With just two weeks remaining in the regular season, the stakes are rising across the state for many high school football teams, and that increased urgency makes for some excellent matchups this time of year. 

That’s certainly the case on the area six-man scene, where Halloween night will feature a number of intriguing contests, headlined by co-Games of the Week between Hermleigh and Ira in Division I and Aspermont and Jayton in Division II.

It’s time now to talk about those matchups — and more — in this week’s “Six-Man Lookahead” column. We hope you enjoy this preview of Week 10 action and encourage you to check out our Six-Man/Class 1A Central page for more information on your favorite team(s).

GAMES OF THE WEEK

• Hermleigh (6-2, 3-0) at Ira (6-2, 3-0) — Our first of two headlining games this week features the only remaining unbeaten teams in District 7-1A Division I, but there’s one key difference between the two coming in. Ira has already banked a win over perennial power Westbrook, while Hermleigh still must play the Wildcats after this game. That means that the Bulldogs have likely already secured one of the district’s two playoff spots, while the Cardinals are still in must-win mode despite an excellent season to date. Both teams come into this one playing well. IHS, led by quarterback Brandt Cox, have won five straight games since falling to Robert Lee on Sept. 19, and Hermleigh, paced by do-it-all junior Zaylan Delce, rides a three-game winning streak into this one with its only losses coming to state powers Water Valley and Jayton. The Bulldogs are a slight favorite — by 11 to 13 points depending on the source — but this should be a good game between two very good football teams.
• Aspermont (8-0, 2-0) at Jayton (9-0, 3-0) — Our other Game of the Week is a battle of unbeatens who have been on a collision course all year in District 8-1A DII. No. 1 Jayton, the defending Class 1A Division II champion, has played a much more difficult schedule, earning comfortable wins over quality outfits from Ira, Hermleigh and Newcastle, but No. 8 Aspermont has handled its business with aplomb, outscoring eight overmatched opponents by a 456-72 margin. The Jaybirds, who are paced by Sean Stanaland, Bode Ham and Colt Gentry, are a comfortable favorite here, but the upset-minded Hornets will head into their first real test of the year looking to show that they belong in the conversation with the best Division II teams in the state.

OTHER TOP MATCHUPS

• Bryson (5-3, 1-1) at Vernon Northside (6-1, 1-1) — This big District 6-1A DI matchup will eliminate the loser from playoff contention, making it a huge game for both the Cowboys and Indians. Sharing that league with Newcastle and Perrin-Whitt, these two teams are already longshots to reach the postseason, but the winner of this one will at least stay in that conversation heading into the regular season’s final week. Bryson has already lost to Perrin-Whitt and has Newcastle to finish the season, while Northside has lost to Newcastle and closes with Perrin-Whitt. This is a must-win game between two very evenly matched teams. It should be a thriller.
• Three Way (7-1, 1-1) at Iredell (5-4, 2-1) — This District 11-1A DII matchup is another playoff eliminator, given that Bluff Dale has already beaten both teams. Three Way fell to the Bobcats in a 34-29 thriller in its district opener, while Iredell lost to Bluff Dale 61-16 a week later. With the No. 2 playoff seed on the line, both teams will come in motivated and ready to play their best football, and the team that comes closest to that will likely punch its ticket to the postseason. The Braves are a two- to three-score favorite over the Dragons and have fared better this season against a comparable schedule. But none of those things will matter once the ball is kicked off Friday.
• Abilene Christian (6-2, 1-1) at Keller Harvest Christian (4-4, 0-2) — Coming off their open date after falling to Crowley Nazarene Christian on Oct. 17, the Panthers will play another big one this week against the Harvest Christian Saints. With rival Fort Worth Covenant Classical due up next week to close out the regular season, ACS needs a win here to avoid taking a two-game losing streak into that game. The Panthers, who are led by quarterback Pierson Walters, are a two-score favorite here, but Harvest Christian is a quality team capable of pushing them to their limits. The Saints’ district losses came against Covenant Classical and Nazarene Christian, the current district leader, so you can largely discount the record gap coming in.

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:

• Rotan (2-6, 0-3) at Highland (2-6, 0-3) — This District 7-1A DI game won’t decide anything, but it should be a hyper competitive matchup between two very evenly matched teams. 
• Gustine (5-2, 1-1) at Rising Star (5-4, 1-2) — Rising Star is out of the District 13-1A DII playoff race and Gustine’s postseason hopes are hanging by a thread. But this should be a fun matchup between two solid teams.

PREDICTIONS

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

BRYSON (5-3, 1-1) at Vernon Northside (6-1, 1-1)

PERRIN-WHITT (6-2, 1-1) at Knox City (1-8, 0-3)

Hermleigh (6-2, 3-0) at IRA (6-2, 3-0)

WESTBROOK (6-2, 2-1) at Roby (5-3, 1-2)

Rotan (2-6, 0-3) at HIGHLAND (2-6, 0-3)

WATER VALLEY (8-0, 2-0) at Irion County (2-6, 1-1)

Veribest (2-6, 1-1) at ROBERT LEE (8-1, 2-1)

GORDON (7-0, 2-0) at Baird (3-6, 2-1)

Ranger (3-5, 0-2) at GORMAN (3-5, 2-0)

JONESBORO (3-5, 1-0) at SANTA ANNA (3-5, 0-1)

Lometa (4-4, 0-1) at MAY (7-1, 1-0)

Trent (6-2, 1-1) at BRONTE (5-3, 2-0)

Ofen (0-8, 0-2) at LORAINE (1-8, 1-2)

Crowell (0-8, 0-2) at BENJAMIN (6-0, 2-0)

Harrold (5-3, 1-1) at GUTHRIE (6-2, 2-1)

Aspermont (8-0, 2-0) at JAYTON (9-0, 3-0)

Lueders-Avoca (2-6, 0-2) at PAINT CREEK (5-2, 0-1)

Moran (0-6, 0-1) at STRAWN (7-1, 1-0)

Throckmorton (1-7, 0-1) at WOODSON (1-7, 1-0)

THREE WAY (7-1, 1-1) at Iredell (5-4, 2-1)

GUSTINE (5-2, 1-1) at Rising Star (5-4, 1-2)

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

CRANFILLS GAP (3-6, 1-2) at Mullin (1-7, 0-2)

Priddy (1-7, 0-2) at EVANT (4-4, 2-0)

Lohn (3-5, 0-2) at BROOKESMITH(3-6, 0-3)

RICHLAND SPRINGS (6-1, 2-0) at Rochelle (3-5, 2-0)

ABILENE CHRISTIAN (6-2, 1-1) at Keller Harvest Christian (4-4, 0-2)

IDLE: Newcastle (6-2), Paint Rock (3-6), Lingleville (0-8), Blackwell (3-6), Rule (0-7), Bluff Dale (8-1), Blanket (7-2), Panther Creek (5-4)