HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Benjamin-Crowell six-man tilt earns spotlight on Week 11 menu
WEEKLY SPECIAL
BENJAMIN at CROWELL
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dick Todd Field
Live updates: Follow @trnsports on Twitter.
Records: Benjamin 9-0, 3-0; Crowell 8-1, 3-0.
Last game: Benjamin 52, Chillicothe 0; Crowell 44, Paducah 28
Last meeting: Benjamin 46, Crowell 0 (2022); Crowell leads all-time series 2-1.
Players to watch: Benjamin, Grayson Rigdon (RB/LB, Jr.), Tallon Hayes (QB/LB, Jr.), Will Pierce (OL/DL, So.); Crowell, Austin Hernandez (RB, Sr.), Clayton Alvarado (OL/DL, Sr.), Angel Escalante (RB/LB, Jr.).
Why it’s tasty: While both teams are already in the playoffs, this is the District 6-A Division II championship with the winner also nabbing the top postseason seed. It also represents Benjamin’s toughest challenge to date on paper. According to PigskinPrep.com, Benjamin has been at least a 20-point favorite in every game it has played so far this season but is a 12-point favorite against Crowell. Much like a season ago, Benjamin has won every game via the 45-point mercy rule. … Crowell has played a tougher schedule with its lone loss against Knox City, 51-6, on Sept. 22.
PigskinPrep.com says: Benjamin by 12.
More: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Windthorst ascends, Hirschi returns in latest TRN Top 10
PREMIUM ENTREES
IOWA PARK at JIM NED
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Indian Stadium
Live updates: Visit jimnedsportsnation.com. Listen on network1sports.com/station/iowapark.
Records: Iowa Park 4-5, 3-1; Jim Ned 7-2, 3-1
Last game: Iowa Park 21, Clyde 13; Jim Ned 36, Vernon 32
Last meeting: Jim Ned 31, Iowa Park 13 (2022); Jim Ned leads all-time series 1-0.
Players to watch: Iowa Park, Parker Allen (QB, Sr.), Carter Sales (RB/DB, Sr.), Barrett Browning (RB/TE/LB, Sr.); Jim Ned, Brayden Shipman (RB, Sr.), Aiden Ellis (RB/LB, So.), Xaden Wishert (OL/DL, Jr.).
Why it’s tasty: Both teams are in the playoffs, but each is playing for a share of the District 3-3A Division I title. Playoff seeding is also on the line. … For the second straight year, the Hawks enter the season finale against Jim Ned knowing a win puts them in first place and a loss drops them to fourth with no in between. … The Hawks and Indians prefer to run the ball, although they do it in different ways. JIm Ned depends largely on senior Brayden Shipman, who averages 151.1 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Parker Allen is the Hawks’ leading rusher with 823 yards and 14 TDs, but the Hawks utilize multiple athletes out of the backfield with senior Carter Sales taking on a larger role since district started.
PigskinPrep.com says: Jim Ned by 11.
HIRSCHI at GREENWOOD
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, J.M. King Memorial Stadium, Midland
Live updates: Listen on network1sports.com/station/hirschihuskies. Watch on greenwoodrangers.com.
Records: Hirschi 5-3, 3-0; Greenwood 2-7, 1-2.
Last game: Hirschi 42, Sweetwater 7; Graham 44, Greenwood 26
Last meeting: Hirschi 28, Greenwood 7 (2022); Hirschi leads all-time series 1-0.
Players to watch: Hirschi, Javian Frazier (DL, Sr.), Jimmell McFalls (QB, Jr.), Sammy Worthy (DB, Sr.); Greenwood, Lincoln Madrid (QB, So.), Tylan Booker (RB, Sr.), Eason Fierro (DL, Sr.).
Why it’s tasty: Hirschi is fighting for an outright district title after clinching a share of the 3-4A Division II championship last week. It’s the fourth consecutive district title for the Huskies. Meanwhile, Greenwood can clinch a playoff spot with a win but can still get into the postseason with a loss as long as Snyder also loses to Sweetwater. … Greenwood played Graham tough for the better part of three quarters last week. The Rangers had success running the ball with sophomore quarterback Lincoln Madrid. They have been playing without top running back Dylan Dominguez for the past month, and he remains listed as day-to-day, according to what coach Bryan Hill told Midland Reporter-Telegram sports editor Oscar LeRoy. … Hirschi’s defense has been the story since district play started, allowing 14 points in the past 10 quarters.
PigskinPrep.com says: Hirschi by 16.
APPETIZERS
WFHS at SPRINGTOWN
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Porcupine Stadium
Live updates: Listen on 100.9 FM or jackwichitafalls.com. Watch on NFHSNetwork (paid subscription, Springtown).
Records: WFHS 2-7. 1-2; Springtown 6-3, 2-1.
Last game: Burkburnett 44, WFHS 28; Springtown 70, Burkburnett 14
Last meeting: WFHS 45, Springtown 14 (2022); WFHS leads all-time series 1-0.
Players to watch: WFHS, Ivy Kelley (DB, Sr.), Jacobey Clay (LB, Sr.), Ivory Kelley (DB, Sr.); Springtown, Hudson Hulett (QB, Sr.), Drake Doggett (RB/WR, Sr.), Yair Hernandez (LB, Sr.).
Why it’s tasty: The Coyotes haven’t clinched a playoff spot, yet. They can do so with a win or a Mineral Wells loss to Burkburnett. Even if Mineral Wells does beat Burkburnett, the Rams must do so by 15 points, which would force a three-way coin toss to decide the final two playoff berths. … Springtown has morphed into a run-heavy team this season and established that identity in a Week 3 win against Hirschi at Memorial Stadium. The Porcupines have lost once — two weeks ago to Decatur, 23-17 — since then. They average 210.8 rushing yards per game. … For Old High, it hopes to get Springtown into passing situations, which might allow the Coyotes’ opportunistic secondary to create turnovers.
PigskinPrep.com says: Springtown by 38.
More: UIL Realignment: What is Snapshot Day and what to look out for in Wichita Falls
LUBBOCK HIGH at RIDER
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium
Live updates: Follow @Hull_TRN on Twitter. Watch on wfisd.net/youtube. Listen on ROHOSportsNetwork.com.
Records: Lubbock 2-7, 0-4; Rider 7-2, 4-0.
Last game: Abilene Cooper 61, Lubbock 7; Rider 49, Plainview 16
Last meeting: Rider 57, Lubbock 0 (2022); Rider leads all-time series 1-0.
Players to watch: Lubbock, Keagan Davis (OL/DL, Sr.), Zeke Rodriguez (LB, Sr.), Jackson Cude (LB, Sr.); Rider, Kenji Johnson (RB/PK, Jr.), Jailyn Gibbs (TE/DL, Sr.), Jre Donnell (DL, Sr.).
Why it’s tasty: Rider clinched its first district title since 2008 with last week’s win against Plainview but can earn the 2-5A Division II championship outright by beating Lubbock on Friday. The game also serves as Rider’s final regular season appearance at Memorial Stadium. But the Raiders are guaranteed to play their bi-district playoff game at Memorial Stadium next week. … Lubbock High has been outscored 212-50 in four district games. … Rider’s defense allows 250.2 yards per game and has record 32 sacks this season.
PigskinPrep.com says: Rider by 58.
FULL MENU
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Friday unless noted. Schedule is subject to change.
Thursday, Nov. 2
District 4-A Division I
Valley at Northside
Friday, Nov. 3
District 2-5A Division II
Lubbock at Rider, 7 p.m.
District 4-4A Division I
WFHS at Springtown, 7 p.m.
Burkburnett at Mineral Wells, 7 p.m.
District 3-4A Division II
Hirschi at Midland Greenwood, 7 p.m.
District 3-3A Division I
Vernon at Bowie, 7 p.m.
Iowa Park at Jim Ned, 7 p.m.
District 5-3A Division II
Dublin at Jacksboro, 7 p.m
District 6-3A Division II
Callisburg at Holliday
City View at S&S Consolidated
Henrietta at Valley View
District 4-2A Division I
Winters at Olney, 7 p.m.
District 6-2A Division I
Nocona at Alvord
District 2-2A Division II
Quanah at Wheeler, 7 p.m.
District 7-2A Division II
Munday at Archer City, 7 p.m.
Windthorst at Electra, 7 p.m.
Petrolia at Seymour, 7 p.m.
District 4-A Division I
Spur at Knox City
District 9-A Division I
Baird at Bryson
District 6-A Division II
Benjamin at Crowell
Chillicothe at Harrold
District 7-A Division II
Rule at Throckmorton
District 8-A Division II
Forestburg at Newcastle
Gold-Burg at Strawn
TAPPS District 1 Division III
Midland Holy Cross at Wichita Christian, TBD
Open: Graham
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Previewing the biggest Week 11 Wichita Falls area football games
