Time to look at the big football games and staff picks for week two
The time has come for week two of the high school football season. Let's take a look at what we've got.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Bushland at Canadian
I know, I know, two weeks in a row the Falcons are a part of the Game of the Week. After their thrilling victory against West Plains last week, can you really blame us?
A 47-41 win over the Wolves, a game in which most were picking West Plains to win, showed the Panhandle the Falcons haven't seemed to skip a beat from last year. Dawson Jaco solidified his stance as one of the top QBs in the area with a three touchdown performance and Tanner Adams had a coming out party at receiver with 139 receiving yards. The Falcons are humming along just fine.
Let's not forget about the Wildcats here. Canadian remains Dave Campbell's pick for the top 3A Division II team in the state after thrashing Seminole (Oklahome) last week on the road. Camren Cavalier threw five touchdowns and ran for a sixth, Luke Flowers blew up as a receiver with 139 yards and three touchdowns, and Kaden Crooks rushed for 102 yards as the defense blanked its opponent. New head coach Andy Cavalier started his tenure off 1-0.
Last year this game was played at Bushland with the Falcons jumping on the Wildcats early to the tune of three unanswered touchdowns. The final result was a 47-21 Bushland victory. Both teams are in top shape right now and it should be an ultra competitive contest. It should be close and could go either way, but give us the Wildcats in this one.
PREDICTION: Canadian 45, Bushland 41
THREE OTHER GAMES TO WATCH
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Palo Duro vs. Caprock at Dick Bivins Stadium
Both teams started the year off with losses and both teams had some positives and negatives. The Dons appear to have a budding star in QB Darien Lewis and a top end linebacker in Zayquavion Smith. Longhorns QB Lleyton Brown tossed three touchdowns as the Rock had a halftime lead. This one should be competitive, but after the strides PD showed against Tascosa last week, give us the Dons in a close one.
PREDICTION: PD 28, Caprock 21
Sunray at Stratford
Both teams started 1-0 and are ranked in the top 10 for their respective classifications by Dave Campbell's. Both are ranked in the top 10 by the Amarillo Globe-News as well. Sunray boasts one of the top passing attacks in the state with QB Armando Lujan and company while Stratford boasts a premiere rushing attack and a defense that just pitched a shutout. This one should be good, but give Stratford the edge.
PREDICTION: Stratford 35-28
REST OF THE PICKS
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Hart's record last week/overall: 28-16
*Winner picks in bold
Thursday, Aug. 30
Non-District
Class 1A
Paducah at Silverton, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 1
Non-District
Class 5A
Palo Duro at Caprock, 7 p.m.
Amarillo at Cleveland (NM), 7 p.m.
Tascosa at Midland Legacy, 7 p.m.
Pampa at Plainview, 7 p.m.
Class 4A
Perryton at Canyon, 7 p.m.
Randall at Clovis (NM), 7 p.m.
Lubbock Estacado at Dumas, 7 p.m.
Wichita Falls at Hereford, 7 p.m.
West Plains at Midland Greenwood, 7 p.m.
Borger at River Road, 7 p.m.
Class 3A
Bushland at Canadian, 7 p.m.
Sundown at Dalhart, 7 p.m.
Lamesa at Muleshoe, 7 p.m.
Childress at Breckenridge, 7 p.m.
Dimmitt at Olton, 7 p.m.
Friona at Panhandle, 7 p.m.
Spearman at Sanford-Fritch, 7 p.m.
Brownfield at Tulia, 7 p.m.
Class 2A
Boys Ranch at Highland Park, 7 p.m.
Farwell at Vega, 7 p.m.
Sunray at Stratford, 7 p.m.
Texhoma (OK) at Gruver, 7 p.m.
Clarendon at Trinity Christian, 7 p.m.
Wellington at Lubbock Christian, 7 p.m.
Hooker (OK) at Wheeler, 7 p.m.
Seagraves at Bovina, 7 p.m.
Floydada at Lockney, 7 p.m.
Memphis at Electra, 7 p.m.
Shamrock at West Texas, 7 p.m.
Class 1A
Miami at Lefors, 7 p.m.
McLean at Benjamin, 7 p.m.
Anton at White Deer, 7 p.m.
Hedley at Claude, 7:30 p.m.
Happy at Follett, 7 p.m.
Hart at Nazareth, 7:30 p.m.
Springlake-Earth at Valley, 7 p.m.
Amherst at Groom, 7 p.m.
Kress at Whitharral, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 2
Non-District
Class 1A
Darrouzett at Holy Cross, 3 p.m.
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This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Texas Panhandle high school football picks and big games
