We’re rapidly approaching the start of league play for most Big Country six-man districts, but we’ve still got one more week of nondistrict matchups in most cases.

The Week 6 slate is light on obvious headliners, but anyone who has followed the area Class 1A scene for any period of time has learned to expect the unexpected.

With that said, let’s take a look at what this week holds for Big Country six-man fans. We hope you enjoy our preview of the area slate and encourage you to check out our Six-Man/Class 1A Central page for standings and results.

GAME OF THE WEEK

• Benjamin (2-1) at Cherokee (4-0) — In a week light on marquee matchups, our “Game of the Week” is the only contest on the area slate between top-10 teams. Cherokee comes in ranked third in Class 1A Division II by TexasFootball.com, while Benjamin checks in just three spots below that at No. 6. The Indians have yet to lose, earning quality wins over Leakey (51-6) and Sidney (60-14), while the Mustangs have an impressive Week 2 win over Follett (81-48) and a Week 3 setback to Division I Borden County (86-68). Cherokee comes into this one favored by three scores, but don’t be surprised if this one is closer than that. With last week off, BHS had extra time to prepare, and the Mustangs will be eager to prove they’re a DII title threat once again this fall.
  

OTHER TOP MATCHUPS

• Saint Jo (5-0) at Perrin-Whitt (5-0) — This isn’t a matchup of top-10 teams, but it is a battle of unbeatens and, frankly, a surprising one. Perrin-Whitt finished 2-8 a year ago, while Saint Jo was 6-5. But both teams are clearly significantly improved in 2024. They share one common opponent in Gold-Burg, which the Pirates defeated 46-0 and the Panthers downed 26-22. That would seem to give an edge to Perrin-Whitt, which also has the advantage of playing at home, but both teams will come into this one confident and expecting a victory.
  
• Hermleigh (3-1) vs. Leakey (4-1) (at Abilene Christian) — Coming off a 68-24 home loss to DII No. 1 Jayton last week, the Cardinals weren’t given much time to sulk following their first setback of the season. That’s because they have to turn around play a Leakey squad that has also lost just one game, falling 51-6 to Cherokee in Week 2. The Eagles haven’t played a particularly difficult schedule around that loss to the Indians, so Hermleigh will have an edge there, but this should be a good final nondistrict test for two playoff hopefuls.
• Water Valley (3-2) at Rankin (2-2) — The Wildcats, ranked 13th in Division I by SixManFootball.com, are a handful of plays away from being undefeated this year. Rankin, which is 11th in the same poll, has fared well against a difficult early-season schedule that features losses to quality teams from Happy (44-38) and Westbrook (62-28). Virtually all six-man power ranking services are expecting this matchup to yield a one-score margin, making it one of the area’s more intriguing games of the week. The Red Devils are slight favorites, but don’t sleep on Water Valley, which took good teams from Hermleigh and Buena Vista to the wire.
• Blanket (4-0-1) at Woodson (3-2) — The Tigers are quietly becoming one of the Big Country’s more interesting stories, following a weather-shortened tie against Menard in Week 1 with consecutive blowout wins against Cranfills Gap (60-0), Evant (54-0), Santa Anna (56-8) and Throckmorton (64-0). That’s not exactly a murderer’s row, but eight points allowed in four weeks is impressive regardless of the opponent. This week, though, Blanket will face its biggest test of the year against a Cowboys squad that was undefeated until suffering back-to-back losses to Aspermont (72-57) and Bryson (56-44) the past two weeks. Woodson is the more battle-tested team, but Blanket will be riding the high of a four-game win streak. Regardless of the outcome, this should be a fun nondistrict matchup.

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 6:

• Panther Creek (0-3) at Blackwell (0-5) — This game won’t likely appear in any other preview column, but one of these teams will be celebrating its first win after this week. The Hornets are a substantial favorite, but Panther Creek is coming off its best showing of the year against Paint Creek.
• Harrold (2-2) at Rule (2-3) — This is a matchup between two middling teams that could result in a thrilling contest. The spread on this one is between five and 14 points depending on the service, so expect a competitive affair.
• Mullin (2-3) at Lohn (3-2) — The computers are conflicted on this one. SixManFootball.com is expecting a blowout in Mullin’s favor, while PigskinPrep.com projects a one-score margin. We’ll see which is right on Friday.

PREDICTIONS

• LAST WEEK: 25-7, .781
• SEASON TOTAL: 125-40, .758

(Projected winners capitalized)

BRYSON (3-2) at Gorman (2-3)

Paducah (2-2) at KNOX CITY (4-1)

Newcastle (3-2) at JAYTON (5-0)

Saint Jo (5-0) at PERRIN-WHITT (5-0)

HERMLEIGH (3-1) vs. Leakey (4-1)

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

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

Garden City (2-3) at WESTBROOK (2-2)

Bronte (1-4) at ROBERT LEE (3-2)

Nueces Canyon (1-4) at VERIBEST (4-1)

WATER VALLEY (3-2) at Rankin (2-2)

BAIRD (4-1) at Eden (3-2)

GORDON (5-0) at Follett (3-2)

Ranger (2-3) at STRAWN (3-2)

LOMETA (5-0) vs. Gilmer Union Hill (3-2)

Irion County (2-3) at MAY (5-0)

ZEPHYR (4-1) at Santa Anna (3-2)

Panther Creek (0-3) at BLACKWELL (0-5)

Moran (1-4) at TRENT (2-3)

Benjamin (2-1) at CHEROKEE (4-0)

Chillicothe (4-1) at PAINT CREEK (4-1)

GUTHRIE (1-3) at Hedley (0-5)

Lueders-Avoca (0-5) at ABILENE CHRISTIAN JV (n/a)

Harrold (2-2) at RULE (2-3)

Throckmorton (0-4) at CROWELL (0-5)

BLANKET (4-0-1) at Woodson (3-2)

Paint Rock (0-4) at STEPHENVILLE THREE WAY (5-0)

Morgan (2-3) at GUSTINE (4-0)

Priddy (0-4) at RISING STAR (2-3)

MULLIN (2-3) at Lohn (3-2)

 Olfen (0-2) at BROOKESMITH (2-2)

Weatherford Christian (0-5) at ROCHELLE (2-3)

IDLE: Roby (3-2); Highland (2-3); Lingleville (1-3); Sidney (3-2); Richland Springs (5-0); Abilene Christian (3-2)