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Month: November 2025
PHOTO GALLERY: Robert Lee-Water Valley regional final football playoff (71 images)
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PHOTO GALLERY: Brock-Seminole regional semifinal football playoff (106 images)
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Brock-Seminole regional semifinal football playoff (106 images)”
GAME STORY: De Leon can’t complete rally after rocky third quarter in twice-delayed loss to Axtell
GODLEY — In a game that took nearly six hours to complete due to two lengthy lightning delays, it was a stretch of just over four minutes of game time that proved to be the difference in Axtell’s 28-17 Region II-2A Division I semifinal win over De Leon on Friday at Wildcat Stadium.
After taking a narrow 7-6 lead into halftime following a hyper-competitive first of half of football, the Longhorns turned a pair of Heston Jobe interceptions into touchdowns — the latter directly — to take a 21-6 third-quarter lead that would never dip below two scores the rest of the way.
The gap eventually reached three touchdowns (27-6) in the fourth quarter, before the Bearcats mounted a late rally that ended with their third failed two-point conversion try and a lost fumble after forcing a red-zone stop with just over four minutes to play.
GAME STORY: Water Valley keeps undefeated season alive with second-quarter flourish in win over Robert Lee
SAN ANGELO — Branson Lacy ran for 184 yards and three touchdowns and Boston Weise ran for a pair of scores as Water Valley took a 50-28 win over Robert Lee in the Region II-1A Division I final on Friday night at San Angelo Stadium.
It was the Wildcats’ second win over the Longhorns this year — backing up a 67-30 win in district play on Oct. 24.
Water Valley coach Trey Sisco was proud of what he saw out of his squad in a game that the Wildcats knew would be tough.
GAME STORY: Brock dominates all phases of the game in 66-3 romp over Seminole
SAN ANGELO — The Brock football team is just three wins away from a state championship after a thorough dismantling of Seminole, 66-3, in a Region I-4A Division II semifinal on Friday afternoon at San Angelo Stadium.
Having beaten Fort Worth Dunbar (49-0), Lubbock Estacado (65-18) and the Indians in the first half of the postseason, the road to Arlington now gets considerably tougher for coach Billy Mathis’ 13-0 squad with games looming against Midland Greenwood next week, potentially Carthage in the semifinals and whoever comes out of the opposite side of the bracket (where the average margin of victory in the first two rounds was 26.6 points) at 3 p.m. on December 19th at AT&T Stadium.
Even with the path that lies ahead, you won’t find the Eagles looking ahead.
SIX-MAN LOOKAHEAD: Nine area teams remain in star-studded slate of region finals action
We’ve reached the third week of the playoffs and the rubber has hit the road at the six-man level. Every team remaining is a heavy-hitter, which makes every game on this week’s slate of region finals matchups a marquee-worthy affair.
With the state semifinals up next and a trip to Arlington within reach, the nine area teams remaining in the six-man playoffs will all be looking to play their best ball this week. And with four all-area matchups to look forward to Friday, we’re guaranteed to see at least four teams from the Big Country Preps coverage survive to play another game.
It’s time now to preview our Thanksgiving week matchups in this week’s “Six-Man Lookahead” column. We hope you enjoy this preview of of an action-packed week.
Big Country Preps’ Pick ‘Em Panel (Week 14)
Each week here at Big Country Preps, we’ll post our picks for all of that week’s 11-man games and select six-man games, in addition to the results of our weekly fan polls for each matchup.
For those interested in voting, polls go up on Sunday night each week and close Thursday evening.
Disagree with our picks or the fan poll consensus? Let us know in the comments section below.
EVAN REN’S PLAYOFF FORECAST: 17 area teams still alive heading into Thanksgiving
LAST WEEK: 21-7, .750
SEASON TOTAL: 521-111, .824
JIM NED (11-1) VS. PARADISE (11-1)
Similar schedules with similar results, but Paradise does hold a slight edge both offensively and defensively and outperformed the Indians against common opponent Breckenridge.
PHOTO GALLERY: Abilene High-Denton Ryan area-round football playoff (115 images)
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PHOTO GALLERY: Merkel-Slaton area round football playoffs (80 images)
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SIX-MAN REWIND: Nine area teams stay alive with strong second-round playoff efforts
Nine teams from the Big Country Preps coverage area survived the second round of the playoffs, setting up a huge slate of games this week in the region championship round.
But before we discuss state quarterfinal matchups later this week, it’s time to take a look at how we got here in this week’s “Six-Man Lookahead” column.
As you might expect the cream rose to the top, with Water Valley, Robert Lee, Gordon, May, Jayton, Benjamin, Strawn, Three Way and Richland Springs all earning games after Thanksgiving with a shot at the state semifinals on the line. We hope you enjoy this look back at the performances that helped them lock down those opportunities.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Graham senior Jace Gill takes this week’s accolade
Not only is our Big Country Preps Player of the Week holding down the top spot with big numbers, but his performance in Graham’s 35-28 area round win over Lubbock Cooper Liberty was a virtual seminar on poise.
Helping the Steers (9-3) to overcome three separate deficits, senior QB/kicker/punter Jace Gill was 15 of 28 for 239 yards and three TDs. He also rushed 12 times for 118 yards and another score.
WEEK 14 FAN POLLS … Pick this week’s 11-man and six-man winners!
Each week here at Big Country Preps, we offer fans the chance to pick the winners of all games involving our local and area football teams. The results of these weekly polls, which will close at 5 p.m. each Thursday, will be included in our weekly Pick ‘Em Panel.
Here are the games for Week 14:
GAME STORY: Rough start, mistakes doom Cooper’s upset hopes in 77-35 area-round loss to Argyle
GODLEY — Heading into its Region I-5A Division II area-round matchup with state-ranked Argyle, the Cooper football team knew its margin for error would be narrow if it hoped to advance past the Eagles and into the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
So when the Cougars found themselves down 14-0 just 32 seconds in, it became clear pretty quickly that they might be in for a long night.
That disastrous start set the course for a 77-35 loss at Wildcat Stadium, ending Cooper’s best season in five years at 7-5. And though neither the process nor the outcome matched that which he and his players were hoping for Friday night, coach Aaron Roan left the stadium proud of how his team continued to fight no matter how deep the hole got — a hallmark of a 2025 squad that handled adversity and itself well all season.
GAME STORY: Graham rallies to eliminate Lubbock-Cooper Liberty 35-28
ABILENE — While the Graham Steers may have won Friday’s Region I-4A DII area round matchup with Lubbock-Cooper Liberty, the 35-28 victory might be better described as a seminar on answering the bell.
On three separate occasions, the Steers erased deficits and eventually overcame a major momentum shift in the final minutes to advance to the regional semis.
Jace Gill threw for 239 yards and three scores and rushed for 118 yards and another TD to lift Graham (9-3), which now advances to face Midland Greenwood (12-0).
Gill’s final TD pass — an 8-yarder to Thomason Burkett with only 1:11 to play, proved to be the game-winner, after which the Steer defense closed the door on Liberty’s final possession.
GAME STORY: Denton Ryan dominates Abilene High in shutout win to end Eagles’ season at 9-3
FORT WORTH — Friday night’s Region I-5A Division I area round showdown between No. 10 Abilene High and No. 4 Denton Ryan at Crowley ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium started badly for the Eagles and quickly went downhill from there as the Raiders rolled to a 59-0 win.
Quin Henigan threw for 319 yards and six touchdowns as Ryan put up 453 yards of offense, avenging a 31-21 loss in the same round of the 2023 playoffs.
Abilene High coach Mike Fullen fully shouldered the blame for the loss as AHS had just 246 yards of offense and turned the ball over four times.
SIX-MAN LOOKAHEAD: Playoffs heat up with bevy of intriguing area-round games
After a week full of blowouts in the bi-district round of the six-man playoffs, the area-round should prove to be much more competitive.
This week’s area slate is chock full of excellent games, with marquee matchups as far as the eye can see.
As we do every week here in this column, it’s time to break down the biggest games of the week in our “Six-Man Lookahead.” We hope you enjoy this preview of the week’s action.
Continue reading “SIX-MAN LOOKAHEAD: Playoffs heat up with bevy of intriguing area-round games”
GAME STORY: Wall dominant in every phase in 50-0 area-round win over Childress
SNYDER — After seeing last season end in heartbreaking fashion with an emotional loss to Gunter in the state semifinals, the Wall football team has made it no secret that it plans to earn a rematch with the Tigers in the same round on its way to Arlington this season.
If there were any worries that such a mission-focused approach might lead to overlooking earlier steps in the process, the Hawks did a pretty good job of allaying those Thursday in a 50-0 area-round win over Childress at Grant Teaff Tiger Stadium.
In scoring on every possession but one in the first half, Wall built a 33-0 lead by the halftime break and never let down after, securing its second consecutive shutout and sixth of the season to earn a Region I-3A Division II semifinals date with Slaton at 1 p.m. next Friday in Sweetwater.
GAME STORY: Merkel suffers heartbreaking loss to Slaton after furious fourth-quarter rally
SWEETWATER — The Merkel offense dug deep into its bag of tricks for Thursday’s Region I-3A Division II area-round matchup with Slaton at the Mustang Bowl.
Three different players threw touchdown passes to three different players, but it wasn’t enough as the Badgers dropped a 43-36 heartbreaker to the Tigers.
Slaton scored the game-winning touchdown on a 28-yard screen pass from Jacob Lopez to Trae Harris with nine seconds to play and held on for the win when Eli Delgado was tackled at the Slaton 44 on the ensuing kickoff as the horn sounded after a 34-yard return — keeping the Badgers from winning multiple playoff games in a season for the first time since the 2017.
Big Country Preps’ Pick ‘Em Panel (Week 13)
Each week here at Big Country Preps, we’ll post our picks for all of that week’s 11-man games, in addition to the results of our weekly fan polls for each matchup.
For those interested in voting, polls go up on Sunday night each week and close Thursday evening.
Disagree with our picks or the fan poll consensus? Let us know in the comments section below.
BIG COUNTRY PLAYOFF FORECAST: A quick thanks to those to who reached out
LAST WEEK: 28-3, .903
SEASON TOTAL: 500-104, .828
Before I get going this week, I’d like to thank those of you who have sent me all of the well-wishes over the past month, which has seen my wife and I suffering through two deaths in our families and me going through two separate stays in the hospital with a minor surgery thrown in for good measure.
It’s been a bear, but it’s good to be back again and we appreciate all of your kindness.
Here’s this week’s playoff forecast:
TOP MATCHUPS
CISCO (10-1) VS. PANHANDLE (9-2)
I seldom pick upsets when the spread is more than 20 points, but the 23-point number in this game comes with a unique intangible.
The Loboes are 4-0 in games decided by two scores or less while Panhandle, which has destroyed nearly everything in its path this year, is 0-2 in the only close games it has experienced (Dalhart and Stinnett West Texas).
SIX-MAN REWIND: Bi-district round yields lopsided results across Big Country Preps coverage area
The first week of the playoffs is in the books, and that’s a good thing for those who enjoy competitive games.
The area’s bi-district round was marked by excellent performances — both team and individual — but it largely rendered lopsided results, as all but three games involving Big Country Preps squads ended by mercy rule.
It’s time now to take a look at the teams that are still standing and the individual performances that have them in that position in this week’s “Big Country Rewind.” We hope you enjoy this look back at Week 12.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Abilene High’s Henry takes award after record-setting performance
You have to love a great all-around performance and in the case of Brayden Henry, our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, his effort in last week’s 84-25 bi-district win over El Paso Bel Air was a record-setter.
Aside from going 6 of 7 through the air or 56 yards and one TD, he also rushed five times for 137 yards and three more scores.
WEEK 13 FAN POLLS … Pick this week’s 11-man winners!
Each week here at Big Country Preps, we offer fans the chance to pick the winners of all games involving our local and area football teams. The results of these weekly polls, which will close at 5 p.m. each Thursday, will be included in our weekly Pick ‘Em Panel.
Here are the games for Week 13:
PHOTO GALLERY: Early-Holliday bi-district football (54 images)
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PHOTO GALLERY: Hawley-Forsan bi-district football (74 images)
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GAME STORY: Cooper rallies from three-score halftime deficit to beat El Paso Chapin in 42-35 thriller
Trailing 24-7 at halftime and struggling to contain El Paso Chapin quarterback Daveon Singleton, the Cooper football team found itself in a deep hole Friday in its Region I-5A Division II bi-district game at Shotwell Stadium.
But it wasn’t deep enough to bury a Cougars team that has stood tall in the face of adversity all season long.
Using a big special teams to play to turn the momentum on the opening kickoff of the second half, Cooper outscored the Huskies 35-11 over the final two quarters to rally for a dramatic 42-35 win, advancing to the area round of the playoffs to take on fifth-ranked Argyle next week.
GAME STORY: Graham plays complete game in shutting out Godley
ALEDO — Graham may not have the playoff experience that it’s enjoyed in the past, but the Steers looked like a team peaking at the right time in a 32-0 victory over Godley Friday night.
By scoring on their first five possessions and limiting the Wildcats to seven first downs, Graham made sure there would be no late-game drama or upset inside Bearcat Stadium.
“We’re definitely going to enjoy this one,” Graham quarterback Jace Gill said. “You know, a lot of people are doubting us and some people didn’t even think we’d make the playoffs so it’s good to come out here and show they can do it under the Friday night lights in playoff time.”
GAME STORY: Early rallies but falls short in high-scoring affair with Holliday
CLYDE — First-year Early head coach Marvin Wilson learned a lot about football in college at Hardin-Simmons University under the legendary Jimmie Keeling and spent this season instilling one of those lessons in his Longhorns squad.
“We are too ignorant to ever think we are out of a game,” he said. “Coach Keeling said it all the time: ‘Go play hard no matter what the circumstances are.’ We’ve tried to play hard and know that we are never out of games.”
The Longhorns came up short at Bulldog Stadium in their Region II-3A Division II bi-district matchup with Holliday, falling 50-36, but the Longhorns battled the entire night and that left Wilson emotional as Early saw its fifth playoff appearance in the past six years end after just one game.
It was a playoff appearance hardly anyone expected when the season began just over three months ago.
SIX-MAN LOOKAHEAD: Playoffs open with strong slate of area matchups
We’ve reached Week 12 and with it comes the start of the high school football playoffs. While a handful of area teams kicked off their postseason runs on Thursday, most of the Big Country’s most competitive matchups are still to come.
As we did in the regular season, we’ll continue to preview each week’s top matchups through the playoffs here in our “Big Country Lookahead” column.
We’ve got plenty to talk about, so let’s go ahead and dive in. And be sure to check out our Six-Man/Class 1A Central page for results as these games go final.
Continue reading “SIX-MAN LOOKAHEAD: Playoffs open with strong slate of area matchups”
GAME STORY: Henry sets career touchdowns record as Eagles cruise past El Paso Bel Air in bi-district romp
The Abilene High football team kicked off its playoff run in dominant fashion Thursday, scoring early and often in an 84-25 bi-district win over El Paso Bel Air at Shotwell Stadium.
Do-it-all senior Brayden Henry led the way, accounting for six total touchdowns — three rushing, one punt return, one passing and one receiving — to pass Abram Smith for the school record in career touchdowns responsible for. But it was complete team effort for the Eagles, as eight players had a hand in at least one touchdown, and virtually everyone on the roster got a chance to play and contribute.
With the victory, AHS’ seventh in a row, coach Mike Fullen’s squad earned a Region I-5A Division I area-round matchup next week with fourth-ranked Denton Ryan, which routed Fort Worth Chisholm Trail 59-7 in its first-round game on Thursday.
GAME STORY: Stofel’s big night carries Hawley to bi-district win over Forsan
SWEETWATER — Hawley junior running back Brycen Stofel has had a quiet 2025 season for the most part, but when the Hawley football team needed him to step up, he did so in a big way.
Stofel ran for 181 yards and three touchdowns on just 15 carries Thursday as Hawley claimed a 42-14 win over Forsan in a Region I-2A Division I bi-district matchup at the Mustang Bowl.
It was an effort Hawley coach Mitch Ables said he told Stofel that he hoped to see more of.
Big Country Preps Boys Basketball Position Rankings: Posts
After highlighting the Big Country’s top guards and forwards the past two nights, we now take a look at the area’s best big men.
For the final installment in our three-part boys basketball position rankings series, we rank the Big Country’s top 10 post players for the 2025-26 season with several others to watch.
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading through our rankings, and make sure to check back for all our boys and girls basketball coverage this season.
Big Country Preps’ Pick ‘Em Panel (Week 12)
Each week here at Big Country Preps, we’ll post our picks for all of that week’s 11-man games, in addition to the results of our weekly fan polls for each matchup.
For those interested in voting, polls go up on Sunday night each week and close Thursday evening.
Disagree with our picks or the fan poll consensus? Let us know in the comments section below.
Big Country Preps Boys Basketball Position Rankings: Forwards
After kicking off our boys basketball position rankings series on Tuesday with the guards, we now shift our attention to the forwards.
For the second installment in our three-part series, we rank the area’s top-10 players at that position for 2025-26 with a list of others to watch.
We hope you enjoy our list.