By Neil T. Robertson
MaxPreps.com
ÿ
Last week, Amarillo High opened 2-5A district play with a very close win over cross-town rival Amarillo Tascosa, 17-15. It was a contest till the very end and the spirit in sold out Dick Bivins Stadium was electric.
ÿ
The real surprise in 2-5A happened at Lowrey Field 125 miles to the south as Lubbock Coronado upset undefeated Lubbock Monterey, 24-17, to take the early 2-5A district lead with Amarillo.
ÿ
In District 3-4A play, Canyon Randall rallied to beat Dumas, 7-6, and Pampa used big plays to topple Amarillo Caprock, 35-14. Amarillo Palo Duro and Hereford played to a thrilling second overtime with the Whitefaces of Hereford just edging the Dons, 34-31.
ÿ
Week 2 of district play in the Texas Panhandle will clearly set the lines of demarcation as to which teams will have an early edge for playoff berths.
ÿ
2-5A Lubbock Monterey at 2-5A Amarillo Tascosa - Friday 7:30 P.M. - Dick Bivins Stadium
ÿ
Early on, this game was forecasted as the battle of two undefeated squads for district lead. Week one of district handed hard-fought losses to both teams by rivals. Reality: the loser is 0-2 in district and must dig out of an early hole to reach a playoff berth. Look for Tascosa's running back senior Anthony Scott to put on a running clinic and Monterey's running quarterback senior Joel Lira to put on a Vince Young-like show via the flex bone offense.
ÿ
2-5A Amarillo High at 2-5A San Angelo Central - Friday 7:30 P.M. - San Angelo
ÿ
This is the road game that Amarillo 5A teams dread.six hours to San Angelo and six hours back with a few hours of football in between - all in the same day. This will be a showdown of quarterbacks. Amarillo's Kyler Hill comes in with 910 yards passing on the season to San Angelo Central's Blake McCarthy with 641 yards rushing. Both teams won their district openers last week.
ÿ
2-5A Lubbock Coronado vs 2-5A Lubbock High - Friday 7:30 P.M. - Lowrey Field
ÿ
Coronado is coming off a hard-fought and surprising defeat of Lubbock Monterey last week while Lubbock High was rolled over by San Angelo Central. Coronado has the air assault weapon of 2-5A leadingÿ passer Austin Zouzalik (1,077 yards and 8 TDs) who can connect at will to a trio ofÿ district leading receivers Evan Dickson (25 for 189), Landon Qugley (24 for 234) and Collin Flathers (20 for 152). Lubbock is all about the run game with district leading running back Quindrick Scott (864 yards on 138 carries). Look for Coronado to dominate through the air and grab early district domination.
ÿ
3-4A Hereford at 3-4A Pampa - Friday 7:30 P.M. - Harvester Stadium
ÿ
The Whitefaces of Hereford look near bulletproof going into Pampa at 5-1 overall. The Harvesters under first year coach Andy Cavalier at 3-3 look venerable. But the game is in Pampa. Anything can happen at Harvester Stadium and often does.
ÿ
3-4A Amarillo Palo Duro at 3-4A Canyon Randall - Friday 7:30 P.M. - Kimbrough Stadium
ÿ
The Dons of Palo Duro at 1-5 overall including losing a hard-fought district opener in double overtime? The road to 3-4A district title belongs to the Dons the last five seasons. Never, never underestimate the Dons and coach Steve Parr. Randall has their work cut out.
ÿ
3-4A Amarillo Caprock at 3-4A Dumas - Friday 7:30 P.M. - Dumas
ÿ
The battle of the yet to wins. At a combined 0-12 going into week two of district, mathematically one of these teams will have a district record of 1-1 going into week three. With all but two district teams making the playoffs these days, not too bad.
ÿ
Special hero: Caprock Longhorn senior running back Alex Ballin helped rescue 93-year old Vivian Thomas from her Amarillo home near Caprock high school Wednesday morning. He ran with a fellow classmate from the Caprock campus several blocks upon seeing the house explode from gas leaks. Ballin and Caprock student Andrew Santos deserve special recognition for putting their life on the line without question to save an elderly woman in need. Alex is a hero on the field and off.
ÿ
4-4A Plainview at 4-4A Wolfforth Frenship - Friday 7:30 P.M. - Frenship Stadium
ÿ
The battle for district 4-4A this early, that clear and simple. Both teams come in at 5-2 and both are coming off 50 point wins last week. Running back factories are both these teams. Expect high scores, 200-plus yards rushing on both sides of the scrimmage and a capacity crowd on hand.