Week 6 Rewind

The schedule was a bit light but the action was still great as many teams wrapped up their non-district slate or enjoyed an open date before starting district play. Some schools got district play underway with big wins, while others know they have work to do if they want to end up in the playoffs.

CAUGHT MY EYE

You have to be impressed with what the JIM NED INDIANS have done lately, namely picking up wins over state ranked teams in back-to-back outings. The latest victim is Hallettsville, who checked in at number five in the 3A Division I rankings prior to meeting the Indians in Llano. Xavier Wishert continued to lead the way, running for 230 yards and two touchdowns to help Jim Ned to a 24-21 win. Now it is time for district play, and the Indians open against 3-2 Early on the road Friday night.

Another week, another impressive victory for HAMLIN. The Pied Pipers now have road wins over three opponents that were state ranked at the time: #6 in 2A Div. I Hawley, #6 in 2A Div. II Albany, and now #4 in 2A Div. II Windthorst. The Hamlin defense gave up 275 yards, but kept the Trojans off the scoreboard to pick up the victory in their toughest match-up to date.

The 60th Crosstown Showdown went the way of the COOPER COUGARS Friday night at Shotwell Stadium. Despite having to play without star running back Noah Garcia, the Cougars had enough in the tank to hold off their rivals 30-20. The Eagles led 14-13 at the half and pushed the advantage to 20-13 in the third before seeing Cooper score the final 17 points of the night, capped by a Jacob Deax fumble return for a touchdown to seal it in the fourth quarter. The win gives the Cougars their second straight in the series and 35th in win in the 60 showdowns played. Cooper returns to action Friday night against Wylie, while Abilene High has a week off before opening district play at 0-2 San Angelo Central October 16.

The WYLIE BULLDOGS picked up their second road win in as many tries as they upset, according to many, Lubbock Monterey 24-6 Friday night on the South Plains. The Bulldogs did all their scoring in the first half, jumping out to a 24-0 lead on their way to already equaling their 2019 win total. The Plainsmen turned the ball over four times and racked up 150 yards in penalties in their first game of the season. Wylie only mustered two first downs on offense in the second half, but the defense did a great job of keeping Monterey off the scoreboard.

After a rough start to the season, you can’t say enough good things about EASTLAND these past two weeks. At least about their offense. The Mavericks outgunned state ranked Panhandle 91-71 in Post Friday night and will now take a 2-3 record into the district opener at 4-1 Millsap Friday night. Behren Morton was amazing again, throwing for 425 and five touchdowns and running for 120 yards and three more scores. Eastland racked up 802 yards of offense, still less, however, than the Panthers 882 (!).

Speaking of offense, RISING STAR went out and scored the most points in any game in the state so far this season in their 110-62 victory over Waco Eagle Christian on Saturday. Their 110 point total topped Highland’s 104 against Loraine two weeks ago for top scoring honors. The Wildcats improve to 3-3 in their first season under head coach Clint Miller and already have the most wins in a season for the program since going 7-5 in 2015. Rising Star will open district play at home against 4-2 Blanket on Friday.

The victory was expected, but the ALBANY LIONS kicked off district play in a big way with a 60-0 win over Meridian. Albany has now picked up back-to-back shutouts by a combined 103-0 over Haskell and Meridian since their 42-6 home loss to Hamlin. The Lions should have another relatively easy contest Friday when they visit 1-5 Hico.

The start to district play was sweet for SWEETWATER as the Mustangs took down rival Snyder 47-28 to pick up their fourth win in a row. Sweetwater snapped a two-game losing streak in the series. Leo Holsey threw four touchdown passes, all to Darian Carr (who had 174 yards receiving) and ran for two more as the Mustangs held off a second half rally to start District 1-4A Division II play with a victory.

STILL PERFECT

The same six Big Country teams as last week are still unbeaten so far this season.

ABILENE CHRISTIAN: The Panthers hit the road and came away with their second victory in as many tries, beating Lubbock Kingdom Prep 44-32 Friday night. ACS is 2-0 and will be off this week before resuming district play against Lubbock All-Saints on Saturday, October 17 at Shotwell Stadium.

BANGS: The Dragons had the week off. They’ll kickoff district play at 1-4 San Angelo Grape Creek on Friday.

HAMLIN: The mighty Pipers are now 5-0 after taking down Windthorst. The district opener is set for Friday night at 4-2 Ralls.

HERMLEIGH: The Cardinals continue to roll as they blasted Bronte 55-6 to pick up their fourth straight “45.” Hermleigh takes a 6-0 record into the district opener against 3-3 Aspermont, who is coming off a 66-60 loss to Gordon. The 7-1A Division I race will be a fun one to watch, as the five teams in the district went a combined 22-7 in non-district play.

ROTAN: The Yellowhammers continue to have plenty of success in 2020 after their 76-26 win at Hart. Rotan will not enter the district fray just yet, as they will visit Sanderson to wrap up the non-district portion of their schedule on Friday.

WYLIE: The Bulldogs take a 2-0 record into the “Southtown Showdown” Friday night at Shotwell against Cooper.

LOOKING AHEAD

District play begins for many more Big Country teams, and there are some great match-ups to look forward to on Friday night. Here are some of the bigger ones:

Wylie at Cooper
Brownwood at Midlothian Heritage
Greenwood at Sweetwater
Breckenridge at Clyde
Jim Ned at Early
Stamford at Anson
Winters at Cisco
Eastland at Millsap
Santo at Cross Plains
Aspermont at Hermleigh
Baird at Santa Anna
Westbrook at Highland
Rising Star at Blanket

STANDINGS

District 2-6A

Midland Lee 2-0
Odessa Permian 2-0
Odessa 0-0
Wolfforth Frenship 1-1
Abilene 0-2
Midland 0-2
San Angelo Central 0-2

This week: Belton at Midland Lee; Amarillo Tascosa at Permian; Odessa at Lubbock Coronado; Lubbock Cooper at Frenship; Lubbock Monterey at Midland; A&M Consolidated at San Angelo Central; Abilene High is off

District 3-5A Division I

Justin Northwest 2-0
Arlington Heights 1-0
Azle 1-1
Brewer 1-1
Cooper 1-1
Granbury 1-1
Crowley 0-2
Saginaw 0-2

This week: Wylie at Cooper; Justin Northwest at Grapevine; Trimble Tech at Arlington Heights; Azle at Richardson; North Forney at Brewer; Copperas Cove at Granbury; Crowley at North Richland Hills Birdville; Saginaw at Sherman

District 3-5A Division II

Wichita Falls Rider 2-0
Wylie 2-0
Canyon Randall 1-1
Lubbock Cooper 1-1
Plainview 1-1
Wichita Falls 0-1

This week: Wylie at Cooper; Wichita Falls Rider at Midlothian; Canyon Randall at Amarillo; Frenship at Lubbock Cooper; Plainview at Lubbock; Wichita Falls is off

District 5-4A Division I

Waco La Vega 1-0, 4-1
Midlothian Heritage 1-0, 4-2
Stephenville 1-0, 3-3
Alvarado 0-1, 2-4
Brownwood 0-1, 2-4
Waxahachie Life 0-1, 1-4

This week: Brownwood at Midlothian Heritage; La Vega at Stephenville; Alvarado at Waxahachie Life

District 1-4A Division II

Greenwood 1-0, 3-2
Sweetwater 1-0, 4-1
Monahans 0-0, 2-4
Pecos 0-1, 2-2
Snyder 0-1, 2-3

This week: Greenwood at Sweetwater; Snyder at Monahans; Pecos is off

District 3-3A Division I

Jim Ned 3-1
Early 3-2
Wall 3-2
Clyde 1-4
Breckenridge 0-4
TLCA San Angelo 0-5

This week: Jim Ned at Early; Breckenridge at Clyde; Wall at TLCA San Angelo

District 2-3A Division II

Ingram Moore 5-0
Bangs 4-0
Ballinger 4-1
Brady 2-3
Grape Creek 1-4
Sonora 1-4

This week: Bangs at Grape Creek; Ballinger at Brady; Ingram Moore at Sonora

District 5-3A Division II

Comanche 5-0
Millsap 4-1
Jacksboro 3-2
Merkel 2-2
Eastland 2-3
Dublin 1-3

This week: Jacksboro at Merkel; Eastland at Millsap; Comanche at Dublin

District 3-2A Division I

Anson 3-1
Hawley 3-2
Stamford 3-2
Forsan 2-2
Haskell 1-3
Colorado City 0-5

This week: Stamford at Anson; Hawley at Haskell; Colorado City at Forsan

District 4-2A Division I

Coleman 4-1
San Saba 3-1
Cisco 2-3
Goldthwaite 2-3
De Leon 1-4
Winters 1-4

This week: Winters at Cisco; De Leon at Coleman; San Saba at Goldthwaite

District 5-2A Division II

Hamlin 5-0
Lockney 5-0
Ralls 4-2
Crosbyton 1-5
Roscoe 0-6

This week: Hamlin at Ralls; Lockney at Crosbyton; Roscoe is off

District 8-2A Division II

Cross Plains 1-0, 5-1
Albany 1-0, 4-1
Santo 1-0, 4-2
Meridian 0-1, 2-3
Hico 0-1, 1-5
Ranger 0-1, 0-5

This week: Albany at Hico; Santo at Cross Plains; Meridian at Ranger

District 7-1A Division I

Hermleigh 6-0
Rotan 5-0
Ira 4-2
Roby 4-2
Aspermont 3-3

This week: Aspermont at Hermleigh; Roby at Ira; Rotan at Sanderson

District 8-1A Division I

Sterling City 6-0
Westbrook 6-0
Highland 4-2
Robert Lee 1-4
Bronte 1-4

This week: Sterling City at Bronte; Westbrook at Highland; Robert Lee is off

District 13-1A Division I

May 5-1
Santa Anna 5-1
Gorman 3-3
Baird 2-3
Lingleville 1-5

This week: Baird at Santa Anna; May at Gorman; Lingleville is off

District 6-1A Division II

Blackwell 3-3
Loraine 3-3
Olfen 0-2
TLCA Abilene 0-4
Trent 0-6

This week: Loraine at Trent; Olfen at Blackwell; TLCA Abilene is off

District 8-1A Division II

Benjamin 3-1
Rule 4-2
Chillicothe 2-2
Harrold 0-1

This week: Moran at Rule; Gold-burg at Benjamin; Wildorado at Chillicothe; Harrold is off

District 9-1A Division II

Throckmorton 4-1
Woodson 0-4
Lueders-Avoca 0-6
Moran 0-6

This week: Throckmorton at Lueders-Avoca; Moran at Rule; Forestburg at Woodson;

District 15-1A Division II

Blanket 4-2
Rising Star 3-3
Sidney 3-2
Brookesmith 3-2
Panther Creek 1-5

This week: Blanket at Rising Star; Sidney at Panther Creek; Brookesmith is off