THURSDAY’S GAMES 

District 2-5A Division I

Tascosa (2-3, 1-0) at Lubbock High (3-1, 0-0), 7 p.m., PlainsCapital Park Lowrey Field, Lubbock
How bout those Westerners! Lubbock High enters 2-5A DI play on a wave of momentum owning the schools’ first three-game win streak since 1975, starting 3-1 for the first time since 2001 and have three wins in a season for the first time since 2012. I love a good Cinderella story. But I also love the way Tascosa is finding ways to win these days. Tascosa must match Lubbock’s early enthusiasm, and I think the Flexbone wears the Westerners down. … Tascosa 42, Lubbock High 21.

Class 1A

Silverton (2-3) at Groom (2-3), 7:30 p.m. 
A week ago, it would be easy to go with the Tigers. A week later, with Zaden Ortiz and
Jace Alvarado back in the fold, the Owls are looking like district contenders. Groom didn’t play well last week and let Wildorado almost hang a hundred on them. Let’s see Groom rebound this week. … Groom 66, Silverton 62.

FRIDAY’S GAMES 

District 2-5A Division I

Abilene High (3-2, 1-0) at Amarillo High (2-2, 1-0), 7 p.m., Dick Bivins Stadium
I guarantee AHS will win (I know, bad joke). But I do guarantee points on the board in this one. Amarillo High has scored 48, 49 and 50 points in three of its four games while Abilene has cranked out 37, 42 twice, 55 and 60 points.  Abilene is still the team to beat in this district. … Abilene High 48, Amarillo High 38.

Lubbock Coronado (1-4, 0-1) vs Lubbock Monterey (1-4, 0-1), 7 p.m., PlainsCapital Park, Lowrey Field
The records are identical in this Lubbock city rivalry played out every year since 1966. Monterey’s offense is the best unit on the field. … Monterey 38, Coronado 28.

District 2-5A Division II

Wichita Falls Memorial (4-1, 1-0) vs. Palo Duro (3-1, 0-0), 7 p.m., Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, Canyon
This is the Dons district opener and what a challenge in first-year school Memorial. The challenge? Stop a Memorial offense which has scored more than 42 points four times this year. PD just wins, baby. I thought they’d lose to Tascosa, nope. I thought they’d lose to Amarillo High, naw. Many think they will lose to Memorial. Not me. A week off to heal injuries and the vibe this team plays with is crazy good. … Palo Duro 28, Memorial 24.

Lubbock Cooper (4-1, 1-0) at Wichita Falls legacy (0-4, 0-1), 7 p.m., Memorial Stadium, Wichita Falls
Cooper is the real deal. Nuff said. … Cooper 48, Legacy 10.

Abilene Wylie (3-1, 1-0) at Abilene Cooper (1-4, 0-1), 7 p.m., Shotwell Stadium, Abilene
A lot of teams out there would be 1-4 playing Cooper’s brutal schedule. The Cougs  will give Wylie much more of a challenge than most expect in this Abilene city rivalry. Wylie’s lone loss will remain to Stephenville after this one, but it won’t be easy. … Wylie 31, Cooper 30.

– Lance Lahnert
Last week: 3-0 (1.000)
Season: 12-2 (.857)

CLASS 4A 

Argyle Liberty Christian (3-1) at West Plains (2-2), 7 p.m., Friday
In one of the odder scheduling quirks of the season, West Plains is playing a game at the season’s midpoint when four of the other five teams in District 2-4A Division I are taking the week off prior to next week’s games to open district. On top of that, West Plains is playing after an open week last week following a loss to Bushland. The Wolves are looking for consistency and this game figures to be one last chance to find that before it counts. Liberty Christian is coached by former Dallas Cowboy Jason Witten, but home field and pre-district incentive favors the Wolves. … West Plains 24, Liberty Christian 21.

Hereford (4-0) at Seminole (5-0), 7 p.m., Friday
Like West Plains, Hereford is a 2-4A DI school who had last week off and is looking to tune up for district against a formidable foe. This could be the most intriguing nondistrict game in the area this week, as it’s a clash between two unbeaten teams with high-octane offenses, so the scoreboard could light up like Fourth of July instead of the Fourth of October. That probably means it will come down to a final stop defensively, or even an early stop defensively. Kalub Ramirez, Brylyn Lopez and Tell Bryant are tremendous weapons for the Whitefaces, but home field helps Seminole. … Seminole 40, Hereford 34.

Denver City (0-5) at Borger (1-4), 7 p.m., Friday
Both teams could seriously use some momentum in their final non-district games after struggling through the first five weeks of the season. Borger has lost some tough ones, falling by a touchdown or less to Pampa and Dalhart over the last two weeks. In going winless, Denver City hasn’t played anybody closer than three touchdowns over the last four weeks and hasn’t scored over 14 points in any of those games. Borger has been playing some solid defense as of late, and that along with playing at home, will lift the Bulldogs to victory. … Borger 17, Denver City 12.

– Lee Passmore
Last Week: 4-1 (.800)
Season: 17-10 (.630)

CLASS 3A

Perryton (2-3) at Bushland (5-0), 7 p.m. 
The Falcons were challenged and, on their heels, last week at Dumas. In that physical contest, Bushland got a little banged up and maybe without a couple of key players. Regardless, the firepower that is on the field is enough to soar on Homecoming. … Bushland 46, Perryton 16. 

Dalhart (4-1) at Muleshoe (4-1), 7 p.m. 
Here’s a matchup between two longtime district rivals now battling it out in non-district. Last year’s matchup was a dandy. Muleshoe has averaged 65 points a game over the past two contests. The Golden Wolves defense is tough, but can the Dalhart offense hang in without QB Kyler Read. … Muleshoe 41, Dalharat 32. 

Shallowater (3-2) at Canadian (3-2), 7 p.m. 
This is the first meeting between these two traditional powers since a playoff classic in 2003 where the Mustangs outlasted the Wildcats 48-41 behind now University of North Texas head football coach Eric Morris and his tremendous play as a dual-threat quarterback. Both teams have ran through a gauntlet of a schedule so far and will do it one more time before gearing up for district play. … Canadian 30, Shallowater 27. 

Tulia (2-3) at Guymon, Okla. (1-4), 7 p.m. 
The Hornets opened some eyes last week by going on the road and outlasting Lamesa. Look for Tulia to carry that momentum into a second straight W. … Tulia 43, Guymon 22.

Slaton (4-1) at Dimmitt (2-3), 7 p.m. 
This is a Bobcat team that has shown improvement and earned a big win against Highland Park last week. Like Dimmitt, the Tigers are much improved under former Clarendon football coach Clint Conkin. … Slaton 36, Dimmitt 16. 

Friona (0-5) at Farwell (1-4), 7 p.m. 
It’s hard to believe there is only one win between these two proud programs so far. I personally think both are better than the records indicate. This is also an old school Highway 60 rivalry so it should be fun. … Farwell 34, Friona 18. 

Stratford (2-2) at Childress (2-3), 7 p.m. 
The Elks bounced back off a bye week looking very good against Lubbock Trinity last week. The Bobcat offense will need to deliver after a couple of rough outings of late or Stratford pulls away in the end. … Stratford 30, Childress 14. 

– Kale Steed 
Last week: 5-2 (.714)
Season: 26-6 (.812) 

Class 2A 

River Road (2-2) at Gruver (5-0), 7 p.m. 
There aren’t’ many weaknesses in the Greyhounds game at the moment with all three phases clicking on all cylinders. The Wildcats defense can keep them in the game early, but will the offense step up. … Gruver 42, River Road 14.

Vega (1-4) at Memphis (1-3), 7 p.m. 
Both teams have gotten off to slow starts and looking for a victory. Give the edge to the Longhorns. … Vega 29, Memphis 13. 

– Kale Steed 
Last week: 9-0 (1.000)
Season: 38-14 (.760) 

CLASS 1A

Amherst (4-1) at Boys Ranch (0-5), 7 p.m.
A combination of a tough schedule and the conversion to Six-Man ball has made this
season tough for the Roughriders. They won’t get a break with Amherst and Joel
Garcia in week six. … Amherst 68, Boys Ranch 38.

Kress (2-2) at White Deer (2-3), 7 p.m.
Injuries continue to derail a season that looked promising to start the year for White Deer.
The Kangaroos have been up and down all season, but Cole Todd will be the
difference maker in the end. … Kress 58, White Deer 48.

Happy (4-1) at McLean (2-3), 7 p.m.
As you looked at the schedule at the start of the year this looked like a solid matchup,
but six weeks has gone by and both teams are headed in opposite directions. The
Cowboys haven’t invoked the mercy-rule all year but that changes this week. … Happy 62, McLean 12.

Booker (4-1) at Lefors (1-4), 7 p.m.
The Kiowas are still licking their wounds from the devastating ground game Follett
released on them last week. That doesn’t bode well for the Pirates as Booker will look
to take out some frustration on the road. … Booker 60, Lefors 12.

Wildorado (3-1) at Lubbock Kingdom Prep (4-1), 7 p.m.
A low-key great matchup as Wildorado comes into this one on the heels of a solid road
win last week. The passing attack for the Mustangs is something Kingdom Prep will
have to defend to pick up a win. The Warriors are always a solid team in the private school sector on a yearly basis. … Lubbock Kingdom Prep 72, Wildorado 65.

Claude (4-1) at Valley (0-5), 7 p.m.
Having faced one of the toughest non-district schedules in the state, the Patriots have
been unable to break into the win column and now a red-hot Mustangs squad comes to
town. Valley will be more competitive in this one, but the result will be the same in the
end. … Claude 54, Valley 26.

Guthrie (1-3) at Hedley (0-5), 7 p.m.
Week after week the Owls play tough but just can’t get a win. The Jaguars are better
than their one-win record indicates which will be bad news for Hedley. … Guthrie 54,
Hedley 18.

Amarillo PCHEA (2-3) at San Jacinto Christian Academy (1-4), 7 p.m. at Rick Klein Park
Another game where the records don’t tell you the whole story. The Warriors have
matched their total wins from last year and would love to get another one but the
Patriots, despite a key injury, are just a step above PCHEA and the scoreboard will
reflect that. … San Jacinto 60 Amarillo, PCHEA 20.

Whitharral (3-2) at Nazareth (4-1), 7:30 p.m.
The best game on the schedule this week as the top ten ranked Panthers invade Swifts
territory. Whitharral has some talented skill players in Jack Griffin and Brent Robinson,
but the Swifts know the best way to shut down an offense is to not give them the ball.
Naz’s massive front line will open holes and provide protection for the Pohlmeier boys to
have an effective night. … Nazareth 42, Whitharral 34.

Saturday’s games

Gordon (5-0) at Follett (3-2), 1 p.m.
Follett will hope to ride momentum after a big win against Booker. However, the defending state champions are as good as they get and may eventually go down as an all-time type team. This game is worth going for fans to see just how good the Longhorns are. … Gordon 60, Follett 6. 

Christ The King (3-2) at Holy Cross Catholic Academy (2-2), 1 p.m. at Glenwood
Park
More bulletin board material for Holy Cross head coach Jordan Sapien. If you look at common opponents, Christ the King is clear favorites in this one. Holy Cross will fight hard, but it won’t be enough to take down the Golden Lions from the Hub City. … Christ The King 58, Holy Cross 32.

– Craig Sperry
Last Week: 8-4 (.667)
Season: 46-13 (.780)