Week 7 Rewind

More teams started district play this past week, and it was glorious. Almost as glorious as Blue looked to Frank the Tank in Old School.

Another thing that was glorious? Yours truly nailing 26 out of 27 picks this weeks. I’ll probably (100% will) brag more on that in the next edition of Blitz Picks. Call my gambling hotline and listen to the recorded message for more stone cold locks… I digress. I also don’t bet. So here’s the Week 7 rewind.

CAUGHT MY EYE

SWEETWATER took a huge step towards claiming their first district championship since 2015 with a thrilling 36-30 overtime victory over preseason favorite Midland Greenwood. Leo Holsey threw for one touchdown and ran for two more, including the game winner in OT after the Mustang defense stopped the Rangers on their possession. The Mustang defense gave up over 500 yards but did get a pair of defensive touchdowns by Harrison Foster on a fumble recovery and an interception return for a touchdown. Sweetwater visits Pecos next week.



Cross Plains senior Cody McWilliams on his way to a first quarter touchdown

CROSS PLAINS came out on top in a huge battle with Santo in District 8-2A Division II Friday night. The Buffaloes turned three Santo turnovers into three touchdowns on their way to a 20-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Cross Plains was just getting started, as they forced seven turnovers in the 27-14 win. The Wildcats pulled within 20-14 at the half, but Cross Plains came up with the only touchdown in the second half to get the win. The victory puts the Buffs in great shape, tied with Albany atop the district standings. If they can keep winning, they’ll have a shot to face the Lions with the district title on the line in the season finale. Cross Plains has not won a district championship since 1994.

The BANGS DRAGONS had no problem in their district opener, crushing Grape Creek 62-0. Bangs outgained the Eagles 565-40, gaining 337 yards rushing and 228 passing while limiting Grape Creek to just 32 yards rushing (on 42 attempts) and eight yards through the air. The Dragons improve to 5-0 and get set to host Ingram Moore on Friday night.

BAIRD kicked off district play with a bang, beating Santa Anna 66-16 on the road Friday night. The Bears have evened their record at 3-3, winning three straight after dropping their first three games of the season against a pretty tough schedule. A match-up against May in two weeks could go a long way in determining the district champ.

The COLEMAN BLUECATS won their fourth straight game and improved to 5-1 on the season with a 35-0 shut out of De Leon in their District 4-2A Division I opener. Coleman held the Bearcats to just 120 yards of total offense and have given up just 8.25 points per game during their winning streak. Goldthwaite is next for the Bluecats, followed by a trio of tough games to close the regular season at Cisco, at home against San Saba, and at Winters.

ANSON returned to action for the first time since Sept. 18 and held off rival Stamford 41-34 in their 3-2A Division I opener to improve to 4-1 on the season. Anson trailed 22-14 at the break but ripped off 27 straight points to start the second half and held off a late Bulldogs rally to get the win. Save a six-point effort at Hamlin, the Tigers have scored nearly 40 points-per-game this season.

EASTLAND kept things rolling with a 50-23 district opening victory at Millsap. The Mavericks have won three straight to even their record at 3-3 after a rough start, and now look forward to a showdown with unbeaten Comanche on the road Friday night. That one will be a great contrast of the potent Maverick offense against a Comanche defense that has only given up 33 points all season.

The 10th ranked JIM NED INDIANS got off to a slow start against Early, but cruised past the Longhorns 46-14 to pick up their fourth win in a row. Jim Ned picked up a balanced 489 yards of total offense, 247 on the ground and 242 through the air, in the win. It is early in the District 3-3A Division I season, but the district title could be decided Friday night when the Indians host Wall.

HAWLEY bounced back from a blowout loss at Bangs with a 48-22 win over Haskell to kick off district play. Sophmore Austin Cumpton had a huge effort, rushing for 172 yards and a touchdown in the victory. The Bearcats will have a say in the 3-2A Division I race, as games the next two weeks at home against Stamford and at Anson will go a long way in deciding the champ.

STILL PERFECT

ABILENE CHRISTIAN: The 2-0 Panthers had a week off and will resume play Saturday against Lubbock All Saints

BANGS: The Dragons are now 5-0, and a pair of Ethan’s continue to lead the way for their high-scoring offense. Ethan Sanchez ran for 175 and three touchdowns Friday, while Ethan Cortez ran for 110 and a touchdown and threw for 228 and four scores.

HAMLIN: The Pipers gave up more points to Ralls Friday (22) than they had the rest of the season combined (18), but still cruised to a 20-point win over the Jack Rabbits to kick off district play. 6-0 Hamlin will be huge favorites again when they host 1-6 Crosbyton this week.

HERMLEIGH: Make it seven straight wins to start 2020 for the Cardinals, who got past Aspermont 71-42 in their closest game of the season Friday night. Hermleigh now has as many wins this season as the last two combined, and will look to get to 8-0 as district play continues at Roby.

ROTAN: The Yellowhammers had their closest contest so far this season Friday, but escaped Sanderson with a 48-36 win to improve to 6-0. Rotan jumps into district play against preseason favorite Ira at home Friday night.

WYLIE: The Bulldogs will be guaranteed to be on this list again next weeks after having a pair of games cancelled due to COVID-19. They’re 2-0 and won’t return to action until they host Plainview to open district play on October 23.

LOOKING AHEAD

There are some great games to get out and see Friday night.

Abilene High at San Angelo Central
Justin Northwest at Cooper
Sweetwater at Pecos
Eastland at Comanche
Stamford at Hawley
Wall at Jim Ned
San Saba at Winters
Hermleigh at Roby
Ira at Rotan
Santa Anna at May

STANDINGS

District 2-6A

Midland Lee 3-0
Odessa Permian 2-1
Odessa 0-1
Wolfforth Frenship 1-2
Abilene 0-2
Midland 0-3
San Angelo Central 0-3

This week: Abilene High at San Angelo Central; Frenship at Midland; Midland Lee at Permian; Odessa is off

District 3-5A Division I

Arlington Heights 2-0
Azle 2-1
Justin Northwest 2-1
Cooper 1-1
Brewer 1-2
Granbury 1-2
Crowley 0-3
Saginaw 0-3

This week: Justin Northwest at Cooper; Granbury at Crowley; Brewer at Saginaw; Arlington Heights at Azle

District 3-5A Division II

Wichita Falls Rider 3-0
Wylie 2-0
Lubbock Cooper 2-1
Plainview 2-1
Canyon Randall 1-2
Wichita Falls 0-1

This week: Cooper at Lubbock Monterey; Lubbock Coronado at Wichita Falls Rider; Wichita Falls at Amarillo Caprock; Wylie is off

District 5-4A Division I

Waco La Vega 3-0, 6-1
Midlothian Heritage 2-0, 6-2
Stephenville 1-1, 3-4
Waxahachie Life 1-1, 2-4
Alvarado 0-2, 2-4
Brownwood 0-3, 2-6

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

District 1-4A Division II

Sweetwater 2-0, 5-1
Monahans 1-0, 3-4
Greenwood 1-1, 3-3
Pecos 0-1, 2-2
Snyder 0-2, 2-4

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

District 3-3A Division I

Jim Ned 1-0, 4-1
Wall 1-0, 4-2
Clyde 1-0, 2-4
Early 0-1, 3-3
Breckenridge 0-1, 0-5
TLCA San Angelo 0-1, 0-6

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

District 2-3A Division II

Bangs 1-0, 5-0
Ballinger 1-0, 6-1
Sonora 1-0, 2-4
Ingram Moore 0-1, 5-1
Brady 0-1, 2-4
Grape Creek 0-1, 1-5

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

District 5-3A Division II

Comanche 1-0, 6-0
Eastland 1-0, 3-3
Jacksboro 1-0, 4-2
Millsap 0-1, 4-2
Merkel 0-1, 2-3
Dublin 0-1, 1-4

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

District 3-2A Division I

Anson 1-0, 4-1
Hawley 1-0, 4-2
Forsan 1-0, 3-2
Stamford 0-1, 3-3
Haskell 0-1, 1-4
Colorado City 0-1, 0-6

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

District 4-2A Division I

Coleman 1-0, 5-1
San Saba 1-0, 4-1
Cisco 1-0, 3-3
Goldthwaite 0-1, 2-4
De Leon 0-1, 1-5
Winters 0-1, 1-5

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

District 5-2A Division II

Hamlin 1-0, 6-0
Lockney 1-0, 6-0
Roscoe 0-0, 0-6
Ralls 0-1, 4-3
Crosbyton 0-1, 1-6

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

District 8-2A Division II

Cross Plains 2-0, 6-1
Albany 2-0, 5-1
Santo 1-1, 4-3
Meridian 1-1, 3-3
Hico 0-2, 1-6
Ranger 0-2, 0-6

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

District 7-1A Division I

Hermleigh 1-0, 7-0
Ira 1-0, 5-2
Rotan 0-0, 6-0
Roby 0-1, 4-3
Aspermont 0-1, 3-4

This week: Hermleigh at Roby; Ira at Rotan; Aspermont is off

District 8-1A Division I

Sterling City 1-0, 7-0
Westbrook 1-0, 7-0
Robert Lee 0-0, 1-4
Highland 0-1, 4-3
Bronte 0-1, 1-5

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

District 13-1A Division I

May 1-0, 6-1
Baird 1-0, 3-3
Lingleville 0-0, 1-5
Santa Anna 0-1, 5-2
Gorman 0-1, 3-4

This week: Santa Anna at May; Gorman at Lingleville; Forth Worth Covenant Classical at Baird

District 6-1A Division II

Blackwell 1-0, 4-3
Loraine 1-0, 4-3
TLCA Abilene 0-0, 0-4
Olfen 0-1, 0-3
Trent 0-1, 0-7

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

District 8-1A Division II

Benjamin 3-1
Rule 5-2
Chillicothe 2-3
Harrold 0-1

This week: Chillocothe at Hart; Benjamin, Harrold and Rule are off

District 9-1A Division II

Throckmorton 1-0, 5-1
Woodson 0-0, 0-4
Moran 0-0, 0-7
Lueders-Avoca 0-1, 0-7

This week: Woodson at Moran; Lueders-Avoca and Throckmorton are off

District 15-1A Division II

Blanket 1-0, 5-2
Sidney 1-0, 4-2
Brookesmith 0-0, 3-2
Rising Star 0-1, 3-4
Panther Creek 0-1, 1-6

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