Week 12 Rewind
We have 12 fewer teams playing football in the Big Country after round one of the playoffs, as Brownwood, Early, Clyde, Stamford, Winters, Roscoe, Cross Plains, Hermleigh, Ira, Baird, Loraine and Lueders-Avoca all came up short in bi-district action.
12 playoff teams remain, along with the “Big Three” in Abilene who are still in the regular season.
REGULAR SEASON WEEKLY REWIND
Abilene High is firmly on the path to the playoffs after whipping Wolfforth Frenship 42-7 Friday night. The Warbirds are all alone in the number four spot with winnable games at winless Odessa and one-win Midland coming up the next two weeks.
Cooper remained unbeaten in District 3-5A Division I with an easy 48-13 win at Saginaw. The Cougars and Azle are the only two remaining unblemished teams in the district and will meet at Shotwell Stadium on Friday in a game that will likely decide the title.
Wylie had a tough time on their long road trip to Canyon Randall, falling to the Raiders 28-14 to fall to 1-2 in District 3-5A Division II play.
EASY ADVANCEMENT
Albany, Ballinger and Bangs all moved on without having to play a game as their opponents cancelled due to COVID concerns. All three would have likely won easily anyway, however, as their opponents had combined to go just 5-17 in the regular season. Let’s hope the pandemic is not the thing that decides more games as the playoffs continue.
ALMOST A BYE
A few Big Country teams might as well have had a bye as they cruised to easy opening round victories in the playoffs. Sweetwater, Eastland, Cisco, Anson, Hamlin and May dominated their opponents by a combined 330 to 70. At least they had the chance to stay sharp and let some younger players get some playoff experience, unlike the three teams that advanced due to forfeits.
HARD-FOUGHT BATTLES
Jim Ned and Hawley had the hardest time advancing, but they move on nonetheless. The Indians were tested and held off Paradise 21-18 to advance, while Hawley overcame upset minded Goldthwaite 34-20 to get to the area round.
AREA ROUND, RANKED
Here is a look at the 11 playoff games on tap for this week for teams in Big Country Blitz. We still are not sure about Abilene Christian’s TAPPS 6-Man Division III playoff matchup.
11. Hamlin (10-0) vs Petrolia (7-3) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Seymour
Winner vs. Quanah/Muenster
The Pied Pipers gave up the first six points to Olney last week, but answered with 44 of their own in an easy bi-district victory. Hamlin will be big favorites against a Pirate team that squeaked by Cross Plains 28-27, getting their first playoff victory since winning a state championship in 2002.
10. Cisco (8-3) vs Olton (8-3) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Colorado City
Winner vs. Hawley/Sundown
The Loboes have been dominant lately and likely will have little trouble advancing past the Mustangs. Olton beat New Deal 35-33 to advance, while Cisco outscored Stamford 70-32. Cisco has not lost since a 14-7 defeat at 3A Division II Comanche in late September.
9. Albany (9-1) vs Ralls (7-3) - Thursday, 7 p.m. - Snyder
Winner vs. Windthorst/Lockney
This one also has a chance to be a blowout, as Albany has been on fire ever since their 42-6 loss to Hamlin on Sept. 11. The Lions have allowed just 14 points, all to Santo, in the six games since, and will be big favorites to knock off the Jackrabbits Thursday night. Ralls is in the area round for the second straight season after stomping Seymour 54-13 last week.
8. Jim Ned (9-1) vs Dalhart (8-3) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Levelland
Winner vs. Brock/Denver City
The Indians had a scare in their bi-district victory, but should be favored to beat Dalhart by a comfortable margin in round two. The Wolves knocked off 4-6 Lamesa 44-14 last week to advance, but do not have the regular season resume the Indians do.
7. Anson (8-2) vs Post (11-0) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Clyde
Winner vs. San Saba/Panhandle
The Tigers looked very good in a 45-7 bi-district win over Winters, and will have to keep it up if they want to challenge Post. The Antelopes haven’t played since October 30, but they won their nine on-field games this season by an average of 48.2 points per game.
6. Eastland (8-3) vs Bells (9-2) - Friday, 7:30 p.m. - Boyd
Winner vs. Holliday/S&S Consolidated
The red-hot Mavericks rolled past Callisburg last week to set up a matchup with Bells. The Panthers have losses to the other two top teams in 3A Division II Region II this season (Gunter 41-7 and Holliday 34-21). Expect Eastland to have enough firepower to move on to round three for the second time in three years.
5. Bangs (8-1) vs Canadian (10-1) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Vernon
Winner vs. Idalou/Alpine
The Dragons got a forfeit win over Tornillo last week, now they turn their attention to top-ranked Canadian. The Wildcats will be Bangs’ biggest test of the season thus far. Their only loss was to 4A Division II playoff team Iowa Park 28-21, and they won their on-field district games by a combined 365 to 33.
4. May (10-1) vs Jonesboro (10-1) - Friday, 6:30 p.m. - Dublin
Winner vs. Leakey/Water Valley
The Tigers 45’d nine-win Irion County Friday night in Robert Lee and now turn their attention to ten-win Jonesboro. The Eagles mercy-ruled Nueces Canyon a week ago and their only loss this season was to 1A Division II state power Borden County, but the balanced Tigers will likely be too much (and are 37 point favorites according to sixmanfootball.com).
3. Sweetwater (8-1) vs Celina (4-4) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Stephenville
Winner vs. Iowa Park/Estacado
Don’t let the Bobcats 4-4 record fool you, as three of their losses were to top ten ranked 4A Division I teams Melissa, Paris and Argyle and the other was to 4-4A Division II district champ Aubrey, who is 10-1. The Mustangs have been on a roll, winning eight straight, and this will be their toughest test since an overtime win over Midland Greenwood on Oct. 9.
2. Hawley (9-2) vs Sundown (9-2) - Friday, 4 p.m. - Big Spring
Winner vs. Cisco/Olton
The Bearcats and Roughnecks meet in the playoffs for the third year in a row, and if this edition is anything like the other two we could have another classic on our hands. Sundown won 37-36 in 2018 and Hawley won 22-21 a year ago.
1. Ballinger (11-1) vs Spearman (9-2) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Floydada
Winner vs. Crane/Childress
This will be a TOUGH one to pick later in the week, as both teams are playing very good football. Spearman’s only loss this season was a forfeit to top-ranked Canadian, while Ballinger’s only defeat was to state ranked and unbeaten Llano on the road. This would be the game I’d choose to attend if I could only pick one this week.
IN THE BOOKS
A dozen teams saw their seasons come to a close in the playoffs last week.
BAIRD: The Bears made the six-man playoffs for the first time, battling back from an 0-3 start to the season to end up 5-6 in their first year under Derek Schlieve.
BROWNWOOD: The Lions (4-6) took a few steps back after a great run in 2019, but saw their playoff streak reach 12 consecutive seasons.
CLYDE: The Bulldogs (4-7) were eliminated by Pilot Point after making a nice run in district play and reaching the playoffs for the second straight season.
CROSS PLAINS: The Buffaloes decided to go for two and the win against Petrolia but came up just shy of the end zone. They end a great season with an 8-3 record and a second place finish in district play. The Buffs have made the playoffs six seasons in a row, the best postseason streak in program history.
EARLY: The Longhorns (5-6) first season under Daniel Price saw them reach the postseason for the first time since 2008. Number one ranked, and state title favorite, Brock ended their season in the bi-district round 42-7.
HERMLEIGH: The Cardinals (9-2) turned things around under Heath Gibson, playing for a district title and reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Hermleigh won their first nine games before falling to Ira in the regular season finale and top ranked Sterling City in the playoffs.
IRA: Despite fielding a very young team, Toby Goodwin led the Bulldogs (8-3) to another district title and trip to the playoffs. Powerful Westbrook ended the year for Ira, 45-0.
LUEDERS-AVOCA: The Raiders went just 2-9 but did make the playoffs as the runner-up to Throckmorton from District 9-1A Division II. Fannindel knocked them out 62-12.
LORAINE: The Bulldogs made it three straight trips to the postseason, but fell in the first round to number one Balmorhea last week. Loraine has gone 6-5 in back-to-back seasons.
ROSCOE: The Plowboys struggled to a 1-10 season, but got a win in the season finale that helped them snap a two-year playoff skid.
STAMFORD: The Bulldogs had the misfortune of a first round playoff matchup with Cisco after ending the regular season with a 5-5 record. Stamford has now been a playoff team four consecutive seasons.
WINTERS: Matt McCarty’s Blizzards reached the playoffs for the fourth straight season, but fell in the first round to Anson. Winters battled through a very tough schedule to finish 4-7 overall.
NON-PLAYOFF GAMES THIS WEEK
Class 6A and 5A are not quite ready for postseason play thanks to a later start.
Abilene High at Odessa
Azle at Cooper
Wylie at Lubbock Cooper
STANDINGS
District 2-6A
San Angelo Central 4-0, 4-3
Odessa Permian 4-1, 6-2
Midland Lee 3-1, 6-1
Abilene 2-2, 2-4
Midland 1-3, 1-6
Wolfforth Frenship 1-4, 2-6
Odessa 0-4, 0-5
This week: Abilene at Odessa; Permian at Central; Lee at Midland
District 3-5A Division I
Cooper 4-0, 5-1
Azle 3-0, 5-1
Brewer 3-1, 4-3
Justin Northwest 3-1, 5-2
Arlington Heights 1-2, 3-2
Crowley 1-3, 1-6
Granbury 1-4, 2-6
Saginaw 0-5, 0-8
This week: Azle at Cooper; Brewer at Northwest; Crowley at Saginaw; Granbury at Arlington Heights
District 3-5A Division II
Wichita Falls Rider 3-0, 6-1
Lubbock Cooper 2-0, 5-1
Canyon Randall 2-2, 4-4
Wylie 1-2, 2-3
Wichita Falls 1-2, 2-3
Plainview 0-3, 2-5
This week: Wylie at Lubbock Cooper; Randall at Rider; Wichita Falls at Plainview
FINAL STANDINGS
District 5-4A Division I
Midlothian Heritage 4-0, 8-2
Waco La Vega 4-1, 7-2
Stephenville 3-2, 5-5
Brownwood 2-2, 4-5
Waxahachie Life 1-4, 2-7
Alvarado 0-5, 2-8
District 1-4A Division II
Sweetwater 4-0, 7-1
Greenwood 3-1, 5-3
Monahans 2-2, 4-6
Pecos 1-3, 3-5
Snyder 0-4, 2-6
District 3-3A Division I
Jim Ned 5-0, 8-1
Wall 4-1, 7-3
Clyde 3-2, 4-6
Early 2-3, 5-5
Breckenridge 1-4, 1-8
TLCA San Angelo 0-5, 0-10
District 2-3A Division II
Ballinger 5-0, 10-1
Bangs 4-1, 8-1
Sonora 3-2, 4-6
Brady 2-3, 4-6
Grape Creek 1-4, 2-8
Ingram Moore 0-5, 5-5
District 5-3A Division II
Eastland 5-0, 7-3
Jacksboro 3-2, 6-4
Comanche 3-2, 8-2
Millsap 3-2, 7-3
Merkel 1-4, 3-6
Dublin 0-5, 1-8
District 3-2A Division I
Hawley 5-0, 8-2
Anson 4-1, 7-2
Forsan 3-2, 5-4
Stamford 2-3, 5-5
Haskell 1-4, 2-7
Colorado City 0-5, 0-10
District 4-2A Division I
Cisco 5-0, 7-3
San Saba 4-1, 7-2
Winters 3-2, 4-6
Coleman 2-3, 6-4
Goldthwaite 1-4, 3-7
De Leon 0-5, 1-9
District 5-2A Division II
Hamlin 4-0, 9-0
Ralls 3-1, 7-3
Lockney 2-2, 7-2
Roscoe 1-3, 1-9
Crosbyton 0-4, 1-9
District 8-2A Division II
Albany 5-0, 8-1
Cross Plains 4-1, 8-2
Santo 3-2, 6-4
Hico 2-3, 3-7
Meridian 1-4, 3-6
Ranger 0-5, 0-9
District 7-1A Division I
Ira 4-0, 8-2
Hermleigh 3-1, 9-1
Roby 2-2, 5-5
Aspermont 0-3, 3-6
Rotan 0-3, 6-3
District 8-1A Division I
Sterling City 4-0, 10-0
Westbrook 3-1, 9-1
Highland 2-2, 6-4
Robert Lee 1-3, 2-7
Bronte 0-4, 1-8
District 13-1A Division I
May 4-0, 9-1
Baird 3-1, 5-5
Gorman 2-2, 5-5
Santa Anna 1-3, 6-4
Lingleville 0-4, 1-9
District 6-1A Division II
Blackwell 4-0, 7-3
Loraine 3-1, 6-4
Trent 1-3, 1-9
Olfen 0-3, 0-5
TLCA Abilene 0-3, 0-7
District 8-1A Division II
Benjamin 3-0, 6-1
Chillicothe 2-1, 5-4
Rule 1-2, 6-4
Harrold 0-3, 0-5
District 9-1A Division II
Throckmorton 3-0, 7-1
Lueders-Avoca 2-1, 2-7
Woodson 1-2, 1-6
Moran 0-3, 0-10
District 15-1A Division II
Blanket 3-1, 7-3
Brookesmith 4-0, 7-2
Sidney 2-2, 5-4
Rising Star 1-3, 4-6
Panther Creek 0-4, 1-9
