The Shamrock Irish run out on the field against Clarendon at El Paso Field in Shamrock last week. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Thursday’s games
Class 5A
Randall (5-5) at Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt (7-3), 5 p.m., Clark Stadium
Randall limps into the playoffs losing three in a row,
The Raiders under calm Coach Selman, never go, uh oh!
Will QB Burd play? Hope so, what a player and kid,
With him on the field it’s the end to the skid.
District champ Wyatt can throw it all over the place,
But recent playoff history rides with Randall in this case. … Randall 28, Wyatt 24
Class 3A
Muleshoe (5-5) vs. Brownfield (3-7), 7 p.m. Littlefield
The proud Muleshoe program is back in the playoffs and looking to damage. With a win, the Mules get their first playoff victory since the 2017 season. … Muleshoe 38, Brownfield 20
River Road (6-4) vs. Denver City (6-4), 7 p.m. Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldogs Stadium, Plainview
The Wildcats run game has been stellar, and will be the biggest difference in this first round matchup. … River Road 28, Denver City 16
Shallowater (8-2) vs. Dalhart (2-8), 7:30 p.m. Happy State Bank Stadium, Canyon
It will be a tough night for the Golden Wolves if they can’t stop Shallowater’s potent offense. … Shallowater 40, Dalhart 14
Childress (9-0) vs. Stanton (4-6), 7:30 p.m. Floydada
A hopeful deep playoff push starts for the Bobcats by tearing some Hyde out of the Buffaloes. Childress is on a mission. … Childress 47, Stanton 12
Class 2A
Olton (6-3) vs. New Deal (10-0), 4 p.m. Floydada
The Lions are the real deal in Class 2A Division I. They roar big. … New Deal 48, Olton 14
Stratford (9-1) vs. Wheeler (4-6), 4:30 p.m. Happy State Bank Stadium, Canyon
The Elks are a heavy favorite in Class 2A Division II Region I. A balanced offense to go with a superb defense is a recipe that can get you a long way. The playoff W’s start with Wheeler. … Stratford 41, Wheeler 8
Clarendon (9-1) vs. Sunray (4-6), 7 p.m. Bushland
Not many teams are playing better football entering the playoffs than the Broncos. Clarendon keeps its winning ways going in the opening round. … Clarendon 33, Sunray 13
Class 1A
Happy (7-3) vs. Springlake-Earth (8-1), 7 p.m. Anton
All season long many have said the Wolverines were taking it the distance. But Earth has been trending down of late. The Cowboys on the other hand finally have spread back, Pace Bressler, back and are ready to make a run. Bressler was out in the first meeting between the two teams that ended in a 68-36 win for the Wolverines. Can Bressler’s presence be enough to get the job done for the Cowboys or will the Wolverines prove they are the team to beat. … Springlake Earth 68, Happy 58
Friday’s games
Class 5A
El Paso El Dorado (4-6) at Tascosa (8-2), 6 p.m. Dick Bivins Stadium
El Dorado has scored 50, 52 and 63 in three of its wins,
I’d be shocked if Tascosa’s D allows those point sins.
The Rebs have questions at QB after BT broke his leg,
I promise, no way Tascosa will lay an offensive egg.
All respect El Dorado but this one looks like a blowout,
Major, La’Travion, Avion and the Boys in a rout.
Tascosa 48, El Dorado 13
Caprock (4-6) at El Paso Chapin (8-2), 7 p.m. (CST), McKee Stadium, El Paso
Caprock is a legit No. 4 seed with that running game,
El Paso Chapin a district champ getting no fame.
Harris Ratings has The Rock favored by nine,
I agree, even with a long road trip Caprock will shine.
I don’t know about nine points being the outcome,
But upset special, Caprock with Carrasco can hum. … Caprock 31, Chapin 28 (OT)
Amarillo High (8-2) at El Paso Del Valle (7-3), 7 p.m. (CST), Conquistador Stadium, El Paso
For goodness sakes, what is Harris Ratings smoking?
AHS a 23-point underdog? Are you joking?
Now a road trip to El Paso for AHS is a legit beast,
And Del Valle scored 59 in a game, an offensive feast.
Tascosa in the third round is what these Sandies smell,
So losing here won’t happen, unlike Harris, I can tell. … Amarillo High 35, Del Valle 21
— Lance Lahnert
Last week: 4-1 (.800)
Season: 40-9 (.816)
Class 4A
Dumas (7-2) vs. Decatur (4-6), 7 p.m. Fair Park Stadium, Childress
Dumas is in a highly familiar position, entering the playoffs as a No. 1 seed after a fifth straight undefeated district season. The Demons always seem to hit their stride at the right time and they carry yet another winning streak into the playoffs against Decatur, a perennial contender who’s a No. 4 seed this season. The records could be a bit misleading, but Dumas is the favorite for a reason, and the Demons will show why. … Dumas 34, Decatur 20
Canyon (8-2) vs. Springtown (7-3), 7 p.m. Snyder
On paper, this looks like the best matchup of the week to open the postseason. Canyon closed the regular season impressively, beating Hereford 40-16 to clinch the No. 2 seed from District 3-4A Division. This is a rematch with a Springtown team the Eagles beat last season in the state quarterfinals. Both teams have obviously changed since then so it’s hard to say who has edge. A hunch says Canyon. … Canyon 28, Springtown 27
Hereford (6-4) vs. Lake Worth (8-2), 7 p.m. Leo Brittain Field at Lions Stadium, Vernon
Hereford has battled with consistency this season, as defense kept the Whitefaces in games early before the offense got untracked, but the Herd has rarely put it all together in one game, and doesn’t have much momentum after the loss to Canyon. It’s a toss-up which Hereford team will show up, but it will be a long night if the offense doesn’t perform to its capabilities. … Lake Worth 41, Hereford 21
Pampa (6-4) at Wichita Falls Hirschi (8-2), 7 p.m. Peoples Bank Stadium, Wolfforth
Pampa is limping into the postseason, as the Harvesters went winless in district play and have been banged up on defense for almost a month. Also, they’ll be missing quarterback Sam Anguiano, who suffered a leg injury last week against Dumas. This doesn’t bode well for a playoff run, and while Pampa played Dumas tough most of last week, that means little this week. … Hirschi 35, Pampa 20
Perryton (3-7) vs. Midland Greenwood (5-4), 7 p.m. Greg Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium, Plainview
Perryton has some confidence after beating Borger last week 41-7 to claim the No. 3 seed in District 2-4A Division II. The Rangers have improved as the season has gone along, especially offensively, and have been in playoff mode. But that probably won’t quite enough against Greenwood, a perennial playoff team coached by former Borger coach Rusty Purser. … Greenwood 35, Perryton 24
Borger (3-7) vs. Sweetwater (7-3), 7 p.m. Lubbock Cooper
Borger comes stumbling into the postseason after last week’s rout at the hands of Perryton. The young Bulldogs have struggled with cohesiveness on offense despite solid efforts most of the season. However, the playoffs aren’t a place where teams have the luxury of knowing they’ll grow up eventually. And Sweetwater’s been around this block. … Sweetwater 42, Borger 13
— Lee Passmore
Last week: 4-0 (1.000)
Season: 39-10 (.795)
Class 3A
Slaton (3-7) at Bushland (7-2), 7 p.m.
The Falcons get a rare playoff home game. Expect the high-flying Falcons to make the most of it. … Bushland 39, Slaton 14
Canadian (7-3) vs. Idalou (8-2), 7:30 p.m. Happy State Bank Stadium, Canyon
These two traditional powers have been decimated by injuries. Canadian stomped Idalou on the way to a state title last year. Expect a much closer game this time around with Canadian prevailing. … Canadian 24, Idalou 21
Friona (8-2) vs. Abernathy (9-1), 7 p.m. Muleshoe
You won’t find many opening round games better than this one. Both offenses are explosive. Both have dynamic players on both sides of the ball. This should be a dandy. … Friona 47, Abernathy 42
Spearman (6-4) vs. Lubbock Roosevelt (10-0), 7 p.m. River Road
The Eagles are having their best season in 30 plus years, while Lynx snuck into the playoffs with a dominant win against Tulia last week. Spearman isn’t a typical No. 4-seed, and Roosevelt better come to play or an upset is looming. … Roosevelt 30, Spearman 20
Panhandle (5-5) vs. Floydada (3-7), 7 p.m. Tulia
The Panthers are red-hot heading into the playoffs with no signs of slowing down. Panhandle makes it six straight wins after taming the Whirlwinds. … Panhandle 48, Floydada 7
Farwell (8-2) Post (4-6), 7 p.m. Levelland
What a difference a year makes. Last season the Bold Gold were No. 2 in the state and practically unbeatable. Fast forward to now, and the Steers have to be the favorite. … Farwell 34, Post 23
Sanford-Fritch (4-6) vs. Sundown (7-3), 7 p.m. Lockney
What a job first-year coach Phillip Wiggins has done at Sanford-Fritch. The Eagles are in the playoffs as a No. 3-seed. If they can run the ball they’ll have a chance to play with the Roughnecks. … Sundown 35, Fritch 20
Bovina (4-6) vs. Seagraves (7-3), 7 p.m. Sudan
Bovina closed out the season winning three of its last four games. Expect the Mustangs to stay hot Friday night. … Bovina 28, Seagraves 22
Gruver (8-1) vs. Shamrock (7-3), 7 p.m. West Texas High, Stinnett
This is a rematch from a game earlier in the season where the Greyhounds beat the Irish, 35-15. A lot has changed in the past seven weeks. This time around has the potential for a more competitive contest. … Gruver 26, Shamrock 23
Wellington (6-3) vs. Vega (8-2), 4:30 p.m. Happy State Bank Stadium, Canyon
What a matchup Canyon on Friday afternoon. This feels like a game that should be played further down the playoff pipeline than first round game in early November. … Wellington 29, Vega 21
— Kale Steed
Last week: 14-1 (.933)
Season: 135-32 (.808)
Class 1A
Nazareth (7-3) vs. Valley (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Claude
The Swifts got the best out of the Patriots in a come-from-behind 30-28 victory back in September. Both teams have made major strides since the last matchup and this game could look completely different. The Patriots are at mostly full health, but the Swifts now have a full season of experience under Coach Tyler Goodwin’s new system. It’s a toss up, but like I did before the first matchup, I’ll take the Patriots in this one. … Valley 54, Nazareth 52
Wildorado (8-2) vs. Follett (10-0), 7 p.m. White Deer
All roads lead to this one being dealt with and over pretty quickly Friday night. Wildorado has made it to the postseason each year of their eligibility in the UIL and that should be praised, but Follett has been on a different level all year long. … Follett 56, Wildorado 14
Miami (5-5) vs. Groom (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Lefors
The Tigers were the one of the favorites to make an appearance and defend their regional championship. However, Groom has had some growing pains with a pretty young team. The Warriors had to fight to get here and don’t want to make this the last game of the year. The Tigers veterans will be the difference in this one. … Groom 58, Miami 37
— Tommy King
Last Week: 7-0 (1.000)
Season: 75-13 (.852)