SIX-MAN LOOKAHEAD: Westbrook-Buena Vista tops excellent slate of matchups in Week 5

As strong as the Big Country is and has been at the Class 1A level, it’s rarely difficult to find games worth talking about on a weekly slate. But the past couple of weeks have frankly been an embarassment of riches in that regard.

Week 4, which was chock full of high-profile matchups, more than lived up to its billing. And this week’s schedule should serve as an excellent encore with a grouping of games that could help shape the statewide rankings next week.

Without further ado, let’s jump in for our weekly “Six-Man Lookahead.” And when you’re done, you catch up on last week with our “Six-Man Rewind” column or check standings and results on our Six-Man/Class 1A Central page.

GAME OF THE WEEK

• Westbrook (2-1) at Imperial Buena Vista (4-0) — Ranked No. 4 in Class 1A Division I, the Wildcats enter this game off impressive wins over quality teams from Jonesboro (68-36) and Rankin (62-28). But the unbeaten Longhorns, ranked ninth in DI by TexasFootball.com, will give Westbrook its biggest test since a 66-16 season-opening loss to Jayton. Led by the standout duo of Grayson Jeffrey and Case Custer, the Wildcats are a slight favorite here, but Buena Vista is ranked where it is for a reason, having dominated Irion County, Gilmer Union Hill and Grandfalls-Royalty before eking out a 54-52 win over Water Valley last week.

OTHER TOP MATCHUPS

• Wichita Falls Wichita Christian (4-0) at Newcastle (3-1) — Coming off a 72-22 loss to May, the Bobcats have another tough opponent this week in the undefeated Stars. Wichita Christian hasn’t played a particularly tough schedule, but it has handled its schedule the way a good team should, riding four consecutive mercy rule wins into this game. Newcastle is the consensus favorite in this matchup, but it won’t be easy. And the Bobcats will want to take care of business with tough games against Jayton (4-0), Perrin-Whitt (5-0) and Knox City (3-1) up next. 
• Jayton (4-0) at Hermleigh (3-0) — The only matchup in the area this week featuring two undefeated teams, this one pits the top-ranked team in 1A DII against an HHS squad ranked 12th in DI by SixManFootball.com and 20th by PigskinPrep.com. If previous matchups against top-10 DI teams from Westbrook and Knox City — both 45-point-rule wins for the Jaybirds — are any indication, Jayton could run away from the Cardinals. But Hermleigh’s a good team that got an extra week to prepare for the Jaybirds thanks to a well-timed open date.
• Roby (3-1) at Baird (3-1) — This matchup likely wasn’t circled on many schedules in the preseason, but the Lions and Bears have made this an intriguing game with surprisingly strong starts. Roby, which went 1-9 a year ago, has already tripled that win total, gutting out victories over Lorenzo (50-33), Blackwell (34-32) and Petersburg (54-48). And Baird, which missed the playoffs with a 6-4 record last year, was undefeated before falling 78-30 to Veribest last week. Regardless of the outcome, this will be a good game for both teams, but the winner could get a nice confidence boost with district play slated to start for both teams in Week 7. 
• Water Valley (2-2) at Rochelle (2-2) — Don’t let the records fool you here, these are two solid teams that have held up well against tough nondistrict schedules. Water Valley, a consensus top-20 team in DI, has a pair of one-score losses to unbeaten squads from Hermleigh (36-28) and Buena Vista (54-52). And Rochelle, a top-20 team in DII, has only lost to undefeated DI outfits from May (85-40) and Lometa (72-39). One of these teams will take a losing record into Week 6. But both should be commended for testing themselves they way have ahead of their respective district schedules.
• May (4-0) at Iredell (3-1) — Outside of maybe Jayton, there’s not a six-man team in Texas playing better than the Tigers right now. MHS has been nothing short of stellar in racking up impressive wins over Sidney (51-0), Oglesby (66-45), Rochelle (85-40) and Newcastle (72-22) to open the season. The Tigers can add another notch to their belt this week if they can extend their streak against an Iredell team ranked fourth in DII by TexasFootball.com. The Dragons haven’t lost since falling 50-22 to Newcastle in Week 1, outscoring their three opponents since by a combined margin of 159-22.
• Strawn (2-2) at Zephyr (4-0) — Don’t be surprised if this ends up being one of the best games on the area slate this week. Strawn, which has only lost to top-10 DI teams from Knox City (75-54) and Gordon (60-14), is the favorite, but the spread is between three and 18 points, depending on the power ranking service. The Greyhounds have performed well against an excellent schedule, while Zephyr has yet to lose and boasts the best win of either of these teams with their 29-27 triumph over Veribest in Week 1. This should be a thriller.

UNDER THE RADAR

While the sections above are meant highlight the week’s biggest, most meaningful and/or most high-profile matchups, here we’re looking for competitive games that might not draw the same level of attention state- and area-wide. Here are the under-the-radar matchups worth keeping an eye on in Week 5:

• Blackwell (0-4) at Highland (1-3) — Both of these teams are better than their records would suggest, but we’re approaching a point in the season where wins and losses matter. The victor here should get a nice and much-needed boost. 
• Rising Star (2-2) at Gorman (1-3) — This shapes up to be an excellent game between two teams that have tested themselves with their pre-district schedules. That’s especially true of Gorman, which has lost three games to top-20 teams already.
• Cranfills Gap (0-4) at Lingleville (0-3) — On paper, this game doesn’t mean much. But one of these two squads is going to break into the win column this week, and there’s a good chance it will take four quarters to find out which team that will be.
• Ranger (1-3) at Mullin (2-2) — MHS has yet to win consecutive games this season, but that could change with a victory here. The computer rankings can’t agree on which team is the favorite, making this an intriguing matchup.
• Eden (2-2) at Bronte (1-3) — The Longhorns haven’t won since defeating Rule 28-18 in Week 2, and they’ll need an upset here against the Bulldogs to snap their two-game losing streak.
• Loraine (1-3) at Aspermont (2-2) — Another matchup that has split the computer rankings, this could one of the most difficult games of the Week 5 slate to forecast. And it could also be one of the most for those in attendance.
• Brookesmith (2-1) at Gustine (3-0) — The Mustangs are the favorite here, but it’s by a very narrow margin. Expect this to be a tight game between two teams trying to build some momentum before district.

PREDICTIONS

• LAST WEEK: 25-5, .833
• SEASON TOTAL: 100-33, .752

(Projected winners capitalized)

Woodson (3-1) at BRYSON (2-2)

Crowell (0-4) at KNOX CITY (3-1)

Wichita Falls Wichita Christian (4-0) at NEWCASTLE (3-1)

GILMER UNION HILL (3-1) at Perrin-Whitt (4-0)

JAYTON (4-0) at Hermleigh (3-0)

Roby (3-1) at BAIRD (3-1)

Blackwell (0-4) at HIGHLAND (1-3)

ROTAN (2-1) at Moran (1-3)

WESTBROOK (2-1) at Imperial Buena Vista (4-0)

MENARD (2-1) at Paint Rock (0-3)

Robert Lee (2-2) at ACKERLY SANDS (3-1)

VERIBEST (3-1) at Medina (1-3)

WATER VALLEY (2-2) at Rochelle (2-2)

Fort Worth Covenant Classical (2-1) at GORDON (4-0)

Rising Star (2-2) at GORMAN (1-3)

Cranfills Gap (0-4) at LINGLEVILLE (0-3)

Ranger (1-3) at MULLIN (2-2)

Covington (0-4) at LOMETA (4-0)

MAY (4-0) at Iredell (3-1)

SANTA ANNA (2-2) at Priddy (0-3)

EDEN (2-2) at Bronte (1-3)

Loraine (1-3) at ASPERMONT (2-2)

RULE (2-2) at Guthrie (0-3)

PAINT CREEK (3-1) at Panther Creek (0-2)

TRENT (1-3) at Lueders Avoca (0-4)

STRAWN (2-2) at Zephyr (4-0)

Throckmorton (0-3) at BLANKET (3-0-1)

STEPHENVILLE THREE WAY (4-0) at Lohn (3-1)

Brookesmith (2-1) at GUSTINE (3-0)

Sidney (3-1) at CHEROKEE (3-0)

Giddings Lone Star Southeast (1-1) at RICHLAND SPRINGS (4-0)

ABILENE CHRISTIAN (2-2) at Denton Calvary (1-2)

IDLE: Ira (3-1); Benjamin (2-1)