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.

THIS WEEK’S TOP MATCHUPS

Water Valley (11-0) vs. Newcastle (8-2) — This matchup pits the District 6-1A Division I champion Bobcats against the District 8 champion Wildcats. Water Valley, led by a Landon Lacy and Boston Wiese, has not only yet to lose a game this year, they’ve only played four full quarters once — in a 67-30 district win over Robert Lee. Newcastle, meanwhile, has won five straight contests since dropping back-to-back games to Division I power May and defending DII champion Jayton around an open date in Weeks 4 and 6. WVHS is the favorite here, but these are two excellent teams playing well.
Gordon (10-0) vs. Menard (10-0) — This battle of unbeatens looks like a doozy on paper, but the top-ranked Longhorns have made a habit of turning main event matchups into squash matches over the past few years, and that’s what is likely to happen here. Make no mistake, Menard is a very good team. The Yellow Jackets showed that in regular-season wins over quality outfits from Blanket (57-25), Bronte (51-0), Medina (62-40), and they’re coming off a 62-0 pasting of 7-4 Knippa in their playoff opener. But this Ry Reed and Stryker Reed-led Gordon team is on another level, and it will be motivated to show that against a fellow state-ranked opponent.
May (10-1) vs. Medina (9-2) — The District 14-1A DI champion Tigers will take on the District 15 runner-up Bobcats with a likely meeting against Gordon next week on the line. May, led by running back Lane Goodson, comes in riding a nine-game win streak, while Medina’s only loss in its last five games came at the hands of unbeaten Menard. The Bobcats whipped Runge for the second time this season to earn its place in the second round and will be looking to score a major upset this week. But the Tigers aren’t likely to give them that satisfaction after outscoring their opponents 542-111 since falling to DII power Richland Springs in Week 2.
Benjamin (9-0) vs. Balmorhea (10-1) — Moving to the Division II ranks, the unbeaten Mustangs will look to win their 10th straight game against a Balmorhea squad that has lost only to still-undefeated Lamesa Klondike this season. Aside from that blemish in a late-season nondistrict game, the Bears have been nothing short of dominant, outscoring their other 10 opponents by a combined margin of 570-78. But in Benjamin, which is paced by junior Keegan Hayes, Balmorhea will be facing a team that has already proven its strength with blowout wins over quality teams from Borden County (58-26), Cherokee (68-6) and Aspermont (53-8). And the Mustangs will be looking to earn a shot at Jayton in the Region II-1A DII championship game next week.
Three Way (10-1) vs. Fannindel (11-0) — The Braves have already made history with last week’s playoff win over Oakwood, their first-ever postseason victory. But if you think Three Way is content to accept that and call it a season, you would be mistaken. Coach James Rigdon III’s squad will have every intention of extending this playoff run, but to do so it will have knock off a Falcons squad that has yet to lose a game this season. Fannindel, the District 10-1A DII champion, has run roughshod through its schedule, outscoring its 11 opponents by a combined score of 674-121. But Three Way will be the best team the Falcons have played this season by a fair margin, so don’t be surprised by any outcome here.
Zephyr (10-1) vs. Richland Springs (10-1) — What do these two teams have in common other than a 10-1 record? Neither has lost a game this season to a team outside of Palo Pinto County. Zephyr, the District 13-1A DII champion, is unbeaten outside of a Week 5 loss to Strawn (86-38), and Richland Springs, the District 15 champ, has won 10 straight since dropping its season opener 52-6 to Gordon. These two teams have proven over the course of this season they’re very good, and this should be a fun matchup. The Coyotes are a clear favorite here, but RSHS hasn’t really been tested since its Week 2 win over May. If Zephyr can keep this a game into the second half, it could get interesting.