By Neil Robertson
MaxPreps.com
ÿ
District 2-5A
ÿ
Week 8 offers two key matchups which will all but determine the district championship with a week to go in the regular season.
ÿ
2-5A Amarillo High Sandies at 2-5A Lubbock Monterey Plainsmen
Thursdayÿ 7:30 p.m. ÿ- Lowrey Fieldÿ
ÿ
This is the game of the week. The Sandies, under first-year coach Brad Thiessen, come into Lowrey Field undefeated in district at 3-0. Monterey is 2-1. Both have playoff spots clinched. Either team can all but secure the district championship with a win.
ÿ
Sandie quarterback Kyler Hill and Plainsmen quarterback Joel Lira have shown superior ability to scramble out of the pocket, gain critical yardage and score: Hill in the air and Lira on the ground. The well-oiled flex bone offense of the Plainsmen will be a true test for the run-stopping Sandie defense led by linebacker Dustin Bohannon.
ÿ
The Sandies beat Lubbock Coronado at home October 27 and Coronado beat Monterey October 13. If Monterey beats Amarillo this week and Coronado beats San Angelo Central at home Friday, a three-way tie for district champion will be set with all three teams (Amarillo, Monterey and Coronado) at 3-1 going into the final week of district play.ÿ
ÿ
2-5A San Angelo Central Bobcats at 2-5A Lubbock Coronado Mustangs
Friday 8:00 p.m. - Lowrey Field
ÿ
This night cap of the double-header in Lubbock will be the second of the Central Bobcats three season-ending road trips of three hours or more. They return to Lubbock again next week to close out district play versus Monterey.
ÿ
The Bobcats secured a playoff slot last week in Amarillo by beating Tascosa in overtime. Coronado can capture the fourth and last playoff spot in district 2-5A with a win over Central. Mustang quarterback Austin Zouzalik is district 2-5A's leading passer with 1,494 yards for 10 touchdowns and 155 completions on 254 attempts going into this game. He'll face the district-leading Bobcat defense, which has allowed only 234.9 yards total average yards per game.
ÿ
2-5A Amarillo Tascosa Rebels at 2-5A Lubbock High Westerners
Friday 4:30 p.m. - Lowrey Field
ÿ
The matinee game of the double-header is the first of two must-win games at Lowrey Field for the Rebels if they hope to salvage a playoff slot.
ÿ
Two closing wins and a Central loss to Coronado in the night cap game will keep the Rebels afloat going into a second must-win game next week at Coronado to close out their district schedule.
ÿ
This game will be the battle of the Scotts: Rebel running back and district-leading rusher Anthony Scott (1,013 yards on 163 carries) and third-leading district rusher Quindrick Scott (864 yards on 138 carries).
ÿ
The Westerners have been statistically eliminated from any playoff berth at 3-5 and 0-3, but can serve as spoiler to the Rebels play-off hopes and the Amarillo Sandies district championship race by beating them on the road to close out the regular season next week.
