Week 14 Rewind
What a weekend it was. You got to stuff your face with turkey/ham/pie/etc. and hopefully take in a high school football game somewhere around the area. Many games went down to the wire as the list of Big Country teams alive in the postseason was trimmed to five.
There aren’t many games in the area this week as the playoffs have knocked a few great teams out and all the big schools have off weeks before their playoff runs begin.
MOVING ON
The Fab 5 remain in 3A, 2A, 1A and TAPPS for the Big Country, as Jim Ned, Eastland, Cisco, May and Abilene Christian remain.
Jim Ned 19, Brock 16
The Indians got another huge victory, their biggest in years, as they upset top-ranked Brock in the regional semifinals Friday afternoon. The victory puts Jim Ned in the fourth round of the playoffs for just the third time in program history.
Brock had scored no fewer than 42 points in a game this season before Jim Ned held them to 16, well below their season average. The Indian offense did just enough, picking up only 173 yards on the day, but special teams proved to be key as Jim Ned returned a free kick (after getting a safety when they pinned the Eagles inside their own five-yard line on a punt) and got the game-winning field goal from Hayden Humphries in the fourth quarter.
Eastland 28, Holliday 24
The Mavericks won their tenth straight game and are in the regional finals for the first time since 2013. Eastland got another strong effort from Behren Morton, who combined for nearly 400 yards passing and running, and overcame a 24-14 third quarter deficit to get the victory.
Eastland avenged a 29-28 week two loss to Holliday to advance.
Cisco 54, Hawley 20
The Loboes led 47-0 after three quarters before Hawley scored late to make the score look a bit more respectable.
Cisco ran for 385 yards and held the Bearcats to under 200 total yards on the way to their eighth straight victory. The Loboes are headed to the regional finals for the first time since 2014 when they fell to Sonora 36-35.
May 72, Leakey 38
The Tigers turned it on in the second half to advance to the state semifinals for the first time since 2014. May trailed Leakey 38-32 at the break, but outscored the Eagles 40-0 in the second half to cruise to their 11th win in a row.
Junior Kaden (The Incredible) Halk had the game of his life for the Tigers, rushing for 337 yards and seven touchdowns, catching a pass for a 47-yard touchdown and picking off a pair of passes on defense.
Abilene Christian 56, Greenville Christian 22
The Panthers are in the state quarterfinals for the fourth straight season after taking care of Greenville Christian in Hico on Saturday afternoon.
Abilene Christian can get their first quarterfinal win in that four-year stretch if they can knock off Lubbock Kingdom Prep for a second time this season. The Panthers beat Kingdom Prep 44-32 in week two.
REGULAR SEASON WEEKLY REWIND
ABILENE HIGH will head to the playoffs on a three-game winning streak after their 56-14 mauling of Midland High Friday afternoon. The Eagles will be the #2 seed from District 2-6A in the Division II bracket and will meet up with an El Paso school in the bi-district round in two weeks.
COOPER wraps up the regular season on a seven-game winning streak. The Cougars are the District 3-5A Division I champs and rolled past Crowley 50-13 in their regular season finale. Some 3-5A Div. I teams still have a game this week, but the Cougars will await their playoff matchup in two weeks. Midlothian (5-3, 3-3) or Mansfield Summit (3-4, 2-2) are the likely opponents.
WYLIE has done all they can to secure a playoff spot, shutting out Plainview 48-0 Friday to finish up a 4-3 regular season. The Bulldogs will have to see how Wichita Falls does against Lubbock Cooper Friday before they know their playoff fate. If Wichita Falls loses, Wylie is in as the fourth seed from 3-5A Division II and will earn their first trip to the playoffs as a Class 5A program. Grapevine would be the likely bi-district opponent.
FOURTH ROUND MATCHUPS
A win this week could get four Big Country teams into the state semifinals and May into the state championship game.
3A DIVISION I REGIONAL FINALS
Jim Ned (11-1) vs Pilot Point (10-3) - Thursday, 7 p.m. - Stephenville
3A DIVISION II REGIONAL FINALS
Eastland (10-3) vs Gunter (12-1) - Thursday, 7 p.m. - Globe Life Park, Arlington
2A DIVISION I REGIONAL FINALS
Cisco (10-3) vs Post (13-0) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Anthony Field, Abilene Christian
1A DIVISION I SEMIFINALS
May (12-1) vs Blum (9-3) - Saturday, 6 p.m. - Dublin
TAPPS 6-MAN DIVISION III QUARTERFINALS
Abilene Christian vs Lubbock Kingdom Prep - Saturday, 3 p.m. - Hermleigh
IN THE BOOKS
Four more Big Country schools saw their season come to an end. Some results were somewhat expected, while others fell victim to upset.
HAWLEY: The Bearcats were knocked out by powerful Cisco, but still enjoyed a district title, just the fourth 10-win season in school history and the second deepest playoff run in program history. Many of the key players on this seasons squad were underclassmen who will be ready to get Hawley back to the playoffs again in 2021.
HAMLIN: Not many of us expected to see the Pied Pipers in this section, but they fell victim to the turnover bug in a 31-28 loss to Muester in Graham on Friday. The Pipers gave the ball up four times and did not get a takeaway. Hamlin still has nothing to be ashamed of, as they went 11-1 and picked up their second straight district title. The Pipers have gone at least three rounds deep in the playoffs five straight seasons under head man Russell Lucas.
ALBANY: The Lions were oh-so-close to advancing as well, as they fell to Windthorst 18-13 in Breckenridge Friday afternoon. Albany trailed 12-0 at the half but rallied to go ahead 13-12 with just over three minutes left to play. The Trojans answered and scored the game winner on an Ethan Belcher touchdown run with 1:39 to go. The Lions end 2020 with a 10-2 record, their 11th 10-win season in the last 13 years.
WESTBROOK: The Wildcats best season in quite some time came to an end at the hands of district foe Sterling City 64-32 on Saturday afternoon in Colorado City. Westbrook only lost twice all season, in both cases to the top-ranked Eagles. Their 11-2 campaign is the best since going 9-2 in 2001.
NON-PLAYOFF GAMES THIS WEEK
None. Abilene, Cooper and Wylie all have the week off.
STANDINGS
District 2-6A
Odessa Permian 5-1, 7-2
Midland Lee 5-1, 8-1
San Angelo Central 4-2, 4-5
Abilene 4-2, 4-4
Midland 1-5, 1-8
Wolfforth Frenship 2-4, 3-6
Odessa 0-6, 0-7
District 3-5A Division I
Cooper 6-0, 7-1
Azle 4-1, 6-2
Justin Northwest 4-2, 6-3
Brewer 3-2, 4-4
Crowley 2-4, 2-7
Arlington Heights 1-3, 3-3
Granbury 1-5, 2-7
Saginaw 1-6, 1-9
This week: Arlington Heights at Azle (Monday); Azle at Crowley (Saturday); Arlington Heights at Northwest (Saturday)
District 3-5A Division II
Wichita Falls Rider 4-1, 7-2
Lubbock Cooper 4-0, 7-1
Wichita Falls 2-2, 3-3
Canyon Randall 2-3, 4-5
Wylie 2-3, 4-3
Plainview 0-5, 2-7
This week: Lubbock Cooper 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
