HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Holliday, Jacksboro showdown highlights local playoff action
WEEKLY SPECIAL
HOLLIDAY vs. JACKSBORO
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Newton Field, Graham
Live updates: Follow @trnsports on X (formerly Twitter). Listen on 94.7 FM (Jacksboro) or 103.9 FM (Holliday). Watch on nfhsnetwork.com (paid subscription).
Records: Holliday 11-1; Jacksboro 12-0
Last game: Holliday 42, Leonard 6; Jacksboro 45, Bells 8
Last meeting: Holliday 63, Jacksboro 12 (2021 bi-district); Holliday leads all-time series 20-8-1.
Players to watch: Holliday, Grant Cox (QB, Sr.), Parker Jones (RB/LB, Jr.), Cooper Turner (OL/DL, Sr.); Jacksboro, Lando Belcher (QB, Sr.), Cannon Valenzuela (WR/DB, Jr.), Luke Sams (RB/LB, Jr.).
Why it’s tasty: This is the first time these former district foes have met since 2017. Holliday had won four straight games in the series before the two were separated into different districts. … This is only the third playoff game between the Tigers and Eagles. In 1991, they played to a 21-21 draw in the bi-district round in 1991, although Holliday advanced to the area round with a 4-3 advantage on penetrations inside the 20. Holliday picked up the decisive penetration inside the 20 with 1:03 left in the game. That game was ranked the 38th most memorable ever played at Memorial Stadium by a TRN Sports panel in 2020. … Holliday quickly adjusted to its first season under coach Kyle Atwood and a switch to the spread offense. Senior Grant Cox has been key to that transition, throwing 30 TDs and five interceptions, while also leading the Eagles in rushing yards. … Jacksboro features a prolific offense with fourth-year starting quarterback Lando Belcher behind center. But it’s been junior tailback Luke Sams sparking the offense in the postseason. He has 602 total yards combined in Jacksboro’s two playoff games.
PigskinPrep.com says: Holliday by 2.
More: 23 high school football playoff tidbits for the regional semifinal round | Duncan
PREMIUM ENTREE
RIDER vs. FRISCO EMERSON
When/where: 2 p.m. Friday, Ram Stadium, Mineral Wells
Live updates: Follow @Hull_TRN and @Naomi_TRN on X (formerly Twitter). Listen on ROHOSportsNetwork.com.
Records: Rider 10-2; Emerson 10-2.
Last game: Rider 49, Lake Dallas 20; Emerson 44, Canutillo 0
Players to watch: Rider, Kenji Johnson (RB/K, Jr.), Jailyn Gibbs (DL, Sr.), Elijah Jackson (RB/DL, Sr.); Emerson, Michael Hawkins (QB, Sr.), Izzy Bills (RB, Sr.), Agape Lawrence (LB, Jr.).
Why it’s tasty: Rider is in the third round of the playoffs for the fifth time in the past six seasons. Emerson is a second-year program about to play the third playoff game in program history. … Marc Bindel has won more playoff games than any Rider coach in program history, with a 20-9 record since taking over the Raiders in 2014. … Emerson quarterback Michael Hawkins is committed to Oklahoma and rated a three-star prospect by 247sports.com. Hawkins’ father, Mike, played cornerback at OU and in the NFL for five seasons. The younger Hawkins is a dual-threat, completing 69% of his passes for 2,144 yards, 31 TDs and two interceptions. He’s also rushed for 698 yards and seven TDs. … Rider’s defense allows 226 yards and 14.3 points per game, including a mere 124.9 passing yards per game. Rider held Lake Dallas to three total yards in the first half last week. … Lake Dallas upset Emerson, 36-35, during district play. Emerson’s two losses to Lake Dallas and Argyle were by a combined eight points. … Rider has won seven straight games with its lowest margin of victory being 20 points during that span.
PigskinPrep.com says: Emerson by 8.
APPETIZER
BENJAMIN vs. JAYTON
When/where: 6 p.m. Friday, Cardinal Stadium, Hermleigh
Live updates: Watch a live stream on nfhsnetwork.com (paid subscription).
Records: Benjamin 12-0; Jayton 12-0
Last game: Benjamin 112, Newcastle 84; Jayton 58, Strawn 12
Last meeting: Jayton 59, Benjamin 8 (2017); Jayton leads all-time series 12-2.
Players to watch: Benjamin, Grayson Rigdon (QB/RB/LB, Jr.), Keegan Hayes (SB/WR/DB, Fr.), Weston Weatherford (LB, Sr.); Jayton, Ayden Salazar (RB/DL, Jr.), Bode Ham (RB/DB, So.), Sean Stanaland (QB/DB So.).
Why it’s tasty: This could be the de facto Class A Division II state title game, although Klondike hopes to have a say about that next week. Klondike plays Balmorhea with the winner of that game getting either Benjamin or Jayton in the state semifinals. … Benjamin was forced to play four full quarters for the second time in the past two seasons last week in a 112-84 shootout victory against Newcastle. Former Jayton standout Isaac King rushed for 479 yards against Benjamin but couldn’t outperform Benjamin star Grayson Rigdon who accounted for 11 TDs — six passing, five rushing. … Jayton has played a full game once this season, defeating Klondike 55-34 in Week 2.
PigskinPrep.com says: Jayton by 1.
FULL MENU
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Friday unless noted. Schedule is subject to change.
REGIONAL ROUND PLAYOFFS
Region I-5A Division II
Rider (10-2) vs. Frisco Emerson (10-2), 2 p.m. Friday, Mineral Wells
Region II-3A Division II
Holliday (11-1) vs. Jacksboro (12-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Graham
Class A Division II State Quarterfinals
Benjamin (12-0) vs. Jayton (12-0), 6 p.m. Friday, Hermleigh
GAMES IN AREA
Region I-5A Division I
Abilene (10-2) vs. Northwest (10-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Memorial
Region I-3A Division I
Clyde (11-1) vs. Brock (9-3), 2 p.m. Friday, Graham
Paradise (11-1) vs. Bushland (11-1), 6 p.m. Friday, Vernon
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Jacksboro-Holliday, Rider-Emerson 2023 high school football previews
