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.

LAST WEEK’S TOP RESULTS

• Robert Lee 60, Ira 14 — Brenner Sherwood passed for 148 yards and three touchdowns, ran for 130 yards and a score and added a defensive TD for good measure to lead the Steers to a blowout win over the Bulldogs. Robert Lee (10-1) also got productive games from Wyatt Bosworth (4-90, 2 TDs receiving; 2 forced fumbles on defense) and Josh Garcez (4-67, 1 TD receiving, 2 TDs rushing) in defeating Ira for the second time this season — by identical scores coincidentally. The Steers advance to take on Turkey Valley in the area round, while Ira closed its season at 8-3.
• Water Valley 62, Hermleigh 14 — Landon Lacy, Boston Wiese and Branson Lacy were too much for the Cardinals as the Wildcats rolled past Hermleigh for the second time this season and into the area round to play Newcastle (8-2). Behind that trio, Water Valley (11-0) raced out to a 28-0 second-quarter lead before HHS finally got on the board with a long touchdown run by Hayden Simpson, who ran for 95 yards to lead the Cardinals (7-4). The Wildcats responded with three unanswered touchdowns to stretch their lead to 49-7 and cruised from there to the win.
• Benjamin 53, Aspermont 8 — Keegan Hayes ran for 131 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 63 yards and another score to fuel the Mustangs to a blowout win over the Hornets. Heston Harney added 78 yards and a TD run as well for Benjamin, which stayed unbeaten with the win at 9-0. The Mustangs will now move on to play Balmorhea (10-1) in the area round, while Aspermont saw its season come to a close at 9-2.
• Three Way 40, Oakwood 28 — In one of just three area six-man playoff games to go the distance in the bi-district round, the Braves outlasted the defending Class 2A DII runner-up Panthers for a thrilling win. It was the first playoff victory in program history for Three Way (10-1), which earned a second-round matchup against Fannindel (11-0). 
• Oglesby 54, Blanket 12 — Kannon Kensing ran for 203 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough for BHS, who saw its season end with a loss to Oglesby. The OHS Tigers ran for 351 yards in the victory, getting 229 yards and four scores from Holdyn Goff and 122 yards and one TD from Callan Webb. Goff also passed for 116 yards and two touchdowns, both to Jaxon Markum. Blanket, which also got 41 yards rushing and 31 yards passing from Mason Beck, closed its campaign at 8-3.
• Rockwall Heritage Christian 68, Abilene Christian 22 — Leading just 16-14 after one quarter, the Eagles outscored the Panthers 46-8 in the second to take a commanding halftime lead on their way to a 45-point-rule win over ACS. Carson Taylor led the way for Rockwall Heritage, passing for three touchdowns and rushing for two, while Reid Williamson had a pair of TD passes and Hudson Mullen caught two scoring passes and threw another. ACS closed its season at 7-4.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

• Brenner Sherwood, SB, Sr., Robert Lee — Completed 10 of 15 passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 139 yards and a TD, while adding two interceptions (one returned for a score) and a fumble recovery on defense vs. Hermleigh.
• Alex Saucedo, RB, Jr, Bluff Dale — Ran for 278 yards and five touchdowns, had a 51-yard TD catch and collected 16 tackles and three pass breakups in the Wildcats’ 70-30 win over Mount Calm.
• Keegan Hayes, QB, Jr., Benjamin — Ran for 131 yards and four touchdowns, threw for 63 yards and a TD on 4-of-6 passing and tallied eight tackles vs. Aspermont.
• Stryker Reed, RB, Sr., Gordon — Ran for 71 yards and a touchdown, had a 49-yard TD catch and completed a 50-yard scoring throw in the Longhorns’ 52-6 win over Jonesboro.
• Kannon Kensing, RB, Jr., Blanket — Ran for 203 yards and two touchdowns, had nine yards receiving and collected 10 tackles vs. Oglesby.
• Chayden Woodcock, RB, Jr., Zephyr — Ran for 97 yards and four touchdowns and had nine tackles in the Bulldogs’ 53-8 win over Evant.
• Lane Goodson, RB, Sr., May — Ran for 100 yards and a touchdown and passed for 13 yards and a score in the Tigers’ 70-22 win over Gorman.
• Lorenzo Vargas, RB, Jr., Jayton — Ran for 84 yards and three touchdowns in the Jaybirds’ 54-6 win over Guthrie.
• Noah Kostiha, QB, Sr., Gordon — Hit four of five passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns vs. Jonesboro.
• Austin Saucedo, RB, Sr., Bluff Dale — Threw for 110 yards and three touchdowns, ran for 45 yards and had 16 tackles and three pass breakups vs. Mount Calm. 

PLAYOFF PAIRINGS/RESULTS

REGION II-1A DIV. I (Full bracket)

BI-DISTRICT

Robert Lee 60, Ira 14

Water Valley 62, Hermleigh 14

Newcastle 73, Petersburg 0

AREA

Robert Lee (10-1) vs. Valley (5-6): 6:30 p.m. Friday, Borden County’s Coyote Stadium

Water Valley (11-0) vs. Newcastle (8-2): 6 p.m. Friday, Baird’s Bears Den

REGION IV-1A DIV. I (Full bracket)

BI-DISTRICT

Gordon 52, Jonesboro 6

May 70, Gorman 22

AREA

Gordon (10-0) vs. Menard (10-0): 7 p.m. Friday, Trent’s Gorilla Stadium

May (10-1) vs. Medina (9-2): 7 p.m. Friday, Marble Falls’ Britton Football Field

REGION II-1A DIV. II (Full bracket)

BI-DISTRICT

Balmorhea 56, Blackwell 8

Benjamin 53, Aspermont 8

Jayton 54, Guthrie 6

Grandfalls-Royalty 79, Bronte 34

AREA

Benjamin (9-0) vs. Balmorhea (10-1): 8 p.m. Friday, Garden City’s Bearkat Stadium

Jayton (11-0) vs. Grandfalls-Royalty (9-2): 6:30 p.m. Friday, Garden City’s Bearkat Stadium

REGION III-1A DIV. II (Full bracket)

BI-DISTRICT

Strawn 78, Bowie Gold-burg 12

Bluff Dale 70, Mount Calm 30

Fannindel 54, Woodson 6

Three Way 40, Oakwood 28

AREA

Strawn (10-1) vs. Bluff Dale (10-1): 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dublin’s Bob and Norma Cervetto Stadium

Three Way (10-1) vs. Fannindel (11-0): 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bowie’s Jackrabbit Stadium

REGION IV-1A DIV. II (Full bracket)

BI-DISTRICT

Zephyr 53, Evant 8

Richland Springs 62, Calvert 0

Cherokee 70, Rochelle 24

Oglesby 54, Blanket 12

AREA

Zephyr (10-1) vs. Richland Springs (10-1): 6:30 p.m. Friday, San Saba’s Rogan Field

TAPPS SIX-MAN DIV. II

BI-DISTRICT

Rockwall Heritage 68, Abilene Christian 22