HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Surveying what's on the line during final week of the regular season
Here’s a district-by-district look at who’s in, who’s out and who can clinch with a win this week. The various playoff scenarios are broken down, and we note the current projected bi-district playoff matchups. We used PigskinPrep.com’s postseason projections except in situations where we had to decipher tiebreakers.
DISTRICT 2-5A DIVISION II
RECORDS: Rider 4-0; Abilene Cooper 3-1; Abilene Wylie 3-1; Amarillo Palo Duro 1-3; Plainview 1-3; Lubbock 0-4.
WHO’S IN: Rider, Abilene Wylie, Abilene Cooper
WHO’S OUT: Lubbock
WIN AND IN: Plainview-Palo Duro winner
THE SKINNY: Rider clinched its first district title since 2008 by taking down Plainview. Abilene Cooper throttled Lubbock 61-7 on Thursday to clinch its playoff spot and Wylie beat Palo Duro to join them. Wylie-Cooper will play for second/third in Week 11 and Plainview-Palo Duro will decide the final playoff berth in the season finale.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Rider vs. EP Burges, Abilene Wylie vs. EP Andress, Abilene Cooper vs. EP Chapin, Palo Duro vs. Canutillo.
More: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Windthorst ascends, Hirschi returns in latest TRN Top 10
DISTRICT 4-4A DIVISION I
RECORDS: Decatur 4-0; Springtown 2-1; Burkburnett 1-2; WFHS 1-2; Mineral Wells 0-3.
WHO’S IN: Decatur, Springtown
WHO’S OUT: No one
WIN AND IN: WFHS, Burkburnett
THE SKINNY: Decatur wrapped up the district title last week, while Springtown clinched its spot by routing Burkburnett. If Springtown beats WFHS, the Porcupines will take second. The Coyotes could finish as high as second if they upset Springtown and Mineral Wells beats Burk (which would knock the Bulldogs out of the playoffs). If WFHS and Burk win next week, there would be a three-way tie for second in which Springtown is a +15, Burk is set at 0 and WFHS is a -15 so the Coyotes likely would be fourth in that scenario. If Burkburnett/WFHS/Mineral Wells tie for third at 1-3, Burkburnett is a +15, WFHS is set at 0 and Mineral Wells is a -15. So the Rams must max out Burkburnett to have a chance at the playoffs via a coin flip unless WFHS wins too.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Decatur vs. Hereford, Springtown vs. Dumas, Burkburnett vs. Canyon Randall, WFHS vs. Canyon.
DISTRICT 3-4A DIVISION II
RECORDS: Hirschi 3-0; Graham 3-1; Sweetwater 1-2; Greenwood 1-2; Snyder 0-3.
WHO’S IN: Hirschi, Graham
WHO’S OUT: No one
WIN AND IN: Sweetwater, Midland Greenwood
THE SKINNY: Hirschi is the district champ while Graham has locked up second place heading into its bye. Sweetwater has a win over Greenwood, and if the Mustangs can knock off Snyder in Week 11, they would be third place. Greenwood could move into third if it upsets Hirschi and Snyder beats Sweetwater (that would also give the Tigers fourth place). There would be a three-way tie for third between Snyder, Sweetwater and Greenwood at 1-3 if Snyder and Hirschi both win. In that scenario, Greenwood is set at 0, while Sweetwater is +4 and Snyder is -4. So Snyder would need to win by five or more (a four-point win would cause a coin flip) to advance.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Hirschi vs. Benbrook, Graham vs. Hillsboro, Sweetwater vs. Godley, Midland Greenwood vs. Glen Rose.
DISTRICT 3-3A DIVISION I
RECORDS: Clyde 3-1; Jim Ned 3-1; Iowa Park 3-1; Vernon 2-2; Breckenridge 1-3; Bowie 0-4.
WHO’S IN: Clyde, Jim Ned, Iowa Park, Vernon
WHO’S OUT: Breckenridge, Bowie
THE SKINNY: Iowa Park made things a lot more interesting by upsetting Clyde at home. 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. There’s no in between. That’s because Clyde and Jim Ned could finish at 4-1 and Vernon would have the head-to-head advantage over IP at 3-2. Even if Breckenridge upsets Clyde and there’s a three-way tie at 3-2 between the Bulldogs, Lions and Hawks, Clyde is set at +7, Vernon is a 0 and Iowa Park is -7. If Iowa Park wins at Jim Ned, it will be first because it’ll have the head-to-head advantage over Clyde. Vernon losing in the final minute to Jim Ned cost the Lions a chance to finish in the top two because even if Iowa Park and Breckenridge win, Vernon would have lost to both teams it’d be tied with at 3-2 (Clyde/Jim Ned).
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Clyde vs. Peaster, Jim Ned vs. Whitesboro, Vernon vs. Paradise, Iowa Park vs. Brock.
DISTRICT 5-3A DIVISION II
RECORDS: Jacksboro 4-0; Millsap 3-1; Comanche 2-2; Eastland 2-2; Merkel 1-3, Dublin 0-4.
WHO’S IN: Jacksboro, Millsap, Comanche, Eastland
WHO’S OUT: Merkel, Dublin
THE SKINNY: Jacksboro earned the district title on Thursday by beating Millsap 24-17. The Bulldogs are now locked into second place as well. Comanche and Eastland will square off in Week 11 to decide third place. Even if Merkel upsets Millsap, it doesn’t matter because the Badgers have losses to both teams it could get into a tie with at 2-3.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Jacksboro vs. Callisburg, Millsap vs. City View, Comanche vs. Henrietta, Eastland vs. Holliday.
More: Belcher fights through injury, leads Jacksboro past Millsap for district title
DISTRICT 6-3A DIVISION II
RECORDS: Holliday 4-0; Henrietta 3-1; City View 2-2; Callisburg 2-2; Valley View 1-3; S&S Consolidated 0-4.
WHO’S IN: Holliday, Henrietta, Callisburg, City View.
WHO’S OUT: S&S Consolidated, Valley View.
WIN AND IN: City View, Henrietta
THE SKINNY: Holliday is the district champion while Henrietta is locked into the second seed. City View is a big favorite against last-place S&S and Callisburg is an underdog to Holliday, so the Mustangs should claim third place and Callisburg would get fourth. Even if the Wildcats upset Holliday, they’d need the Mustangs to lose to take third.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Holliday vs. Eastland, Henrietta vs. Comanche, City View vs. Millsap, Callisburg vs. Jacksboro.
DISTRICT 4-2A DIVISION I
RECORDS: Hawley 5-0; Stamford 4-1; Cisco 4-1; Anson 3-3; Winters 1-4; Colorado City 1-4; Olney 0-5.
WHO’S IN: Hawley, Stamford, Cisco, Anson
WHO’S OUT: Olney, Winters, Colorado City
THE SKINNY: Hawley took a major step toward the district title Friday by edging Stamford and can win it outright by knocking off Cisco in Week 11. The Loboes could force a three-way tie at 5-1 with the win. Stamford already maxed out Cisco in that situation. Anson is locked into fourth and done until the playoffs.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Hawley vs. Reagan County, Stamford vs. Forsan, Cisco vs. Ozona, Anson vs. Sonora.
More: UIL Realignment: What is Snapshot Day and what to look out for in Wichita Falls
DISTRICT 6-2A DIVISION I
RECORDS: Nocona 4-0; Tioga 3-1; Tom Bean 2-2; Alvord 2-2; Trenton 1-3; Whitewright 0-4.
WHO’S IN: Nocona, Tioga, Alvord, Trenton.
WHO’S OUT: Tom Bean, Whitewright.
THE SKINNY: Nocona clinched the district title on Friday, while Tioga is locked into second place. Alvord is third and Trenton is fourth no matter what happens this Friday. That’s because Tom Bean is ineligible for the postseason, finishing up a two-year ban because of recruiting violations. Because the Tomcats are out of the equation, that makes this scenario much easier.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Nocona vs. DeLeon, Tioga vs. Hamilton, Alvord vs. Coleman, Trenton vs. Tolar.
DISTRICT 2-2A DIVISION II
RECORDS: Wellington 4-0; Clarendon 4-0; Wheeler 2-2; Shamrock 1-3; Quanah 1-3; Memphis 0-4.
WHO’S IN: Clarendon, Wellington
WHO’S OUT: Memphis.
WIN AND IN: Wheeler, Shamrock.
THE SKINNY: Clarendon and Wellington are playing for the district title in Week 11. Wheeler can clinch third place by beating Quanah, while Shamrock can also get in by taking down Memphis. Quanah’s only chance for the playoffs is if it upsets Wheeler and Memphis upsets Shamrock. The Indians could also get into a three-way tie at 2-3 with a win and Shamrock win. But right now the Indians would need to win by double digits to have a chance in that tiebreaker because they lost by 15 to Shamrock.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Wellington vs. Boys Ranch, Clarendon vs. Vega, Wheeler vs. Sunray, Shamrock vs. Gruver.
DISTRICT 7-2A DIVISION II
RECORDS: Windthorst 5-0; Seymour 4-1; Haskell 4-2; Archer City 2-3; Petrolia 2-3; Electra 1-4; Munday 0-5.
WHO’S IN: Windthorst, Seymour, Haskell
WHO’S OUT: Munday, Electra
WIN AND IN: Archer City
THE SKINNY: This one is pretty cut and dry. Windthorst is the district champ, Seymour is second and Haskell is third. Archer City only needs to beat winless Munday to claim fourth place. If somehow the Wildcats lose, Petrolia can steal fourth by upsetting Seymour.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Windthorst vs. Lindsay, Seymour vs. Celeste, Haskell vs. Muenster, Archer City vs. Collinsville.
DISTRICT 4-A DIVISION I
RECORDS: Knox City 2-0; Valley 1-1; Spur 1-1; Northside 0-2.
THE SKINNY: Knox City avoided a potential Valley upset, while Spur kept its playoff hopes alive by beating Northside. The Greyhounds can win district by beating Spur, while Valley can claim second by beating Northside. Both Knox City and Valley will be heavy favorites.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Knox City vs. Kress; Valley vs. Springlake-Earth.
DISTRICT 9-A DIVISION I
RECORDS: Gordon 4-0; Bryson 3-1; Baird 3-1; Perrin-Whitt 2-2; Gorman 0-4; Lingleville 0-4.
THE SKINNY: Gordon is the district champion, while Bryson hosts Baird in Week 11 for the district’s final playoff spot.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Gordon vs. Saint Jo; Bryson vs. Union Hill.
DISTRICT 6-A DIVISION II
RECORDS: Benjamin 3-0; Crowell 3-0; Paducah 2-2; Harrold 0-3; Chillicothe 0-3.
THE SKINNY: Crowell locked up its playoff berth by beating Paducah 44-28 on Friday. Now the Wildcats host Benjamin in a battle of Top 10 teams for the district title.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Benjamin vs. Motley County; Crowell vs. Jayton.
DISTRICT 7-A DIVISION II
RECORDS: Throckmorton 3-0; Woodson 3-1; Rule 2-1; Lueders-Avoca 0-3; Paint Creek 0-3.
THE SKINNY: Throckmorton can clinch the district title outright by beating Rule in Week 11. A Rule win would force a three-way tie at the top, but that scenario is a longshot considering Woodson mercy-ruled Rule and Throckmorton mercy-ruled Woodson already.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Throckmorton vs. Gold-Burg; Woodson vs. Newcastle.
DISTRICT 8-A DIVISION I
RECORDS: Newcastle 2-0; Gold-Burg 1-1; Strawn 1-1; Forestburg 0-2.
THE SKINNY: Newcastle survived Gold-Burg’s upset bid and has clinched the district title. Just like last year, Gold-Burg will play Strawn for the second playoff berth.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS: Newcastle vs. Woodson; Gold-Burg vs. Throckmorton.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Wichita Falls area high school football playoff scenarios (Week 11)
