Blitz Picks November 27
Happy Thanksgiving one and all, and I hope you got to spend it with your family and friends.
Turkey Day got off to a rough start for this absent minded amateur meat smoker. When responsible for smoking the Thanksgiving turkey you should probably make sure you actually have wood to smoke it with. Doh. We will see how the turkey turns out with a little smoke from some of the fire wood that’s been in pile by the fence for who knows how long.
Anyway, on to the football and a feast of great games for Big Country teams on Friday.
Week 13: 15 for 17 (88.2%)
Week 12: 19 for 21 (90.5%)
Week 11: 19 for 21 (90.5%)
Week 10: 25 for 28 (89.3%)
Week 9: 23 for 25 (92.0%)
Week 8: 22 for 24 (91.7%)
Week 7: 26 for 27 (96.3%)
Week 6: 20 for 25 (80.0%)
Week 5: 21 for 28 (75.0 %)
Week 4: 22 for 26 (84.6%)
Week 3: 22 for 29 (75.9%)
Week 2: 22 for 30 (73.3%)
Week 1: 25 for 30 (83.3%)
Season: 281 for 331 (84.9%)
Junior Xavier Wishert — Big Country Blitz photo
PLAYOFF PICKS
3A DIVISION I
Jim Ned (10-1) vs Brock (12-0) - Friday, 2 p.m. - Stephenville
The Indians have some big wins this season (Hallettsville, Eastland, Wall), but this would be their biggest. Brock only has one close game this year, and that’s a 42-35 win at Iowa Park, who is still playing in the 4A Division II playoffs. Jim Ned has put together their best season since the Colt to Cam era (McCoy to Holson with Brad McCoy heading up the team), and would love to keep it going behind the running of Xavier Wishert and a very good defense that hasn’t allowed a team to score 20 points in almost two months.
The pick: Brock
Senior Behren Morton — Big Country Blitz photo
3A DIVISION II
Eastland (9-3) vs Holliday (11-1) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Graham
The Mavericks get a shot to avenge an early season loss when they meet the Eagles Friday night in Graham. By the way, Graham would be a great place to camp out and see a double-header of post-Turkey day action as Hamlin and Muenster get things going there at 1 p.m. Eastland was far from full strength when they fell to Holliday 29-28 way back in week two, and we’ve seen what a full strength squad is capable of now as the Mavs aim for a tenth straight win. The Eagles only loss this season was 28-0 to Iowa Park in their season opener. The common opponent on the schedule is Millsap: Holliday beat them in the bi-district round 21-13, Eastland rolled past them in district play 50-23.
The pick: Eastland
Sophomore Austin Cumpton — Photo courtesy Gary Ford
2A DIVISION I
Hawley (10-2) vs Cisco (9-3) - Friday, 3 p.m. - Brownwood
It’s an all-Big Country battle in Brownwood as Hawley and Cisco meet with a trip to the fourth round on the line. The Bearcats have been building momentum as the season goes on, winning their last seven games to reach the regional semifinals. Same story for Cisco, as the Loboes have won seven straight as well as they continue their first run as a 2A Division I school. The Loboes have not had to break a sweat in the fourth quarter for a while. We will see if the battle tested Bearcats can keep it close and win in the fourth quarter like they have done several times this season.
The pick: Cisco
Senior Cutter Martin — Photo courtesy Gary Ford
2A DIVISION II
Hamlin (11-0) vs Muenster (9-3) - Friday, 1 p.m. - Graham
The Pied Pipers face their toughest test of the playoffs, so far, as they attempt to return to Jerry World. Hamlin has cruised all season, with 14, 20 and 22-point wins being their closest games of the year. Muenster has won four in a row, including a 50-22 rout of Quanah last week to reach this round. The Hornets lost to Windthorst 18-7 in a game that decided the District 7-2A Division II title. Hamlin beat Windthorst 14-0 back on October 2.
The pick: Hamlin
Junior Jaheim Newton — Photo courtesy Gary Ford
Albany (10-1) vs Windthorst (11-1) - Friday, 2 p.m. - Breckenridge
This may be the toughest pick of the week as Albany and Windthorst meet yet again in the playoffs. The Trojans knocked Albany out in the area round last year. The Lions have cruised to eight-straight wins after a week three 42-6 loss to Hamlin. Windthorst’s only loss this year has been to Hamlin as well, although by a much closer margin of 14-0. These two traditional powers should put on a show in what is seemingly a coin-toss pick.
The pick: Windthorst
Senior Keith Cross — Photo Courtesy Ray Morris/Texas 1A Fan
1A DIVISION I
May (11-1) vs Leakey (11-1) - Friday, 6 p.m. - Ozona
The Tigers and Eagles are set to face off for the 1A Division I Region IV title, and both will have to do a little driving to get to Ozona for their meeting. May has not been tested since a week three 60-56 win at Knox City, while Leakey had to rally past Water Valley last week 64-46. The Tigers are very balanced and deep and that should help them get over the hump and into the state semifinals.
The pick: May
Photo courtesy Johnna Reynolds/Texas 1A Fan
Westbrook (11-1) vs Sterling City (12-0) - Saturday, 5 p.m. - Colorado City
District rivals meeting in a rematch in the state quarterfinals, what more could you ask for? The Wildcats only loss this season was 38-28 to the Eagles on October 23, and they would love to get a little revenge in the playoffs. Since the loss Westbrook has put together four straight shut out wins, including a 46-0 drubbing of Garden City a week ago. Sterling City outlasted Rankin 100-88 (!!!) last week to advance. Westbrook surprised many folks with their amazing 2020 season, and pulling off one more surprise to advance to the semifinals is certainly not out of the question.
The pick: Sterling City
Senior Braden Baker — Big Country Blitz photo
TAPPS 6-MAN DIVISION III AREA ROUND
Abilene Christian (5-1) vs Greenville Christian (3-2) - Saturday, 2 p.m. - Hico
The Panthers finally return to the field to face Greenville Christian in the second round of the playoffs. ACS will have their hands full against an Eagle squad that is a 14-point favorite according to the sixmanfootball.com computers. The winner advances to face Lubbock Kingdom Prep in the quarterfinals. The Panthers handed the Warriors their only loss of the season 44-32.
The pick: Abilene Christian
REGULAR SEASON
Midland (1-7, 1-4) at Abilene High (3-4, 3-2)
The Eagles are playoff bound for the first time since 2016 and should be able to build momentum and reach .500 as they host Midland High Friday. Abilene High has two easy victories over Frenship and Odessa the last two weeks, while the Bulldogs played well in a 63-40 loss to Midland Lee last week but have dropped three in a row. Their only win this year is 26-14 over Odessa.
The pick: Abilene
Cooper (6-1, 5-0) at Crowley (2-6, 2-3)
The Coogs will be big favorites as they play their regular season finale at Crowley Friday night. Cooper got past Azle in the defacto District 3-5A Division I title game last week and can wrap up a perfect run through league play with a win at Crowley. The Eagles need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive and enter on a two-game winning streak after losing their first six games of the season.
The pick: Cooper
Plainview (2-6, 0-4) at Wylie (3-3, 1-3)
We have a shot a three easy wins for the Abilene schools this week as Wylie is set to host Plainview Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs can make the playoffs for the first time as a Class 5A program with a win and a Wichita Falls loss to Lubbock Cooper next week. It’s also only the second home game against five road contests for Wylie this year, and they should be fired up to take the field in front of the home crowd.
The pick: Wylie
