THURSDAY’S GAMES
District 1-3A Division I
Dimmitt (2-4, 0-0) at Tulia (2-4, 0-0), 7 p.m.
This maybe a district opener but it’s a very pivotal matchup when it comes to playoff positioning. The winner takes a step toward the postseason while the loser will have work to do. This will also be a great QB matchup in Dimmitt’s Jack Lunsford vs. Tulia’s David Molina. … Tulia 28, Dimmitt 23.
District 2-3A Division II
Muleshoe (4-2, 0-0) at Lubbock Roosevelt (5-1, 0-0), 7 p.m.
This is a very interesting matchup for a district opener. The Eagles are physical and love to limit possessions. We all know how explosive the Mules’ offense can be, so a fast start is critical. … Muleshoe 34, Roosevelt 28.
District 5-1A Division I
Spur (6-0, 0-0) at Silverton (2-4, 0-0), 7:30 p.m.
District play starts out with a bang as both teams aspire for a playoff spot. Spur’s speed has led to an undefeated season so far under interim head coach Craig Hamilton. After a strong start to the season, injuries have hampered the Owls and could play a part in this one again. … Spur 52, Silverton 38.
Class 1A non-district
Groom (3-3) at San Jacinto Christian Academy (2-4), 7 p.m.
Both teams found themselves with a bye week, so they quickly put together a game earlier in the week. That will work out well for the Tigers as they prepare for district play. … Groom 60, San Jacinto 12.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
District 2-5A Division I
Caprock (1-4, 0-1) vs. Amarillo High (2-3, 1-1), 7 p.m., Dick Bivins Stadium
This city rivalry first played out in 1963, and this one has both teams in desperation mode for a win. That’s because the loser is falling in a hole that will be tough to dig out to make the playoffs even this early in district. AHS cranks out points like crazy. Caprock does not. … AHS 52, Caprock 21.
Lubbock Monterey (2-4, 1-1) vs. Lubbock High (3-2, 0-1), 7 p.m., PlainsCapital Park Lowrey Field, Lubbock
This is the 66th meeting between these two with the winner securing The Silver Spurs. Lubbock High’s historic season came crashing down to Earth last week with that 56-7 loss to Tascosa. Monterey is riding high after smacking Coronado by 30 last week. … Monterey 42, Lubbock High 14.
Lubbock Coronado (1-5, 0-2) at Abilene High (4-2, 2-0), 7 p.m., Shotwell Stadium, Abilene
Abilene High did nothing last week to diminish its reputation as the team to beat in 2-5A DI in pumping out 63 points on Amarillo High. Amarillo High is better than Coronado. … Abilene 64, Coronado 22.
District 2-5A Division II
Palo Duro (3-2, 0-1) at Abilene Wylie (4-1, 2-0), 7 p.m., Hugh Sandifer Stadium, Abilene
This a gauntlet-type district for six of the seven teams and PD knows that in travelling to Wylie after the district-opening loss to WF Memorial. The Dons will rally and make the playoffs, but the fun will have to wait until after this long road trip to Abilene is over. … Wylie 29, Palo Duro 21.
Wichita Falls Legacy (0-5, 0-2) at Plainview (2-3, 0-1), 7:00 p.m., Greg Sherwood Memorial Stadium, Plainview
If Plainview has any hopes of a playoff berth it starts with this one against Legacy. Let the hopes begin. … Plainview 38, Legacy 18.
Abilene Cooper (1-5, 0-2) at Lubbock Cooper (5-1, 2-0), 7:00 p.m., Pirate Stadium at First United Park, Lubbock
I guarantee a Cooper win (bad pun, I know). The records of the two makes this one look like a total mismatch. It’s not. Abilene has been in games. Still, despite the injury bug Lubbock Cooper becomes bowl eligible with six wins. … Lubbock Cooper 31, Abilene Cooper 14.
– Lance Lahnert
Last week: 5-1 (.833)
Season: 17-3 (.850)
District 2-4A Division I
West Plains (2-3, 0-0) vs. Canyon (4-1, 0-0), 7 p.m., Happy State Bank Stadium
A new era begins with upstart West Plains facing established fellow Canyon ISD school Canyon for the first time in a district football game. They face each other from opposite directions, as young West Plains has struggled in two straight losses, including a rout by Argyle Liberty Christian last week, and Canyon returns to action from an open week after four straight wins. The Eagles have shown the ability to run the ball and play tough defense when it counts, things West Plains struggled with last week. The Wolves are eager to show they belong in 4A DI and that incentive will make them competitive, but not enough to beat Canyon. … Canyon 28, West Plains 23.
Randall (5-0, 0-0) at Dumas (2-3, 0-0), 7 p.m.
This is another case of teams headed separate ways, as Randall has gone undefeated with an impressive offense and Dumas has stumbled with three straight losses heading into district. Randall has been the most productive metro offense with the ability to run and throw, and junior quarterback Kaison Benton has gotten better each week. It will be a compelling matchup of underclassmen quarterbacks, as Dumas sophomore Colton Mills has put up numbers comparable to anyone in the area. The potential for a shootout is there, but give the Raiders the edge on confidence over the homefield advantage of Dumas. … Randall 38, Dumas 28.
Pampa (2-3, 0-0) at Hereford (4-1, 0-0), 7 p.m.
A look at the numbers would portend a mismatch, but maybe not so fast there. Hereford was rolling along unbeaten until visiting fellow undefeated team Seminole last week, and the Whitefaces got a lesson in humility in a 49-17 loss, which can’t help with confidence moving into district. Pampa has lacked consistency, particularly on offense over the last four weeks, and maybe the Harvesters have been able to reset during last week’s open week. However, the Herd will have homefield and a powerful offense going into the district opener, which will make things a lot more comfortable in a game which counts. … Hereford 42, Pampa 14.
District 2-4A Division II
Perryton (2-3, 0-0) at Lubbock-Cooper Liberty (1-5, 0-0), 7 p.m.
Perryton has dealt with consistency issues throughout non-district play, although the Rangers have shown impressive flashes offensively, having routed Pampa 49-7 in their last game before their open week last week. They’re taking on a first-year program in Liberty, which has shown the typical growing pains of most schools in that same predicament. One disadvantage for Perryton is the long road trip, one of the more challenging for any district game in the state. The Rangers should be able to overcome that with experience and more offensive firepower in the end. … Perryton 28, Liberty 22.
– Lee Passmore
Last Week: 2-1 (.667)
Season: 19-11 (.633)
Class 3A non-district
Denver City (0-6) at Dalhart (5-1), 7 p.m.
It will be a quick night of work for the Golden Wolves. … Dalhart 35, Denver City 6.
River Road (2-3) at Lamesa (1-5), 7 p.m.
The Wildcats make the long trip to the South Plains to face a Lamesa team, like River Road still trying to figure it out. If the Wildcat offense can make some plays, then they get the W. … River Road 29, Lamesa 26.
Andrews at Bushland (6-0), 7 p.m.
For a third straight week, Bushland gets to enjoy playing at the comfy confines of Falcons Stadium. Look for head coach Josh Reynolds team to close out non-district play with a perfect record. … Bushland 35, Andrews 14.
District 1-3A Division II
Friona (0-6, 0-0) at Childress (2-4, 0-0), 7 p.m.
A struggling Friona team makes its way to Fair Park Stadium still looking for their first win on the year. Unfortunately, the Bobcat defense is very talented, and the offense will do enough to back the defense up. … Childress 35, Friona 16.
– Kale Steed
Last week: 4-3 (.571)
Season: 30-9 (.769)
District 1-2A Division I
Sunray (5-0, 0-0) at Spearman (2-3, 0-0), 7 p.m.
The Bobcats look to open the district season how they closed out the non-district portion of the schedule. With a W. … Sunray 42, Spearman 14.
Highland Park (3-2, 0-0) at West Texas High (4-1, 0-0), 7 p.m.
Though the Hornets have been competitive through the first half of the year, the Comanches offensive firepower is on another level. … WT High 45, Highland Park 15.
Panhandle (5-0, 0-0) at Sanford-Fritch (1-4, 0-0), 7 p.m.
The Panthers get in and out of Fritch unscathed. … Panhandle 50, Fritch 6.
District 1-2A Division II
Stratford (3-2, 0-0) at Gruver (6-0, 0-0), 7 p.m.
The small school game of the night is taking center stage in Gruver and it’s a district opener. The winner more than likely is your district champion. The Elks have owned the Greyhounds with Gruver’s last win over Stratford coming in 2018. This is Gruver’s best team since that year and it will be a packed house. Stratford QB-LB Bryce Braden is the best player on the field and the difference. … Stratford 35, Gruver 30.
Bovina (2-3, 0-0) at Farwell (2-4, 0-0), 7 p.m.
These two rivals are separated by only 11 miles. Both have struggled early on but the Steers have seemed to come on of late. … Farwell 38, Bovina 21.
District 5-2A Division II
Memphis (1-3, 0-0) at Shamrock (3-2, 0-0), 7 p.m.
Shamrock QB Philip Cook is a mismatch for the Cyclone defense. … Shamrock 43, Memphis 13.
Wheeler (4-1, 0-0) at Quanah (0-5, 0-0), 7 p.m.
The Mustangs have been galloping under the radar throughout the non-district schedule. However, the more Wheeler keeps winning, the more fans pay attention. … Wheeler 47, Quanah 12.
Clarendon (0-5, 0-0) at Wellington (3-2, 0-0), 7 p.m.
A year ago, this was a marquee game in the Texas Panhandle. Fastforward to this year, and the Broncos are still searching for their first win of 2024. … Wellington 49, Clarendon 18.
– Kale Steed
Last week: 1-0 (1.000)
Season: 39-14 (.735)
District 1-1A Division I
Booker (5-1, 0-0) at Claude (4-2, 0-0), 7 p.m.
If there’s a team in this district that might be able to challenge the Kiowas, Claude is it. The Mustangs have the ability to run the ball which is what you need to do to keep Booker’s potent offense off the field. If Claude can get a few stops and be efficient on the offensive side of the ball they could force this game to be close. … Booker 66, Claude 48.
Boys Ranch (0-6, 0-0) at White Deer (2-4, 0-0), 7 p.m.
Another team that has been hampered by injuries is White Deer. The season looked promising, but the Bucks have lost three straight playing without four starters at varying times this year. That streak ends tonight. … White Deer 48, Boys Ranch 27.
District 2-1A Division I
Nazareth (4-2, 0-0) at Kress (3-2, 0-0), 7 p.m.
Based on records, this game looks like it could be a close one but don’t let the records fool you. Nazareth is a kickoff return for a score away from being 5-1 with a five-game winning streak. The Swifts have found a passing game to complement their running attack which makes them all the more dangerous. … Nazareth 56, Kress 18.
District 1-1A Division II
Follett (3-3, 0-0) at Lefors (1-5, 0-0), 7 p.m.
This one is a mismatch, and the final score will show that. … Follett 60, Lefors 6.
District 2-1A Division II
Hedley (0-6, 0-0) at McLean (2-4, 0-0), 7 p.m.
Despite losing multiple starters the Tigers are still scrappy and has a dangerous passing game. Wyatt Hagler will have a big game in this one. … McLean 60, Hedley 8.
Saturday’s game
Jonesboro (4-1) at Miami (4-1), Noon
After the Warriors game with Hart was cancelled last week due to a lack of players for the Longhorns, Miami scrambled to avoid two straight bye weeks and found a great team to bring in. The Eagles are a Region IV powerhouse that will likely make a deep playoff run once again. Jeremiah Forrest and Layden Nichols form a powerful rushing attack that is tough to stop. … Jonesboro 64, Miami 42.
– Craig Sperry
Last Week: 10-2 (.833)
Season: 56-15 (.789)