SIX-MAN REWIND: Last remaining district races decided as regular season comes to an end

The regular season is officially over, and it’s time to turn the page to the playoffs.

But before we do, let’s take a look back at Week 11 and the top developments — and performances — on the Big Country six-man scene.

We hope you enjoy this “rewind” and encourage you to check out our Six-Man/Class 1A Central page for standings, schedules and results.

LAST WEEK’S TOP RESULTS

• Jonesboro 60, May 30 — Layden Nichols ran for 145 yards and three touchdowns, and Jeramiah Forrest passed for 197 yards and a pair of scores to lead the Eagles (8-1, 3-0) past the Tigers in a battle for the District 14-1A Division I championship. Jonesboro, which jumped from No. 6 in the state to No. 4 with the win, also took advantage of a 4-1 edge in the turnover margin to grab the momentum early in our “Six-Man Lookahead Game of the Week.” No. 8 May (9-1, 2-1), which was outgained 476-395, was led in the loss by Ben Harrell, who ran for 141 yards and a touchdown while passing for 81 yards another score, while Kaden Watkins added 88 yards and a TD receiving.
• Westbrook 75, Hermleigh 46 — Grayson Jeffrey ran for 334 yards and eight touchdowns while adding a ninth TD receiving to help the No. 7 Wildcats close out a perfect run through District 7-1A DI play. Behind Jeffrey and Chance Morris, who passed for 54 yards and a score, Westbrook (8-2, 5-0) took a 30-16 lead into halftime, before outscoring the Cardinals in each of the final two quarters of a thorough win. Hermleigh, which was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss, got 260 yards and four touchdowns passing and 120 yards and two TDs rushing from Alex Wanderlich ad 112 yards and two scores receiving from Gage Gibson, but it wasn’t enough as the Cardinals closed the season at 7-3 overall and 3-2 in district.
• Roby 40, Rotan 36 — The Lions closed out a tough campaign with a thrilling win over their archrival, using a 22-point second quarter to build a 28-22 halftime lead they would narrowly protect the rest of the way. Still trailing 34-28 after three quarters, the Yellowhammers outscored Roby 8-6 in the final period, but they would get no closer than the four-point final margin. With the win, Roby closed its season at 4-6 overall and 1-4 in district, while Rotan finished 3-7 on the year and 0-5 in league play.
• Aspermont 62, Paint Creek 14 — The Hornets locked up the second and final playoff spot out of District 8-1A DII, cruising to a 45-point-rule win over the Pirates. Aspermont entered the matchup a game ahead of both Paint Creek and Rule for second place, so a loss would have resulted in a three-way tie. But the Hornets (6-4 overall) took care of business, scoring early and often to improve to 3-1 in district play and snag a playoff spot behind top-ranked Jayton. The Pirates, meanwhile, closed their season at 6-4 and 1-3.
• Strawn 64, Woodson 14 — The Greyhounds were too much for the Cowboys, cruising to a blowout win to clinch the District 9-1A DII championship. Strawn (7-2 overall) improved to 3-0 in league play with the win — its sixth in a row since starting the season 1-2. Woodson, which snapped a streak of three consecutive shutouts for the Greyhounds, fell to 6-4 and 2-1 with its first loss in four games.
• Zephyr 52, Gustine 6 — Reese Hamm ran for 62 yards and two touchdowns and Wyatt Stephens passed for 60 yards and a pair of scores to fuel the Bulldogs to a comfortable win over the Tigers. It was the fifth straight victory for Zephyr (9-1 overall), which wrapped up the District 13-1A DII title with a 4-0 run through league play. The Bulldogs outgained Gustine 207-60, limiting the Tigers (7-2, 2-2) to minus-34 yards on the ground while taking advantage of the game’s only two turnovers.
• Abilene Christian 56, Fort Worth Covenant Classical 52 — Pierson Walters passed for 245 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 205 yards and two additional scores to lead the Panthers to a thrilling upset win over the Cavaliers. Brooks Armstrong also had a big game for ACS, receiving for 95 yards and three TDs while rushing for 39 yards and another score. The Panthers outgained Covenant Classical 495-338, holding the Cavaliers to just 13 yards rushing. The win created a three-way logjam atop the TAPPS Six-Man Division II District 1 standings between ACS (6-3, 3-1), Covenant Classical (6-3, 3-1) and Crowley Nazarene Christian (7-3, 3-1).

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

• Pierson Walters, QB/DB, Jr., Abilene Christian — Hit 21 of 35 passes for 246 yards and five touchdowns while adding 205 yards and two scores rushing in the Panthers’ win over Covenant Classical.
• Grayson Jeffrey, SB/DB, Sr., Westbrook — Ran for 334 yards and eight touchdowns, passed for 19 yards and had an 11-yard touchdown reception while adding six tackles and a sack in the Wildcats’ win over Hermleigh.
• Keegan Hayes, SB/DB, So., Benjamin — Ran for 215 yards and five touchdowns, threw a 42-yard touchdown pass and had six tackles and a pick-six on defense in the Mustangs’ 54-8 win over Harrold.
• Brandt Cox, RB/WR, Jr., Ira — Ran for 165 yards and five touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ 63-26 win over Highland.
• Brian Shannon, RB/LB, Blanket — Received for 129 yards and three touchdowns on offense and had five tackles and a fumble recovery on defense in the Tigers’ 43-8 win over Sidney.
• Alex Wanderlich, SB, Sr., Hermleigh — Hit 18 of 29 passes for 260 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 120 yards and two TDs in the Cardinals’ season-ending loss to Westbrook.
• Ben Harrell, RB/LB, Sr., May — Ran for 141 yards and one touchdown, passed for 81 yards and one TD, received for 10 yards and had 10 tackles in the Tigers’ loss to Jonesboro.
• Brooks Armstrong, RB/DB, Sr., Abilene Christian — Received for 95 yards and three touchdowns, ran for 39 yards and a TD and had six tackles and an interception on defense vs. Covenant Classical.
• Kyleik Mason, RB, Sr., Rule — Passed for 61 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 45 yards and one score and had two tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery on defense in the Bobcats’ 64-0 win over Lueders-Avoca.
• Stryker Reed, RBDB, Jr., Gordon — Passed for 72 yards and a touchdown, ran for 27 yards and a score and had a 30-yard TD catch in the Longhorns’ 52-0 win over Gorman.

BCP POWER RANKINGS

DIVISION I

1. Gordon (10-0) ⇔ — The top-ranked Longhorns closed out a perfect regular season with a remarkable 561-34 scoring margin. With the arrival of the playoffs, They’ll turn their attention to defending last year’s state championship.
2. Westbrook (8-2) ⇑1 — The No. 7 Wildcats went 5-0 through a tough district, closing the regular season with an impressive win over Hermleigh. Up next is a high-profile bi-district matchup with Robert Lee.
3. May (9-1) ⇓1 — The No. 8 Tigers fell to Jonesboro in their final regular season test. In addition to costing May a district championship, that loss forces the Tigers to open the playoffs against Gordon.
4. Water Valley (8-2) ⇔ — The Wildcats routed winless Paint Rock 62-6 last week to enter the playoffs on a six-game winning streak. They’ll kick off the postseason with a first-round matchup against Ira.
5. Newcastle (6-4) ⇔ — The Bobcats bounced back from a 50-48 loss to Knox City in Week 8 with back-to-back wins over Vernon Northside (86-40) and Bryson (54-6). That was enough to earn Newcastle a playoff date with No. 10 Spur (10-0).
6. Robert Lee (7-3) ⇔ — The Steers had Week 11 off, giving them extra time to prepare for this week’s matchup with Westbrook. Robert Lee’s only loss since Week 3 came in Week 9 to an excellent Water Valley squad.
7. Knox City (7-3) ⇑1 — The Greyhounds were also idle last week, but they’ll enter the playoffs off a loss after being upset by Perrin-Whitt in Week 10. They have a favorable first-round draw, however, against 4-6 Turkey Valley.
8. Ira (7-3) ⇑1 — At their best this season, the Bulldogs earned wins over quality teams from Robert Lee and Hermleigh, and they only lost to still-unbeaten Spur by four. They’ll need to play at that level this week to compete with Water Valley.
9. Perrin-Whitt (7-3) ⇑1  — The Pirates saw their season end in excruciating fashion, when the use of an ineligible player turned 56-6 win over Northside into a forfeit loss. A victory in that game would have forced a three-way tie for first in District 6-1A DII with Knox City and Newcastle.
10. Hermleigh (7-3) ⇓3 — The Cardinals saw a strong season end with consecutive losses to Ira (58-50) and Westbrook (75-46). Unfortunately, those were enough to keep HHS out of the playoffs. 

First five out — 1. Lometa (7-3) ⇑1; 2. Baird (7-3) ⇑2; 3. Veribest (6-4) ⇓2; 4. Bryson (5-5) ⇓1; 5. Highland (4-6) ⇔

DIVISION II

1. Jayton (10-0) ⇔ — After wrapping up a perfect regular season in Week 10, the top-ranked Jaybirds got an extra week to prepare for this week’s playoff opener against Crowell.
2. Benjamin (7-1) ⇔ — The No 5 Mustangs rolled through District 7-1A DII play, capping the regular season with blowout win over Harrold. They’ll start what they hope will be another extended playoff run against Aspermont.
3. Richland Springs (10-0) ⇔ — The No. 2 Coyotes have gone untested all season, outscoring their opponents by a combined margin of 514-40. That trend should continue through a bi-district matchup with 3-5 Calvert.
4. Strawn (7-2) ⇔ — The Greyhounds extended their win streak to six games with a 64-14 blowout of Woodson. Up next for No. 8 Strawn is a playoff opener against Ladonia Fannindel (4-6).
5. Zephyr (9-1) ⇔ — The Bulldogs completed a dominant run through District 13-1A DII with a lopsided win over Gustine. ZHS will take a five-game win streak into this week’s matchup with Evant.
6. Blanket (8-1-1) ⇔ — The Tigers locked up the second playoff spot behind Zephyr with a comfortable win over Sidney. They’ll have a tough first playoff assignment, though, with No. 3 Oglesby up next.
7. Rochelle (5-4) ⇑1 — The Hornets will go into the playoffs off a forfeit win over Panther Creek. A bi-district matchup with sixth-ranked Cherokee will provide quite a test this week.
8. Three Way (9-1) ⇑1 — The Braves bounced back from their Week 10 loss to No. 7 Iredell with a 60-6 blowout of Morgan. They’ll try to add a playoff win to their growing list of accomplishments this week against Oakwood.
9. Gustine (7-2) ⇓3 — A lopsided loss to Zephyr ended the Tigers season one win shy of a playoff berth. They’ll enter the offseason with plenty to build on, though, after opening the season with five straight wins. 
10. Loraine (6-4) ⇔ —  Loraine is headed to the playoffs after closing the regular season with three consecutive wins. They’ll try to keep that momentum going this week against Grandfalls-Royalty.

First five out —1. Aspermont (6-4) ⇔; 2. Woodson (6-4) ⇔; 3. Paint Creek (6-4) ⇑1; 4. Blackwell (4-6) ⇑1; 5. Brookesmith (5-4) ⇑⇑⇑