Class 5A Division I
Area

Tascosa (6-5) vs. Saginaw (11-0), 6 p.m., Friday, Memorial Stadium, Wichita Falls
Look it, Saginaw is as good as it gets when talking feel-good stories. Last year the Rough Riders were 1-9 losing games by 70-0 and 40-0 on back-to-back weeks. But that’s the past and this team has learned to win close games. I think Tascosa is playing its best ball of the season capable of controlling things on offense and making enough stops on defense. I think it’s upset time for the Rebs. … Tascosa 38, Saginaw 28.

Amarillo High (6-4) vs. Richland (9-2), 6 p.m., Saturday, Memorial Stadium, Wichita Falls
The Sandies have already proven to be giant killers eliminating 10-0 EP El Dorado last week. Playing Richland takes things to a whole ’nother level. Richland took No. 1-ranked Aledo to OT before losing and its other loss is to No. 3 ranked Denton Ryan (10-1). Richland has scored under 37 points once this season. AHS can also flat out score points pumping out 40 or more points in eight of its 10 games with QB Jett Lopez as the trigger man and RB Jude Dunavin and WRs Cooper Manning. Oliver Parsons and Bryson Brown owning the knack to produce big plays. Hmmm? Let’s go with a shootout. … Richland 52, Amarillo High 38.

– Lance Lahnert
Last week: 2-0 (1.000)
Season: 44-8 (.846)

Class 4A Division I
Area 

Hereford (8-3) vs. Stephenville (10-1), 6 p.m. Thursday, Shotwell Stadium, Abilene
Hereford drew about as rugged a path as imaginable to open the playoffs, as this is the second straight week the Whitefaces are taking on a one-loss team in the postseason. Stephenville, though, marks a decided step up in class from Hereford’s opponent last week, El Paso Riverside. The Yellowjackets, a perennial power, opened the playoffs last week by crushing San Angelo Lake View 70-0. Hereford only beat Riverside by eight. That’s not favorable math for the Herd. While Hereford can score, slowing down Stephenville is another challenge. The Herd can’t start slow. … Stephenville 45, Hereford 21.

Randall (10-1) vs. Andrews (5-6), 7 p.m. Thursday, Peoples Bank Stadium, Wolfforth
Few teams are riding the offensive momentum Randall has into this round, as the Raiders rolled over Ysleta 71-27 in the bi-district round last week in yet another impressive display- of balance. Defenses have to pick their poison in dealing with the passing game led by quarterback Kaison Benton or the running game led by Dylan Ray. Andrews doesn’t have the most impressive record, but the Mustangs carry some momentum into this week with four straight wins. They’ll be able to keep it fairly close early, but Randall’s abundance of firepower will be too much to deal with in the end. … Randall 35, Andrews 21.

Dumas (5-6) vs. Lampasas (9-2), 6 p.m. Friday, Mustang Bowl, Andrews
Dumas is another team who appears to have hit its stride at the right time, particularly on offense, as the Demons rolled over nine-win El Paso Austin 56-21 in bidistrict. They’ve moved the ball well all year led by sophomore quarterback Colton Mills. Lampasas put up 53 in routing Pecos last week, so this game has the potential to be a shootout. Quarterback Reed Jerome is a legitimate dual threat who’s accounted for 39 touchdowns this season. This should be an entertaining game based on the numbers, but in terms of consistency throughout the season, Lampasas gets the edge. … Lampasas 44, Dumas 28.

West Plains (8-3) vs. Brownwood (6-4), 7 p.m. Friday, Tigers Stadium, Snyder
As far as playoff tradition goes, this is a study in contrasts. Upstart West Plains is making its third postseason appearance in only three seasons as a program, while Brownwood is one of the state’s most storied gridiron schools. West Plains has rarely looked like a new program in its brief history, as the Wolves have gotten past the first round all three seasons, and in last week’s rout of Clint, were able to rest their starters in the second half. Could that result in a bit of rust against Brownwood? So far, they’ve shown the ability to adapt with their increasing experience every week. … West Plains 34, Brownwood 21.

– Lee Passmore
Last Week: 6-0 (1.000)
Season: 42-18 (.700)

Class 3A Division I 
Area 

River Road (4-6) vs. Vernon (8-3), 7 p.m. Thursday, PlainsCapital-Park at Lowrey Field, Lubbock 
Give a lot of credit to the River Road Wildcats. After a rough stretch through district, it would have been easy to give up and head to basketball. Instead, head coach Bryan Welps and his team battled and beat Lamesa in a thriller last week. Welps and his team will need to step it up another level this week to keep pushing forward. … Vernon 35, River Road 16. 

Dalhart (8-3) vs. Jim Ned (8-3), 7 p.m. Friday, First United Park, Lubbock-Cooper 
This matchup features two talented quarterbacks in Kyler Read, who made his return in a limited role last week for the Golden Wolves, and Indians gunslinger Gray Beasley. Dalhart will hope to get more from Read in this game but will have to rely on the defense to stop the balance attack from Jim Ned. … Jim Ned 30, Dalhart 20. 

Bushland (10-1) vs. Paradise, (9-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Fair Park Stadium, Childress
The winner of this one has a great chance of making a push into December. The Falcons haven’t been tested in weeks but have a defense that can keep them in any game necessary. Paradise is hot winners of eight straight scoring over 40 points a game during that stretch. Expect a fun one. … Bushland 34, Paradise 28. 

Class 3A Division II
Area

Canadian (8-3) vs. Coahoma (7-3), 7 p.m. Friday, Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldogs Stadium, Plainview
Canadian is definitely no stranger to this round of the playoffs and are well experienced playing in big games. The Bulldogs are multiple with QB Boyd Cox and 2,000-yard rusher Jaidyn Vinyard but the Wildcats get it done in the end. … Canadian 35, Coahoma 21.

Childress (6-5) vs. Wall (10-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Tigers Stadium, Slaton
This is a rematch of last year’s area round matchup where Wall outlasted the Bobcats in a close contest. The Hawks are the regional favorites but don’t expect Childress to go down without a fight. … Wall 37, Childress 22. 

– Kale Steed
Last week: 7-0 (1.000)
Season: 61-12 (.835)

Class 2A Division I
Area

Panhandle (10-1) vs. Stamford (11-0), 7 p.m. Thursday, Lubbock-Cooper Liberty
The second round presents two outstanding matchups between four of the best the region has to offer. Things kickoff Thursday with the first battle of top 10 teams when the Panthers take on very talented Stamford. Panhandle’s offense will need to score but it will be up the defense to slowdown dangerous RB Kaston Vega with receiver Drew Faulks. … Stamford 37, Panhandle 28. 

Sunray (11-0) vs. Hawley (10-1), 8 p.m. Friday, Patriots Stadium, Lubbock-Cooper Liberty
The second top 10 matchup happens Friday night. The Bobcats started off sluggish last week but were able to get things going in the second half against Olton. Sunray can’t start slow this week against a very good Hawley team whose only loss at the hands of Stamford. The Bobcats need to do what they’ve done all year and that’s play physical, balanced football. … Sunray 42, Hawley 27. 

Class 2A Division II
Area

Gruver (11-0) vs. Iraan (10-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Lobos Stadium, Levelland
The Greyhounds have been on a season-long roll and will now get their biggest test since Stratford during the district opener. The Braves love to get running back Tristan Griffin going. It will be up the Gruver defense to take him away. … Gruver 34, Iraan 20.

Farwell (5-6) vs. Ropesville (10-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Roughnecks Stadium, Sundown
Don’t look at the records and immediately count the Steers out. Farwell has played a very tough schedule and will be ready for the challenge. … Ropes 27, Farwell 21. 

Stratford (7-3) vs. Wink (10-1), 7 p.m. Friday, PlainsCapital-Park at Lowrey Field, Lubbock
Here’s another barnburner that could easily be a fourth-round matchup but instead a very good team is going home in the second round. The Elks have found a groove with Bryce Braden in the backfield and Chase Lantelme at quarterback. … Stratford 29, Wink 23.

Wellington (9-2) vs. Collinsville (10-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Hawks Stadium, Iowa Park
Region II is absolutely stacked and that shows with a very talented Wellington team getting paired up with Collinsville in the area around. It’s no secret the Skyrockets play physical defense and will want to establish the ground game to open up the pass. Pirate sophomore QB Jaxon Jenkins is the real deal and tough to defend. … Collinsville 28, Wellington 20.

Wheeler (9-2) vs. Muenster (9-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Bulldogs Stadium Burkburnett
Muenster is billed the No. 1-ranked team in all of Class 2A Division II. The Hornets are led by head coach Brady Carney’s son, and dual-threat quarterback, Casen. Fortunately, the Mustangs defense has been the backbone of this team all season. Wheeler needs to get bruising running back Julius Atherton and the offense going to help limit possessions. … Muenster 33, Wheeler 22. 

– Kale Steed
Last week: 7-1 (.875)
Season: 82-18 (.820)

Class 1A Division II
Regional semifinals 

Follett (7-3) vs. Sands (8-3), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Mustangs Stadium, Benjamin 
Two teams peaking at the right time meet in this one as both were impressive in their bi-district wins last week. Sands is a young team with a lot of team speed. The Mustangs are a scrappy bunch that loves to run the ball but can be effective throwing it. David Meeks is rolling for the Panthers, but Bryan Torres is playing outstanding as well and this team will get after you up front led by Rodlee Williamson. This will be a very competitive, hard-fought game but the best player on the field is Meeks and that’s the difference in the score. … Follett 48 Sands 42.

Class 1A Division I
Regional semifinals 

Booker (10-1) vs. Whiteface (11-0), 6:30 p.m. Friday, Younger Field, Tulia
The Kiowas dispelled any concerns of facing a physical team by dismantling Springlake-Earth last week. Next up is another physical team in former McLean head coach Clint Linman and his Antelopes. Just like at McLean, coach Linman has a bruising back in Ethan Kauffman who has gained an eye opening 851 yards in the last two games with 18 touchdowns. The Kiowas defense will be tested in trying to stop Kauffman. Booker’s offense, though, is dangerous with Chase Nelson at the helm who has 3,038 total yards and 51 touchdowns. Julian Barton and Adrian Rosales are a dangerous one-two punch in open space who are difficult to cover. This one will likely be closer than most expect but the Antelopes win out in the end. … Whiteface 64, Booker 56.

Borden County (7-4) vs. Happy (10-1), 6 p.m. Friday, Longhorns Stadium, Lockney 
This is the sixth time in the last 10 years these two teams have met in the playoffs with the Coyotes winning the first four meetings before Happy won in 2021. It’s been an up and down season for Borden County with 18 of the players in the program being freshman or sophomores. The player to watch is Braden Steele as the All-State player is dangerous both running and throwing the ball. The recipe to success for Happy is no secret. They want to run the ball effectively to set up the play action passing game. … Happy 58, Borden County 56.

– Craig Sperry
Last week: 3-2 (.600)
Season: 101-21 (.828)