By james art Playoff teams are starting to emerge and district titles are on the line. Here are the top high school football games featuring the Lubbock area in Week 10.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Lubbock-Cooper (7-2, 4-1) vs. Abilene Wiley (6-1, 4-0)
7pm Friday, Hugh Sandifer Stadium
Lubbock-Cooper has an immediate chance at redemption.
Wichita Falls Memorial (6-2, 3-1) knocked off the Pirates 44-43 last week with a late touchdown and two-point conversion, dashing Cooper’s hopes of going undefeated through District 2-5A Division II.
All will be forgiven if the Pirates can bounce back.
Cooper, playing for the 10th straight week, can clinch at least a share of the district title by defeating Abilene Wiley. The Bulldogs would do the same in a win.
Wylie has won four straight, its most recent contest a 45-42 victory over Memorial. It was the fourth time the Bulldogs scored at least 41 points. They enter on the Friday after their open date.
The teams are fairly similar, each averaging about 40 points per game and allowing about 27. Expect balanced offenses, with Texas Tech’s Michael Dever excellent for the Pirates. The receiver has eight touchdowns over the past three weeks, scoring on catches, a punt attempt and a kickoff return. He posted eight catches for 219 yards and three TDs against Memorial.
The Pirates are in serious danger of falling to third with a loss, so there is plenty of reason for them to win and win big. That would likely set up a three-way tie with Memorial for the No. 1 seed, when a lopsided win could make the difference in the tiebreaker.
Lubbock Area Week 10 games to watch
Seminole (8-0, 2-0) at Midland Greenwood (7-1, 2-0)
7pm Friday, King Memorial Stadium
The cream of regional culture gathers on Fridays. The Rangers are allowing 22 points per game, which would be well below the Seminole average of 51.
Abilene High (7-2, 5-0) at Monterey (4-4, 3-1)
7 p.m. Thursday, Lowrey Field
Last week: Abilene High 31, Amarillo Tascosa 29; Monterey, open
Don’t look now, but Monterey can clinch a share of the district title with wins over the next two weeks. Thursday will be the more difficult of the other two.
Frenship (7-1, 3-0) at Odessa Permian (7-1, 2-1)
19:00 Friday, Ratliff Stadium
Last week: Frenship 56, Odessa High 7; Midland Legacy 49, Odessa Permian 38
The Panthers suffered their first loss last week and the Tigers will be looking to add to their woes. A Frenship win guarantees at least a share of the district championship.
Lockney (5-3, 2-1) at Hale Center (7-1, 3-0)
19:00 Friday, Buhal Stadium.
Last week: Lockney 21, Ralls 2; Hale Center 50, Sudan 29
Winners of seven straight tournaments, the Owls are one of the hottest teams in the South Plains. Lockney still has a shot at the district title as well.
Sunset (3-5, 3-0) at Tahoka (6-2, 2-1)
7pm Friday, Bulldog Stadium
Last week: Sunset 28, Ropes 21; Tahoka 46, Plains 6
The Roughnecks shocked the state last week. The result also gave Tahoka renewed hopes for a district title.