Thoughts, stats, standings, and much more on the first week of playoff football in the Big Country, presented by (insert your business name here and get exposure across the entire Big Country).

OFF THE TOP

Abilene High did it again. The Eagles scored 70 first half points in an 84-0 win over El Paso Parkland, tying the state record they set the year before when they scored 70 in the first half against El Paso Hanks. The Eagles picked off five passes in the first half and put it all together on offense and special teams to advance to face defending state champ Aledo next week.

Cooper was 19-0 all-time against El Paso teams in the playoffs until Thursday, when they fell 63-35 to high-powered El Paso Del Valle on the road. The Cougars extended their playoff streak to 18 years in a row, but lost in the first round for the first time since 2021.

Wylie took care of business against El Paso Andress, 46-10. Bear Meng threw six touchdown passes to lead the Bulldogs to the area round for the third year in a row.

Photo: Derrick Stuckly/Brownwoodnews.com

Brownwood exploded for a season high 56 points in a 56-13 win over Big Spring. The Lions have a tougher task on their hands next week against Canyon West Plains.

Stephenville and Lampasas also picked up wins for District 4-4A Division I. The Yellowjackets blasted Lake View 70-0 and Lampasas had no problem getting past Pecos 53-14.

Graham and Brock cruised to easy bi-district wins as well. The Steers blasted Dunbar 60-0, while the Eagles had a tougher contest, beating former Clyde head coach Danny Dudgeon and Godley 46-10.

Jim Ned is the only team from 3-3A Division I to move on. The Indians rolled past Iowa Park 38-20 to advance, while Sweetwater had a disappointing 28-9 loss to Vernon, Comanche fell in an overtime thriller to Peaster 33-30, and Clyde could not keep up with Paradise in a 47-0 loss.

District 4-2A Division I swept District 3 in dominating fashion. Stamford, Hawley, Anson, and Cisco beat Sonora, Ozona, Christival, and Reagan County by a combined 182-56 to all move on to the area round.

Three of four District 5-2A Division I teams advanced. Hamilton, De Leon, and Coleman earned wins, while Ballinger fell to Tioga. Coleman started the season 0-7 but has now won four in a row, including their thrilling 40-35 win over Wolfe City.

San Saba saw its season come to an end with a loss to Crawford, 21-15.

Albany was the only team from 7-2A Division II to advance. The defending state champs rolled past Era 46-0 and have now won nine in a row after season opening losses to Stamford and Hawley. Roscoe, Miles, and Hamlin all saw good seasons come to an end.

Goldthwaite continues to be hot at the right time. After shutting out top-ranked Mart in week 11 the Eagles, as the four-seed from their district, blasted District 9 champion Maud 55-12.

Knox City outlasted Valley to advance, while fellow district mate Newcastle handled previously unbeaten Spur to move on.

The Greyhounds will battle Water Valley in the next round. The Wildcats knocked Ira out of the playoffs, 64-32.

Westbrook beat Robert Lee 116-110 in the sixth highest scoring game in sixman football history! The Wildcats will take on Newcastle in a great matchup next week. The scoreboard above had to roll over on both sides!

Gordon faced one of its toughest tests of the season thus far and passed with flying colors, topping 9-1 May 56-8. The Longhorns look like they’re well on their way to reaching a second straight state title game.

Jayton and Benjamin had no issues in the first round, taking down Crowell and Aspermont. The two teams are a win away from a potential third round rematch, but will have to get past Blackwell and Loraine to do it. Blackwell got past Balmorhea 56-30 and Loraine won a high-scoring affair over Grandfalls-Royalty 90-61.

Strawn blasted Fannindel 76-6 by halftime to move on, while Woodson came up just short of beating District 10 champ Gold-Burg, falling in a 64-62 heartbreaker.

Zephyr earned its first playoff win since 2017 with a 46-0 shutout of Evant. The Bulldogs move on to face Richland Springs next week. Blanket saw a great first season under head coach Jalen Helms come to an end with a loss to 2023 1A D2 runner-up Oglesby.

Abilene Christian will not be able to make another run to the TAPPS D2 state title game. The Panthers fell to unbeaten Rockwall Heritage 72-48 in the first round Friday night.

PLAYOFF SCORES AND PAIRINGS

Tolar 49, Millsap 14
Jacksboro 54, Brady 27
City View 53, Clifton 0
Holliday 85, Dublin 7

AREA

REGION I

Wall (10-1) vs. Childress (6-5)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Slaton

REGION II

Tolar (10-1) vs. Bells (7-4)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Ranger Stadium, Fort Worth

2A DIVISION I

BI-DISTRICT

REGION I

Stamford 45, Sonora 8
Cisco 34, Reagan County 16
Hawley 57, Ozona 21
Anson 46, Christoval 11

REGION II

Coleman 40, Wolfe City 35
Hamilton 49, Whitewright 13
De Leon 48, Alvord 7
Tioga 42, Ballinger 7

REGION IV

Crawford 21, San Saba 15

AREA

REGION I

BI-DISTRICT

REGION II

Knox City 64, Valley 52
Newcastle 74, Spur 22
Westbrook 116, Robert Lee 110
Water Valley 64, Ira 32

REGION IV

Jonesboro 64, Baird 16
Gordon 56, May 8
Menard 54, Benavides 7

AREA

REGION II

Water Valley (9-2) vs. Knox City (8-3)
Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Hermleigh

Newcastle (7-4) vs. Westbrook (9-2)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Jayton

REGION IV

Gordon (11-0) vs. Menard (9-1-1)
Thursday, 6 p.m.
Weatherford Stadium

1A DIVISION II

BI-DISTRICT

REGION II

Blackwell 56, Balmorhea 30
Jayton 54, Crowell 6
Loraine 90, Grandfalls-Royalty 71
Benjamin 62, Aspermont 6

REGION III

Strawn 76, Fannindel 6
Gold-Burg 64, Woodson 62
Oakwood 74, Three Way 36

REGION IV

Zephyr 46, Evant 0
Oglesby 46, Blanket 0
Cherokee 102, Rochelle 82
Richland Springs (10-0) BYE

AREA

REGION II

Blackwell (5-6) vs. Jayton (11-0)
Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Hermleigh

Benjamin (8-1) vs. Loraine (7-4)
Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Hamlin

REGION III

Strawn (8-2) vs. Iredell (9-2)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Hico

REGION IV

Zephyr (10-1) vs. Richland Springs (10-0)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Comanche

Cherokee (10-1) vs. Oglesby (9-2)
Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Priddy

TAPPS DIVISION II

BI-DISTRICT

Rockwall Heritage 72, Abilene Christian 48

HONOR ROLL

The best individual performances of Week 12

11-MAN

Tristan Beal, Abilene High: 10-12, 187 yds, 5 td passing
Ryland Bradford, Abilene High: 100 yds, 1 td rushing; 4 rec, 94 yds, 2 td
Ethan Joyner, Abilene High: 100 yds, 1 td rushing
Bryson Perez, Abilene High: 2 rec, 48 yds, 2 td
Trae Shaw, Abilene High: 8 tkl, 1.5 tfl
Eddie Varela, Abilene High: 3 tkl, 1 int returned 40 yds for td
Chip Chambers, Albany: 14-15, 265 yds, 3 td
Branson Beal, Albany: 113 yds, 2 td rushing
Huffman Heatly, Albany: 4 rec, 134 yds, 1 td
Clay Chapman, Albany: 4 rec, 47 yds, 2 td
Bennett Neece, Albany: 11 tkl, 1 tfl
Zan Green, Albany: 14 tlk, 2 tfl, 1 sack
Woods Peterson, Albany: 67 yds, 2 td rushing
Corey Layne, Anson: 12-20, 171 yds, 3 td; 197 yds, 4 td rushing; 12 tkl, 2 tfl
Malachi St. John, Anson: 5 rec, 69 yds, 1 td
Ethan Lozano, Anson: 10 tkl
Alexander Lozano, Anson: 10 tkl
Mario Barrera, Anson: 2 rec, 57 yds, 2 td
Judson Coalson, Brownwood: 16-19, 287 yds, 3 td passing; 3 yds rushing
Stone Ratliff, Brownwood: 9 rec, 137 yds, 1 td; 70 yds rushing
Aaron Edmonds, Brownwood: 5 rec, 88 yds
Grant Gray, Brownwood: 2 rec, 62 yds, 2 td
Dillon Silva, Cisco: 204 yds, 3 td rushing
Julius Proffitt, Cisco: 3-4, 55 yds, 1 td, 1 int passing; 79 yds rushing
Blaine Bouldin, Coleman: 83 yds, 3 td rushing
Hunter Edington, Coleman: 9-16, 216 yds, 1 td passing; 6 yds rushing
Anthony Espetia, Coleman: 4 rec, 89 yds, 1 td
Brooks Clippinger, Coleman: 13 tkl, 1 tfl, 1 ff
Paul Salas, Coleman: 11 tkl
Cutter Cody, Coleman: 10 tkl
Cayden Davis, Comanche: 2-10, 74 yds, 2 td passing; 209 yds, 2 td rushing
Heston Jobe, De Leon: 11-19, 162 yds, 2 td; 76 yds, 1 td rushing
Adan Salinas, De Leon: 195 yds, 2 td rushing
Bryce Burkeen, De Leon: 5 rec, 88 yds, 2 td
Landry Sanderson, Goldthwaite: 183 yds, 4 td rushing
Luke Sanderson, Goldthwaite: 94 yds, 1 td rushing; 2 rec, 33 yds; 75 yard punt return for td
Keagan Ables, Hawley: 13-21, 250 yds, 2 td, 2 int; 18 yds, 2 td rushing
Allyn Barker, Hawley: 195 yds, 2 td rushing
Camden Ables, Hawley: 5 rec, 81 yds, 1 td
Hunter Crim, Hawley: 8 tkl, 2 tfl, 1 sack
Tate Scott, Hawley: 7 tkl, 2 tfl, 1 int; 2 rec, 67 yds
Gray Beasley, Jim Ned: 11-18, 153 yds, 3 td, 1 int; 84 yds, 1 td rushing
Aiden Ellis, Jim Ned: 105 yds, 1 td rushing; 4 rec, 33 yds; 12 tkl, 1 tfl
Breck Lawson, Jim Ned: 5 rec, 97 yds, 2 td; 1 tkl, 1 int
Stone Griffon, Jim Ned: 13 tkl, 1 tfl
Stone Chase, Jim Ned: 12 tkl, 1 tfl
Trey Hicks, Jim Ned: 8 tkl, 3 tfl
Liam Yancy, Miles: 17-27, 269 yds, 3 td, 2 int
Dillon Medina, Miles: 8 rec, 164 yds, 1 td
Cooper Ellison, Miles: 6 rec, 62 yds, 1 td
Luke Tharp, San Saba: 128 yds rushing; 5-7, 58 yds passing
Jason Everett, San Saba: 74 yds, 2 td rushing; 1 rec, 2 yds; 14 tkl
Levi Glover, San Saba: 12 tkl; 4 rec, 56 ydsbigbg
Cle Whitfield, Stamford: 69 yds, 1 td rushing; 2 rec, 30 yds, 1 td
Christian Duran, Stamford: 11-11, 159 yds, 2 td passing; 23 yds, 2 td rushing
Drew Faulks, Stamford: 4 rec, 85 yds
Braxton Bartee, Sweetwater: 22 tkl
Jade Rodriquez, Sweetwater: 19 tkl
Gilbert Rivera, Sweetwater: 14 tkl, 1 tfl
Korda Moore, Sweetwater: 12 tkl; 32 yds, 1 td rushing
Peyton Brown, Tolar: 191 yds, 4 td rushing
Bear Meng, Wylie: 21-30, 315 yds, 6 td, 1 int
Gage Heighten, Wylie: 7 rec, 126 yds, 2 td

6-MAN

Keegan Hayes, Benjamin: 159 yds, 4 td rushing; 10-15, 138 yds, 3 td passing; 15 tkl
Hudson Cates, Benjamin: 7 tkl, 1 int returned 35 yds for td; 3 rec, 38 yds, 1 td
Cameron Hernandez, Knox City: 227 yds, 6 td rushing; 2-3, 37 yds, 1 td passing; 1 rec, 0 yds
Zander Abila, Knox City: 107 yds, 2 td rushing; 5-6, 60 yds, 1 td passing; 1 rec, 6 yds
Blake Abila, Knox City: 3 rec, 49 yds, 1 td
Matthew Bolen, Loraine: 219 yds, 4 td rushing; 16-25, 306 yds, 4 td, 4 int passing; 9 tkl, 1 int returned 39 yds for td
Xander Ybarra, Loraine: 6 rec, 101 yds, 2 td; 95 yds, 3 td rushing; 9 tkl, 1 sack
Elijah Vargas, Loraine: 3 rec, 89 yds, 2 td; 6 tkl
Jaxon Anders, Loraine: 4 tkl, 4 tfl, 4 sacks
Johnathan Lujan, Loraine: 15 tkl, 4 sacks
Ry Reed, Gordon: 83 yds, 3 td rushing; 3 rec, 90 yds
Brayden Walters, Gordon: 3 rec, 81 yds, 2 td
Grayson Jeffrey, Westbrook: 432 yds, 7 td rushing; 4-7, 111 yds, 4 td passing; 1 rec, 12 yds; 6 tkl
Case Custer, Westbrook: 130 yds, 3 td rushing; 3 tkl
Zach Avants, Westbrook: 2 rec, 63 yds, 2 td
Jaxson Browne, Westbrook: 2 rec, 58 yds, 2 td
Wyatt Stevens, Zephyr: 3-6, 108 yds, 3 td passing; 3 yds rushing; 4 tkl
Reese Hamm, Zephyr: 43 yds, 2 td rushing; 4 tkl
Corben Gosnell, Zephyr: 13 tkl, 2 tfl
Trapper Schoenhals, Zephyr: 11 tkl, 2 tfl, 1 fr

COLLEGE ROUNDUP

For the first time Abilene has three conference champs! ACU is the UAC champ, HSU is the ASC champion, and McMurry split the SCAC title with Texas Lutheran.

ACU 35, Tarleton State 31

ACU clinched its first FCS conference title and the playoff berth that goes along with it, scoring with 19 seconds left to win at Tarleton State 35-31.

Wildcats Rally to Win UAC Title, Earn Playoff Berth

And we fought for ANOTHER 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘‼️#CDT | #GoWildcats pic.twitter.com/M3mNRjytL8
— ACU Football (@ACUFootball) November 17, 2024

NEXT: at Stephen F. Austin - Saturday, 2 p.m.

UNITED ATHLETIC CONFERENCE STANDINGS

ACU 7-1, 8-3
Tarleton State 5-2, 8-3
Eastern Kentucky 5-2, 7-4
Southern Utah 5-2, 6-5
Central Arkansas 3-4, 6-5
North Alabama 3-4, 3-8
Austin Peay 3-5, 4-7
Utah Tech 1-6, 1-10
West Georgia 1-7, 4-7

#4 Hardin-Simmons 45, East Texas Baptist 23

The Cowboys wrapped up a perfect regular season, the fourth in program history, with an easy win at East Texas Baptist.

HSU received a first round bye on the Division III playoffs and will host the winner of Mary Hardin-Baylor at Trinity on November 30.

Cowboys Complete Perfect Regular Season

Cowboys Receive First Round Bye In NCAA Playoffs

NEXT: vs. UMHB/Trinity winner on Nov. 30

Mary Hardin-Baylor 63, Howard Payne 7

The Yellow Jackets wrapped up their season with a loss at home to playoff bound Mary Hardin-Baylor

Yellow Jackets come up short in a 63-7 loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor

AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE FINAL STANDINGS

Hardin-Simmons 6-0, 10-0
Mary Hardin-Baylor 4-2, 5-3
East Texas Baptist 2-4, 5-4
Howard Payne 0-6, 1-8

McMurry 49, Centenary 12

The War Hawks took down Centenary Saturday afternoon to claim their half of the SCAC championship, the first conference football title since 1983!

Big Country Blitz Coverage: McMurry Claims Share of SCAC Title + Photos
McMurry Coverage: McMurry Takes Co-Champions Title

SOUTHERN COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE FINAL STANDINGS

Texas Lutheran 7-1, 9-1
McMurry 7-1, 7-3
Centenary 4-4, 4-6
Austin College 2-6, 2-8
Lyon 0-8, 1-9

Navarro 28, Cisco 21

The Wranglers came up short in their first conference playoff appearance since 2007, falling to Navarro by a touchdown.

Cisco ends the year at 4-5 in their first season under head coach Charlie Rizzio.

Navarro will face Tyler for the SWJCFC championship after the Apaches beat Kilgore 28-17 on Saturday.

Week 12 Rewind

OFF THE TOP

PLAYOFF SCORES AND PAIRINGS

5A DIVISION I

BI-DISTRICT

AREA

5A DIVISION II

BI-DISTRICT

AREA

4A DIVISION I

BI-DISTRICT

AREA

4A DIVISION II

BI-DISTRICT

AREA

3A DIVISION I

BI-DISTRICT

AREA

3A DIVISION II

BI-DISTRICT

AREA

2A DIVISION I

BI-DISTRICT

AREA

2A DIVISION II

BI-DISTRICT

AREA

1A DIVISION I

BI-DISTRICT

AREA

1A DIVISION II

BI-DISTRICT

AREA

TAPPS DIVISION II

BI-DISTRICT

HONOR ROLL

COLLEGE ROUNDUP

ACU 35, Tarleton State 31

#4 Hardin-Simmons 45, East Texas Baptist 23

Mary Hardin-Baylor 63, Howard Payne 7

McMurry 49, Centenary 12

Navarro 28, Cisco 21

Week 12 Fantasy Football Leaders

McMurry Claims Share of SCAC Title + Photos

BIG COUNTRY BLITZ