Top 5 playoff football games to watch in West Texas
Eldorado vs. Haskell
7 p.m. Friday
San Angelo Stadium
This playoff rematch is at the same site and round as last year when fourth-seed Haskell rallied to beat top-seeded Eldorado 26-22, but this is a different Eagles team. Eldorado (9-1) comes into the Class 2A Division II bidistrict game ranked No. 9 in the state and with three more wins than last year. The Eagles also still have senior quarterback Kevan Covarrubiaz, whose season was ended by injury in Week 3 last year. Eldorado has momentum from a 14-7 win over Christoval to claim the outright title in District 8-2A, and the Eagles already beat Haskell 35-14 at a neutral site earlier this season. The Indians (3-7) play in a district with heavyweights Hamlin and Albany, however, so they could be deceiving.
The pick: Eldorado 28, Haskell 7
Christoval vs. Cross Plains
7 p.m. Thursday
Bearcat Stadium, Ballinger
Another bidistrict rematch between Districts 7 and 8 in 2A DII, pitting the 9-1 Cougars against the 7-3 Buffaloes. Last year, Christoval beat Cross Plains twice, including a 40-34 win in the playoffs to secure the Cougars' first-ever playoff victory in 11-man football. Earlier this season, Christoval won 26-14 at Cross Plains. The Cougars must rebound quickly from a tough 14-7 loss at Eldorado, their first setback of the season. Cross Plains owns convincing wins over Miles and Menard, the third- and fourth-place teams in District 8, but narrowly beat Haskell to avoid being the fourth seed.
The pick: Christoval 21, Cross Plains 10
Ballinger vs. Childress
7 p.m. Friday
Newton Field, Graham
The Bearcats (8-2) are on a five-game winning streak after opening district 0-2 and settling into the third-place spot behind No. 5 Cisco and Anson. The Bobcats (4-6) lost to teams like Bushland (29-22) and Eastland (25-8) in nondistrict but then beat every team in their district except No. 2 Canadian. According to TexasFootball.com computer rankings, Childress is No. 12 while Ballinger is No. 15, making the 3A DII bidistrict game at the newly remodeled stadium a gem for even the casual fan. This is another playoff rematch from last year, when Childress beat Ballinger 42-16.
The pick: Childress 28, Ballinger 27
Garden City vs. Balmorhea
7 p.m Thursday
Red Devil Stadium, Rankin
Balmorhea beat Garden City 68-22 early this season, but Garden City won two from the Bears last year, including a 48-14 win that sent the Bearkats to the state semifinals. This 1A DI bidistrict game will mean an early exit from the playoffs for either No. 7 Garden City (8-2) or No. 3 Balmorhea (9-1). The Bears are coming off a 68-44 loss to Rankin for the district title. The Bearkats are coming off a 64-46 win over Sterling City for the district title. The teams share a common loss to Rankin, as the Red Devils beat Garden City 60-46. The TexasFootball.Com computer rankings have Garden City ranked second and Balmorhea sixth.
The pick: Garden City 48, Balmorhea 40
Sterling City vs. Rankin
8 p.m. Friday
Bearkat Stadium, Garden City
A rematch between nondistrict opponents in a 1A DI bidistrict game. Sterling City is coming off a 64-46 loss to Garden City but handed the Red Devils their only loss this season (74-66). Rankin is coming off a 68-44 win over Balmorhea which vaulted the team to the No. 2 spot in the state rankings. Sterling City also beat Rankin last year 76-28. Neither team won its first-round playoff game last year as Sterling City fell to Balmorhea, while Garden City took down Rankin. It is the second of two 1A playoff games on Friday in Garden City, following the Grandfalls-Loraine game at 5 p.m.
The pick: Rankin 46, Sterling City 44
RELATED: West Texas High school football playoff schedule
Other top matchups
San Angelo Central (6-4) vs. Arlington Martin (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday, UT-Arlington’s Maverick Field
The Class 6A Division I bidistrict contest is like a home game for No. 10 Martin.
San Angelo Lake View (3-7) vs. Clint (6-3), 7 p.m. Friday, Fort Stockton
The Class 4A Division I bidistrict game is a shot for Lake View to break a seven-game losing streak.
RELATED: Texas high school football playoff schedule
Wall (10-0) vs. Boyd (6-4), 7 p.m. Friday, Cisco
The No. 1 Hawks, with Drew Morrison at quarterback, start what they hope is a long playoff journey with the 3A DI bidistrict game.
Brady (5-5) vs. Ganado (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Manor
In this 3A DII bidistrict game, the Bulldogs are looking for their first playoff win since 2009 when they advanced all the way to the state semifinals.
Eden (6-4) vs. Gorman (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Coleman
The Bulldogs and the Panthers meet in a 1A DI bidistrict rematch. Gorman won the game last year 68-20.
Richland Springs (8-0) vs. Brookesmith (9-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Santa Anna
The No. 3 Coyotes meet up against 1-loss Brookesmith in a 1A DII bidistrict game as Richland Springs goes for an unprecedented ninth state championship.
Amy McDaniel is a multimedia sports journalist. Send news tips to amy.mcdaniel@gosanangelo.com. Consider supporting West Texas journalism with a subscription to GoSanAngelo.com.