Week 9 is here, and with it come two of the most highly anticipated matchups of the year, as Robert Lee and Water Valley are set to clash in a battle of ranked unbeatens in District 8-1A Division I and Zephyr and Blanket are scheduled to meet with District 13-1A Division II supremacy on the line.

The threat of inclement weather pushed several of the area’s other high-profile matchups to Thursday — the scores from which can be found on our Six-Man/Class 1A Central page — but there’s still plenty of upcoming action to talk about in this week’s “Six-Man Lookahead.”

Let’s stop wasting time and do that now as we dive into the best games Friday’s slate has to offer. 

GAMES OF THE WEEK

• Robert Lee (8-0, 2-0) at Water Valley (7-0, 1-0) — Our first of two featured matchups this week pits the No. 5 Steers against the second-ranked Wildcats in a highly anticipated clash for the District 8-1A DI championship. Both teams carry unbeaten records into this game, which has been circled on both team’s schedules — and many six-man football fans’ calendars — for weeks now. Led by do-it-all senior Brenner Sherwood, Robert Lee has outscored its opponents 490-108, earning high-profile wins over Ira (60-14) and Ackerly Sands (5-3). Water Valley, paced by the quarterback-running back duo of Landon Lacy and Boston Wiese, has posted a scoring margin of 391-34 with impressive victories over Hermleigh (56-8) and Rankin (68-20). The Wildcats are a slight favorite, but that won’t mean much once the opening kickoff goes up.
• Zephyr (6-1, 1-0) at Blanket (7-1, 2-0) — Our second Game of the Week will likely decide the District 13-1A DII title, as the Bulldogs and Tigers meet in what is also expected to be a barn-burner. As with our other featured game, these two have been on a collision course for a while now, taking care of their business to this point to ensure that this matchup would set the winner on a course to claim a district championship. Zephyr, which is led by running Chayden Woodcock, has only lost this season to Division II No. 6 Strawn, while Kannon Kensing and Blanket have won seven straight since falling to Division I No. 8 Menard in Week 1. Common opponents don’t give us much insight into how this one will go as both teams earned mercy-rule wins over Santa Anna and beat Rising Star in similar blowout fashion. Neither do the prominent power ranking services, which are split on which team is even the favorite here.

OTHER TOP MATCHUPS

• Baird (2-6, 1-1) at Ranger (3-4, 0-1) — While it’s common knowledge that top-ranked Gordon has the District 13-1A DI championship — and very likely the 1A DI state title — locked up, this game could help decide the league’s second playoff spot. Baird, which dropped its district opener to Gorman in Week 7 would need a win here and some help down the road to get back into the postseason discussion, but Ranger, which has only lost in district to Gordon, still control its own destiny. The Bears are considered the favorite after downing winless Lingleville last week to snap a four-game losing streak, but the Bulldogs, who have already exceeded their 2024 win total, will come in fired up and ready to compete.
• Bronte (4-3, 1-0) at Blackwell (3-5, 2-0) — A matchup of two of District 6-1A DII’s three remaining unbeatens, this game could go a long way toward deciding that league’s champion. Bronte, which opened league play with a 56-6 drubbing of Loraine in Week 7, is the district favorite, but consecutive wins over Panther Creek (58-0), Olfen (74-28) and Loraine (83-52) have Blackwell riding high after an 0-5 start. The Longhorns are Hornets are joined in the district playoff race by Trent, which has also yet to lose in district play, and both still have games against the Gorillas left on their schedule, making this a big game for both team’s postseason hopes.

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. Here are some matchups we’re keeping an eye on:

• Loraine (0-8, 0-2) at Trent (6-1, 1-0) — This game may not seem like much of a matchup judging by the records, but the Bulldogs have played the significantly tougher schedule of the two. LHS is likely out of the District 6-1A DII playoff race with a pair of losses, but they could play spoiler for the Gorillas, who are in the midst of their best season in years. 

PREDICTIONS

• LAST WEEK: 22-3, .880
• SEASON TOTAL: 213-36, .855

Knox City (1-7, 0-2) at BRYSON (4-3, 0-1)

Vernon Northside (6-0, 1-0) at NEWCASTLE (5-2, 2-0)

HERMLEIGH (5-2, 2-0) at Roby (5-2, 1-1)

IRA (5-2, 2-0) at Rotan (2-5, 0-2)

Highland (2-5, 0-2) at WESTBROOK (5-2, 1-1)

IRION COUNTY (1-6, 0-1) at Paint Rock (3-5, 0-2)

ROBERT LEE (8-0, 2-0) at Water Valley (7-0, 1-0)

BAIRD (2-6, 1-1) at Ranger (3-4, 0-1)

GORMAN (2-5, 1-0) at Lingleville (0-7, 0-2)

GORDON (7-0) at Brackettville (4-4)

MAY (6-1, 0-0) at Santa Anna (3-4, 0-0)

BRONTE (4-3, 1-0) at Blackwell (3-5, 2-0)

Loraine (0-8, 0-2) at TRENT (6-1, 1-0)

BENJAMIN (5-0, 1-0) at Chillicothe (6-2, 1-1)

GUTHRIE (5-2, 1-1) at Crowell (0-7, 0-1)

JAYTON (8-0, 2-0) at Lueders-Avoca (1-5, 0-1)

PAINT CREEK (5-2, 0-1) at Rule (0-7, 0-2)

WOODSON (0-7, 0-0) at Moran (0-5, 0-0)

STRAWN (6-1, 0-0) at Throckmorton (1-6, 0-0)

Morgan (3-4, 0-0) at BLUFF DALE (7-1, 2-0)

ZEPHYR (6-1, 1-0) at Blanket (7-1, 2-0)

RISING STAR (4-4, 0-2) at Sidney (2-5, 0-1)

OGLESBY (6-1, 2-0) at Priddy (1-6, 0-1)

Brookesmith (3-5, 0-2) at ROCHELLE (2-5, 1-0)

RICHLAND SPRINGS (5-1, 1-0) at Panther Creek (5-3, 2-0)

IDLE: Perrin-Whitt (6-2), Veribest (2-6), Olfen (0-8), Aspermont (8-0), Three Way (7-1), Gustine (5-2), Mullin (1-7), Lohn (3-5), Abilene Christian (6-2)