EL PASO FRANKLIN COUGARS AT MIDLAND LEGACY REBELS
Class 6-A Division I Bi-District Playoffs
>> Time, Date, Place: 7 p.m. Thursday, Astound Broadband Stadium, Midland
>> Records: El Paso Franklin 6-4; Midland Legacy 6-4
>> Broadcast: AM-550/FM-95.5/FM-97.5
>> Notes: Do not let the Rebels’ record fool you. Midland Legacy ran a gauntlet of state-ranked Cibolo Steele, perennial state title contender Converse Judson and then started District 2-6A play at Wolfforth Frenship. They scored 112 points combined during that three-week sojourn … and lost all three, allowing their opponents to build big first-half leads before responding. … Midland Legacy responded with a four-game winning streak to earn the district’s top seed in Division I. Quarterback Marcos Davila was 148-of-250 passing for 2,414 yards and 29 touchdowns, with eight interceptions. A huge lift for the Rebels’ offense has been running back Zeke Luna, who has 184 carries, for 1,106 yards and 12 touchdowns. Defensively, Mario Serrano leads the team with 86 tackles, while Jamar Roberson and Canyon Moses each have three interceptions. … The Cougars finished third in District 1-6A. Quarterback Shay Smith is a dual-threat, completing 189 of 284 passes for 2,381 yards and 29 touchdowns, while rushing 114 times for 1,002 yards and 10 scores. Running back Jordan Morales has carried the ball 142 times for 868 yards and 10 touchdowns, while wide receiver Beau Sparks has caught 78 passes for 1,128 yards and 19 touchdowns.
EL PASO AUSTIN PANTHERS VS. ANDREWS MUSTANGS
Class 4A Division I Bi-District Playoffs
>> Time, Date, Place: 6 p.m. Thursday, Jackson Field, Alpine.
>> Records: El Paso Austin 5-5; Andrews 6-4
>> Broadcast: FM-105.5 (Andrews)
>> Notes: It was a roller-coaster regular season for the Mustangs, who won four of their first five games, then struggled to a 2-3 mark over the second half of the season, including a 2-2 record to finish third in District 2-4A Division I. It was a struggle behind center this season as Ashton Galvan and EJ Lopez combined to complete just 94 of 172 passes for 1,251 yards and 15 touchdowns, with eight interceptions. The Mustangs used the senior leadership of Luis Cervantes and Jaxon Lawdermilk on defense to stay in games, allowing 24.1 points per game. Cervantes leads the team with 65 tackles, with Lawdermilk at 62 stops. Both have 10 tackles for loss, with Lawdermilk adding three sacks and three interceptions. … The Panthers want to control the clock with their running attack, rushing 310 times for 2,728 yards as a team. Jayden Wilson is the No. 1 back with 161 carries for 1,499 yards and 14 touchdowns. El Paso Austin had thrown for just 366 yards this season.
MONAHANS LOBOES VS. LEVELLAND LOBOS
Class 4A Division II Bi-District Playoffs
>> Time, Date, Place: 7 p.m. Thursday, Mustang Bowl, Andrews
>> Records: Monahans 7-3; Levelland 2-8
>> Broadcast: FM-98.3 (Monahans)
>> Notes: Three weeks into the 2022 season, the Loboes were 0-3 and had been outscored 130-66. They haven’t lost since, outscoring their opponents 379-115 during a seven-game winning streak. Quarterback Cheno Navarrette is the conductor of Coach Fred Staugh’s vertical offense and Navarrette has done a masterful job this season. That could mean a long night for the opposing Lobos, who are surrendering 30 points a game while scoring just 13.
SEMINOLE INDIANS VS. CLINT MOUNTAIN VIEW LOBOS
Class 4A Division II Bi-District Playoffs
>> Time, Date, Place: 7 p.m. Thursday, Bulldog Bowl, Artesia, N.M.
>> Records: Seminole 7-1; Clint Mountain View 6-4
>> Broadcast: FM-106.3 (Seminole)
>> Notes: Indians quarterback Blake Flowers is having one of the best seasons in Permian Basin history heading into the postseason. He is 245-of-345 passing for 3,626 yards and 43 touchdowns, with seven interceptions. He is also the leading rusher with 75 carries for 562 yards and seven scores. Cuyler Cramer has 69 receptions for 1,093 yards and 13 touchdowns to lead the receiving corps, with Rylan McCormick right behind with 66 catches for 919 yards and eight scores. Seminole is doubling up its opponents, averaging 46.3 points per game while allowing just 22.3. … Joel Padilla leads the Lobos, having completed 122 of 215 passes for 1,601 yards and 14 touchdowns, with 12 interceptions. Running back Gilbert Gamboa is the workhorse with 217 carries for 1,466 yards and 17 touchdowns.
CANYON WEST PLAINS WOLVES VS. PECOS EAGLES
Class 4A Division II Bi-District Playoffs
>> Time, Date, Place: 7 p.m. Thursday, Wigwam Stadium, Seminole
>> Records: Canyon West Plains, 6-4; Pecos 4-6
>> Broadcast: AM-1400 (Pecos)
>> Notes: There were plenty of questions for first-year head coach Scott Williams and the Eagles answered all of them by qualifying for the playoffs. Pecos played on the road for the first three weeks as its new stadium was finished and earned its first home victory at the refurbished Rotary Field on Oct. 21 against Clint, the win the ultimately clinched a playoff spot. David Madrid is the leader of the Eagles’ defense with more than 100 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. … West Plains is in its first year of varsity competition and is led by freshman quarterback Reid Macon. Macon is 169-of-288 passing for 2,002 yards and 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Running back Jordi Hernandez does the bulk of the work on the ground with 254 carries for 1,277 yards and 16 touchdowns.
BUSHLAND FALCONS VS. KERMIT YELLOW JACKETS
Class 3A Division I Bi-District Playoffs
>> Time, Date, Place: 7 p.m. Thursday, People’s Bank Stadium, Wolfforth
>> Records: Bushland 9-1; Kermit 4-6
>> Broadcast: FM-98.3 (Kermit)
>> Notes: Nate Gensler took over a program that had won just three games in the previous four seasons and twice in district play during that same span. Now, he has the Yellow Jackets back in the postseason for the first time since 2018. Kermit won the games it needed to against Slaton and Lamesa in District 1-3A Division I. Kermit is led by the coach’s son, Nate Gensler Jr., who is averaging nearly 150 yards per game on the ground, with double-digit touchdowns. … Bushland won its first eight games of the season before falling to Shallowater in Week 9 to earn the district’s No. 2 seed. The Falcons also had a bye in Week 11, giving them an extra week to heal the bumps and bruises of playing 10 straight Fridays.
EARLY LONGHORNS VS. ODESSA COMPASS ACADEMY COUGARS
Class 3A Division II Bi-District Playoffs
>> Time, Date, Place: 7 p.m. Thursday, Mustang Bowl, Sweetwater
>> Records: Early 6-4; Compass Academy 4-6
>> Broadcast: FM-102.3 (Brownwood)
>> Notes: Another first-year head coach, Floyd White, is trying to change the culture with the Cougars after moving over from Midland Legacy in the offseason. White was a defensive coordinator with the Rebels and has brought the enthusiasm for that side of the football to the campus at the corner of Billy Hext and 56th street. The Cougars are not going to overwhelm opponents, yet, on offense, trying to control the game and clock by running the football. They are, however, going to be coming after opponents on defense. … Early quarterback Jaxyn Price is going to test the Cougars’ defense, having completed 162 of 303 passes for 2,336 yards and 26 touchdowns, with just six interceptions. Running back Griffin Cheslock has carried the ball 149 times for 1,041 yards and 10 scores.
WINK WILDCATS VS. CROSS PLAINS BUFFALOES
Region II
Class 2A Division II Bi-District Playoffs
>> Time, Date, Place: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Memorial Stadium, Big Spring
>> Records: Wink 10-0; Cross Plains 7-3
>> Broadcast: FM-97.7 (Eastland)
>> Notes: Wink is in unchartered territory, competing in the Region II playoffs for the first time. The Wildcats are led by quarterback Kanon Gibson, a returning all-state selection on defense last year. Gibson has been running his father Brian’s offense for more than three years and though his offensive totals are a little lower this season, Wink is perfect heading to the postseason. Not that Gibson’s numbers are paltry, with more than 2,000 yards passing and 22 touchdowns, while rushing for 723 yards and 16 scores. Wide receiver Jordan Tally has 48 catches for 953 yards and 12 scores. Defensively, Gibson leads the team with 83 tackles, while sophomore Hudson Morgan is second with 79. Wink has scored 451 points this season, while allowing just 137. … The Buffaloes want to grind the clock and are allowing just 21.9 points per game. Cross Plains cannot afford to get into a shootout with the Wildcats.
BALMORHEA BEARS VS. LOOP LONGHORNS
Class 1A Division II Bi-District Playoffs
>> Time, Date, Place: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Bearkat Stadium, Garden City
>> Records: Balmorhea 9-1 Loop 5-2
>> Broadcast: None
>> Notes: The Bears will be in a familiar environment at Garden City, one of Coach Vance Jones’ favorite neutral playoff destinations. Balmorhea comes into the game as the No. 2 team in the state in Division II, while Loop sits at No. 37. The Bears have won nine straight after a season-opening loss to Rankin, the No. 1 team in the state in Division I. Balmorhea outscored its opponents 629 to 270 during the regular season and 174-34 in district play.
