High School Football: Abilene High faces big test against Denton Ryan in area playoffs
We go from the outrageous to the sublime in Week 2 of the high school football playoffs.
Abilene’s three 5A schools — Abilene High, Cooper and Wylie — outscored their first-round opponents from El Paso 181-48 last week.
It won’t be that easy this week for either three. The same’s true for the remaining Big Country teams.
Win this week, and you get to play Thanksgiving week with a chance to play into December.
Abilene High (9-2) vs. Denton Ryan (8-2)
7 p.m. Friday, Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium, Fort Worth
Two heavyweights go at in the second round of the Region I-5A Division I playoffs.
Denton Ryan is one of the state’s elite programs — reaching the state finals seven times since 2000 (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2019, 2020) and winning three (’01, ’02, ’20).
The Raiders are used to playing deep in the playoffs, and they’re eager to bounce back after being dispatched by Red Oak 29-28 in overtime in the opening round in 2022.
Red Oak converted a two-point conversion in OT to snap Ryan’s streak of seven straight trips to at least the fourth round of the playoffs — a streak that included a third-round win over Abilene Cooper (58-20) in 2019.
Ryan has won three straight games since losing to No. 1 Aledo 25-19 in district. The Raiders' other loss was a 27-20 decision in Week 4 against a 5-5 The Colony team that didn’t make the playoffs. Ryan blew a 20-7 lead in the game.
Last week, Ryan quarterback Braeden Mussett ran for 158 yards and two TDs on 18 carries in a 38-13 win over Lake Belton in Denton. The Raiders had 430 total yards — 360 rushing. They held Lake Belton to 156 total yards and forced three turnovers.
The Eagles, playing their second year in 5A after always being in the state’s largest class, upset Red Oak 35-0 in the second round last year and reached the third round — losing to Burleson Centennial 24-14.
AHS is having its best season since going 11-2 and reaching the third round in 2016.
The Eagles, who mauled El Paso Hanks 84-14 last week, are 2-0 all-time against Ryan, beating the Raiders 30-21 in 2006 and 49-41 in 2007. Both were the final tune-ups before district.
The Eagles (8-5) went three rounds in 2006, while a 13-2 team reached the state semifinals in 2007 — losing to Pflugerville 20-14.
The winner plays the Amarillo Tascosa (5-6)-Justin Northwest (9-2) winner next.
The pick: Abilene High 38, Denton Ryan 36
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Abilene Wylie (8-3) vs. Arygle (9-2)
7 p.m. Friday, Tarleton Memorial Stadium, Stephenville
A rematch of last year’s Region I-5A Division II final in the same stadium. Argyle won 35-28 before falling to eventual state champion South Oak Cliff 14-6 the next week.
No. 7 Argyle, 6-2 against Wylie since 2012, has won the last two meetings — beating the Bulldogs 56-7 in 2017.
Wylie beat the Eagles 35-14 in the 4A D-I region semifinals and reached the title game in 2016.
Argyle beat Wylie twice in 2015 — 20-10 in Week 1 and 24-7 in the state semifinals. Argyle won 34-28 and 38-0 in the 2014 and 2013 season openers, while Wylie won the 2012 opener 31-14.
This season, Argyle is unbeaten since opening the year with losses to No. 10 5A D-II Melissa (50-14) and No. 5 5A D-II Lucas Lovejoy (42-14).
The Eagles have outscored their last four opponents 226-14 with Fort Worth Wyatt snapping a streak of three consecutive shutouts in last week’s 45-14 playoff loss.
Wylie is coming off a 55-7 win over El Paso Andress, and the Bulldogs have won four straight games since a 34-14 loss to district champion Wichita Falls Rider.
If Wylie wins, the Bulldogs are guaranteed a third-round game in Abilene.
The winner gets the Abilene Cooper-Colleyville Heritage winner — and Heritage would have to play at Wylie since the Bulldogs played at Heritage in the second round last year.
The pick: Argyle 35, Wylie 24
Abilene Cooper (5-6) vs. Colleyville Heritage (10-1)
7 p.m. Friday Newsom Stadium, Mansfield
Cooper faces a tough task against the No. 8 Panthers, who haven’t lost since a 41-38 decision against Texarkana Texas High in Week 2.
Heritage is averaging 44 points a game while giving up 12. The Panthers are led by QB Luke Ullrich, who has thrown for 2,108 yards and 28 TDs with six interceptions. He also leads the team in rushing (72-620 12 TDs). Brandon Blueitt (46-722 16 TDs) is the leading receiver.
Heritage beat the Cougars 63-21 in the first round in 2021 — the first meeting between the programs.
Cooper beat El Paso Chapin 42-27 last week in El Paso, while Heritage beat Denton High 71-13.
The pick: Colleyville Heritage 41, Abilene Cooper 30
Stamford (9-1) vs. Stratford (11-0)
7 p.m. Friday, Pirate Stadium, Woodrow
Stamford nearly knocked off defending Class 2A Division I state champion Hawley in the district finale before the No. 6 Bearcats scored a late touchdown in a 34-30 win.
So, the Bulldogs won’t be intimidated by the No. 4 Elks, who haven’t been threatened since a 23-20 win in Week 2 against No. 10 2A D-II Sunray and 34-22 win over Panhandle in the second week of district.
Stratford is led by QB Bryce Braden (88-142-4—1,535 yards, 20 TDs/111-836, 15 TDs rushing) and RB Josue Licon (83-759 11 TDs rushing).
Stratford beat Sundown 61-6 last week, while Stamford beat Forsan 42-6.
The Elks, a state champion in 2021, were unbeaten last year until Cisco — Stamford’s district rival — beat them 14-8 in the second round.
The winner gets the Cisco (5-6)-New Deal (8-3) winner in the next round.
The pick: Stamford 21, Stratford 20
Roscoe (9-2) vs. Windthorst (9-2)
7 p.m. Thursday, McMurry’s Wilford Moore Stadium
Roscoe, experiencing its second winning season in six years, seeks its first trip to the third round since 2016 when an 8-5 Plowboys team lost to Seagraves.
It won’t be easy against No. 9 Windthorst, which hasn’t failed to reach at least the third round since winning state in 2020.
The Trojans are led by QB Brock Belcher (173-281-6—2,298, 32 TDs passing/157-1,030 11 TDs rushing) and WR Kolby Teakell (50-922, 11 TDs receiving).
Windthorst opened the Region II-2A D-II playoffs with a 55-21 win over Lindsay, while Roscoe beat McCamey 60-26.
The winner draws the No. 4 Collinsville (10-1)-Miles (8-3) winner next week.
The pick: Roscoe 30, Windthorst 28
Hawley (9-2) vs. Panhandle (10-1)
8 p.m. Friday, Lowrey Field, Lubbock
Hawley, which has played for a state title the last two years and won its first state crown last year, receives a stern test this week against a Panhandle team that’s averaging 57 points a game and giving up 24.4.
No. 4 Stratford is the only team to beat Panhandle thus far, while Hawley has losses to 3A D-I Jim Ned (34-12) in Week 1 and No. 1 2A D-II Albany (27-14) in Week 4.
Hawley, which is giving up 15.5 points per game, beat Anthony 63-18 last week, while Panhandle beat Tahoka 93-54.
The winner in the Region I-2A D-I game gets either Sonora (10-1) or Farwell (8-3) next.
The pick: Hawley 35, Panhandle 21
Coleman (9-2) vs. Marlin (9-2)
7 p.m. Thursday, Tarleton Memorial Stadium
Marlin has reeled off nine consecutive wins since a 48-8 loss to No. 2 2A D-II and unbeaten Mart in Week 2. The other loss is a forfeit to Itasca in Week 1 after Marlin canceled all extra-curricular activities because of academic problems.
Coleman has losses to No. 9 2A D-I Mason (29-20) in Week 1 and No. 3 2A D-I Tolar (43-0) in Week 7.
Coleman beat Alvord 47-7 last week, while Marlin beat Kerens 36-7 in the Region II-2A D-I playoffs.
The winner plays the Valley Mills (7-4)-Tioga (8-3) winner next.
The pick: Coleman 34, Marlin 31
THIS WEEK'S BIG COUNTRY SCHEDULE
CLASS 5A DIVISION I
REGION I
AREA
Abilene High (9-2) vs. Denton Ryan (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium, Fort Worth
CLASS 5A DIVISION II
REGION I
AREA
Abilene Wylie (8-3) vs. Argyle (9-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Tarleton Memorial Stadium, Stephenville
Abilene Cooper (5-6) vs. Colleyville Heritage (10-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Newsom Stadium, Mansfield
CLASS 4A DIVISION I
REGION I
AREA
Brownwood (10-1) vs. Canyon Randall (7-4), 7 p.m. Friday, Midland Greenwood
REGION II
AREA
Stephenville (9-2) vs. Dallas Carter (8-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Waxahachie ISD's Lumpkins Stadium
CLASS 4A DIVISION II
REGION I
AREA
Sweetwater (7-4) vs. Monahans (11-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Seminole
CLASS 3A DIVISON I
REGION I
AREA
Clyde (10-1) vs. Shallowater (6-5), 4 p.m. Saturday, Shotwell Stadium
CLASS 3A DIVISION II
REGION I
AREA
Early (6-5) vs. Canadian (11-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Wolfforth Frenship
REGION II
AREA
Comanche (7-4) vs. Scurry-Rosser (11-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Burleson
CLASS 2A DIVISION I
REGION I
AREA
Stamford (9-1) vs. Stratford (11-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Lubbock-Cooper
Cisco (5-6) vs. New Deal (8-3), 7 p.m. Friday, Sweetwater's Mustang Bowl
Hawley (9-2) vs. Panhandle (10-1), 8 p.m. Friday, Lowrey Field, Lubbock
REGION II
AREA
De Leon (7-4) vs. Italy (6-5), 7 p.m. Thursday, Granbury
Coleman (9-2) vs. Marlin (9-2), 7 p.m. Thursday, Tarleton Memorial Stadium, Stephenville
CLASS 2A DIVISION II
REGION II
AREA
Albany (11-0) vs. Celeste (8-3), 7 p.m. Friday, Springtown
Roscoe (9-2) vs. Windthorst (9-2), 7 p.m. Thursday, McMurry's Wilford Moore Stadium
CLASS 1A DIVISION I
REGION I
REGION SEMIFINALS
Knox City (11-0) vs. Happy (10-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Petersburg
REGION II
REGION SEMIFINALS
Westbrook (10-1) vs. Buena Vista (8-3), 6:30 p.m. Friday, Rankin
REGION III
REGION SEMIFINALS
Gordon (11-0) vs. Milford (9-2), 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dublin
REGION IV
REGION SEMIFINALS
May (8-3) vs. Leverett's Chapel, 6 p.m. Saturday, Springtown
CLASS 1A DIVISION II
REGION II
REGION SEMIFINALS
Jayton (10-0) vs. Strawn (7-3), 7 p.m. Friday, Trent
Benjamin (11-0) vs. Newcastle (10-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Hamlin
REGION IV
REGION SEMIFINALS
Loraine (4-7) vs. Cherokee (9-1), 6:30 p.m. Friday, Winters
Richland Springs (11-0) vs. Bronte (4-7), 6:30 p.m. Friday, Mertzon Irion County
TAPPS SIX-MAN DIVISION II
REGION SEMIFINALS
Abilene Christian (9-2) vs. Plano Coram Deo Academy (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Dublin
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Second round predictions for Abilene, Big Country football teams
