks for Week 6!

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

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!

HERMLEIGH (3-1) VS LEAKEY (4-1) – AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN

First meeting in series

The Cardinals fell for the first time last week against powerful Jayton 68-22 and will now meet a Leakey squad that has won four of its first five, including a 46-0 win over San Marcos Hill Country a week ago.

Look for Hermleigh to get back on track and clip the Eagles in Abilene.

THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: HERMLEIGH BY 1
THE SPREAD 6MFB: HERMLEIGH BY 42
THE PICK: HERMLEIGH

ASPERMONT (2-3) AT ROTAN (3-1)

Rotan leads series 22-12
Last meeting: Rotan 53, Aspermont 8 in 2021

The Yellowhammers are 3-1 and fresh off a mercy rule win at Moran and they now have more wins in 2024 than they did in all of 2023.

The Hornets hope to bounce back after falling at home to Loraine in a 66-44 shootout last week. Aspermont has the firepower on offense, but Rotan’s defensive advantage will give them a slight edge in this one.

THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: ASPERMONT BY 7
THE SPREAD 6MFB: ASPERMONT BY 20
THE PICK: ROTAN

BLANKET (4-0-1) AT WOODSON (3-2)

Woodson leads series 2-1
Last meeting: Woodson 63, Blanket 14 in 1991

This one that features one of the better offenses in the area against the best defense in the Big Country.

The Tigers have only allowed 22 points all season and have shut outs in three of their last four games.

Woodson has lost two in a row after a 3-0 start, but their offense has scored at a 63.4 points per game clip, fourth best in the Big Country. Blanket has a pretty lethal offense of its own, and that makes the Tigers the pick to win on the road.

THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: BLANKET BY 4
THE SPREAD 6MFB: BLANKET BY 37
THE PICK: BLANKET

CHILLICOTHE (4-1) AT PAINT CREEK (4-1)

Chillicothe leads series 4-2
Last meeting: Paint Creek 37, Chillicothe 19 in 2023

The Pirates have won four in a row after a season opening loss at Gustine, while the Eagles are coming off their first loss last week after starting 4-0.

The pick is the Pirates to win number five in a row.

THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: PAINT CREEK BY 20
THE SPREAD 6MFB: PAINT CREEK BY 29
THE PICK: PAINT CREEK

#6 BENJAMIN (2-1) AT #3 CHEROKEE (4-0)

First meeting in series

The Mustangs have only played three games so far, and this will be their final tune up before district play.

Cherokee is 4-0 with four mercy rule wins. They likely won’t 45 the Mustangs in this one, but the Indians are the pick to emerge from this top ten showdown with a win.

THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: CHEROKEE BY 21
THE SPREAD 6MFB: CHEROKEE BY 19
THE PICK: PAINT CREEK

BROWNWOOD (2-2) VS INGLESIDE (4-1) – AT BOERNE

First meeting in series

The Lions got back on track with a 37-21 win at China Spring last week and now will meet the Mustangs in Boerne.

Ingleside, from the Corpus Christi area, is a 4A Division II team that is 4-1 on the season and coming off a win last week over Corpus Christi Ray. They went 11-2 a year ago and will be yet another test for Brownwood this week.

The Lions seemed to turn the page with their win last week, and the pick is for Brownwood to keep momentum rolling as they head into district play in week seven.

THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: BROWNWOOD BY 23
THE PICK: BROWNWOOD

ABILENE HIGH (3-2, 1-0) AT AMARILLO (2-2, 1-0)

Abilene High leads series 12-11
Last meeting: Abilene High 24, Amarillo 14 in 2023

The Eagles opened district with an easy win over Caprock, but will be tested by a very good Amarillo offense that scores 38.5 points per game.

The Warbird offense has been just about unstoppable this season, so if the defense can put another good effort together like they did against Caprock, Abilene High should be able to stay perfect in district and get out of Amarillo with a win.

THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: ABILENE HIGH BY 2
THE PICK: ABILENE HIGH

WYLIE (3-1, 1-0) AT COOPER (1-4, 0-1)

Wylie enters at 3-1 and fresh off of an easy district opening victory against Wichita Falls Legacy, while Cooper comes in after a loss at Wichita Falls Memorial.

It’s still pretty early in the district season, but this almost feels like a must win for the Cougars if they want to extend their 17 year playoff streak to 18 seasons.

The Bulldogs have been rolling offensively as of late, and Wylie is the pick to win this rivalry game for the third year in a row.

THE SPREAD PIGSKIN PREP: WYLIE BY 3
THE PICK: WYLIE

THE REST OF THE SCHEDULE

#2 Stephenville (5-0) vs #1 Ruston, Louisiana (4-0) – Longview, Saturday, 2 p.m.
First meeting in series
The Spread: N/A
The Pick: Ruston

Snyder (1-4) at Levelland (3-2)
Snyder leads series 30-17
Last meeting: Snyder 30, Levelland 0 in 2023
The Spread: Levelland by 17
The Pick: Levelland

Lubbock Trinity Christian (2-2) at Merkel (0-5)
First meeting in series
The Spread: Trinity Christian by 35
The Pick: Trinity Christian

Seymour (1-4, 0-1) at Haskell (3-2, 1-0)
Haskell leads series 34-27-1
Last meeting: Seymour 41, Haskell 13 in 2023
The Spread: Seymour by 1
The Pick: Haskel

Munday (3-2, 0-1) at Windthorst (4-1, 1-0)
Munday leads series 13-10-1
Last meeting: Windthorst 56, Munday 0 in 2023
The Spread: Windthorst by 51
The Pick: Windthorst

Goldthwaite (2-2, 1-0) at Hubbard (1-3, 0-1)
Goldthwaite leads series 1-0
Last meeting: Goldthwaite 20, Hubbard 6 in 1994 quarterfinals
The Spread: Goldthwaite by 44
The Pick: Goldthwaite

Paducah (2-2) at Knox City (4-1)
Series tied 21-21-1
Last meeting: Knox City 72, Paducah 56 in 2021
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Knox City by 25
The Spread 6MFB: Knox City by 45
The Pick: Knox City

Newcastle (3-2) at #1 Jayton (5-0)
Jayton leads series 5-4
Last meeting: Newcastle 52, Jayton 0 in 2011
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Jayton by 40
The Spread 6MFB: Jayton by 45
The Pick: Jayton

Ira (3-1) at Loraine (2-3)
Ira leads series 14-10
Last meeting: Ira 72, Loraine 46 in 2023
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Ira by 12
The Spread 6MFB: Ira by 45
The Pick: Ira

Garden City (2-3) at #9 Westbrook (2-2)
Series tied 7-7
Last meeting: Westbrook 60, Garden City 8 in 2023
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Westbrook by 45
The Spread 6MFB: Westbrook by 44
The Pick: Westbrook

Baird (4-1) at Eden (3-2)
Baird leads series 4-2
Last meeting: Baird 42, Eden 7 in 1999
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Baird by 9
The Spread 6MFB: Baird by 41
The Pick: Baird

Bryson (3-2) at Gorman (2-3)
Bryson leads series 6-4
Last meeting: Bryson 59, Gorman 14 in 2023
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Bryson by 20
The Spread 6MFB: Bryson by 19
The Pick: Bryson

#1 Gordon (5-0) at #8 Follett (3-2) - Saturday
First meeting in series
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Gordon by 30
The Spread 6MFB: Gordon by 45
The Pick: Gordon

Ranger (2-3) at #10 Strawn (3-2)
Strawn leads series 7-4
Last meeting: Strawn 64, Ranger 18 in 2023
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Strawn by 45
The Spread 6MFB: Strawn by 45
The Pick: Strawn

Irion County (2-3) at #4 May (5-0)
May leads series 3-1
Last meeting: May 92, Irion County 70 in 2023
The Spread Pigskin Prep: May by 45
The Spread 6MFB: May by 45
The Pick: May

Zephyr (4-1) at Santa Anna (3-2)
Zephyr leads series 9-3
Last meeting: Zephyr 66, Santa Anna 6 in 2017
The Spread Pigskin Prep:
The Spread 6MFB: Zephyr by 45
The Pick: Zephyr

Panther Creek (0-3) at Blackwell (0-5)
Panther Creek leads series 13-6
Last meeting: Blackwell 52, Panther Creek 6 in 2023
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Blackwell by 25
The Spread 6MFB: Blackwell by 45
The Pick: Blackwell

Olfen (0-2) at Brookesmith (2-2)
First meeting in series
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Brookesmith by 38
The Spread 6MFB: Brookesmith by 45
The Pick: Brookesmith

Moran (1-4) at Trent (2-3)
Moran leads series 7-3
Last meeting: Moran 57, Trent 12 in 2019
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Trent by 15
The Spread 6MFB: Trent by 26
The Pick: Trent

Harrold (2-2) at Rule (2-3)
Rule leads series 10-6
Last meeting: Harrold 74, Rule 28 in 2013
(Rule won by forfeit in 2021 and 2020)
The Spread Pigskin Prep:
The Spread 6MFB: Rule by 14
The Pick: Rule

Lueders-Avoca (0-5) at Abilene Christian JV - Thursday
First meeting series
The Spread Pigskin Prep: N/A
The Spread 6MFB: ACS JV by 9
The Pick: Lueders-Avoca

Throckmorton (0-4) at Crowell (0-5)
Throckmorton leads series 21-11
Last meeting: Crowell 52, Throckmorton 44 in 2013
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Crowell by 25
The Spread 6MFB: Crowell by 45
The Pick: Crowell

Morgan (2-3) at Gustine (4-0)
Gustine leads series 11-2
Last meeting: Morgan 68, Gustine 20 in 2022
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Gustine by 33
The Spread 6MFB: Gustine by 38
The Pick: Gustine

Priddy (0-4) at Rising Star (2-3)
First meeting in series
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Rising Star by 32
The Spread 6MFB: Rising Star by 45
The Pick: Rising Star

Mullin (2-3) at Lohn (3-2)
Mullin leads series 14-6
Last meeting: Mullin 60, Lohn 0 in 2021
The Spread Pigskin Prep: Mullin by 4
The Spread 6MFB: Mullin by 45
The Pick: Lohn

COLLEGE

#5 CENTRAL ARKANSAS (4-1, 1-0) #16 ACU (3-2, 2-0) - SATURDAY, 3 P.M.

Central Arkansas leads series 7-1
Last meeting: Central Arkansas 52, ACU 17 in 2023

The Wildcats will play their second top five opponent at home in the past three weeks as #5 Central Arkansas comes to Abilene Saturday afternoon. A late ACU rally came up short two weeks ago in a 27-24 home loss to now #10 Idaho.

The teams are two of five still unbeaten in United Athletic Conference play, and the Wildcats are the only 2-0 team at this point.

UCA beat Lamar 34-14 last week, and their only loss this season was a 34-31 decision at FBS Arkansas State in week one.

THE PICK: ACU

#9 ENDICOTT (4-0) AT #7 HARDIN-SIMMONS (3-0, 1-0) - SATURDAY, 1 P.M.

Endicott leads series 1-0
Last meeting: Endicott 37, HSU 10 in 2023

The Cowboys look to stay perfect in a top ten Division III matchup at Shelton Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Endicott beat Hardin-Simmons on its home field last season and are off to a 4-0 start to 2024.

THE PICK: HARDIN-SIMMONS

WESTGATE CHRISTIAN (1-2) AT HOWARD PAYNE (1-3, 0-1) - SATURDAY, 4 P.M.

First meeting in series

The Yellow Jackets look to get back on track after a close loss at Witteberg, Ohio last week as they host the brand new Westgate Christian football program.

Westgate Christian lost two of three this season, falling to Texas College 54-3, Mary Hardin-Baylor 85-6, and beating John Melvin University 55-14.

THE PICK: HOWARD PAYNE

#13 CISCO COLLEGE (2-1, 2-0) AT NE OKLAHOMA A&M (1-3, 0-2)

Cisco College is in the new NJCAA rankings after earning upset wins over Trinity Valley and Kilgore the last two weeks, now they head to Oklahoma to try to stay perfect in conference play against Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.

NEO won 26-23 at nationally ranked Butler in week one, but has lost to Independence 22-7, at Navarro 48-21, and to Tyler 23-13 over the last three weeks.

THE PICK: CISCO COLLEGE