Kerens at Malakoff

7:30 p.m. Friday

At Tiger Field

RECORDS: Class 2A Kerens is 6-2, 4-1 in District 14-2A. Class 2A Malakoff is 7-2, 4-1.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Kerens: QB Patrick Faulk, WR Tyler Green, OL DJ Woods, WR Ryan Leerskov. Malakoff: QB Bernard Hall, RB Jackson Blacketer, RB Cornelius Richardson, Isaiah Thomas.

UPDATE: Malakoff must win in order to make the playoffs … Kerens is in the playoffs no matter the outcome of the game after looking impressive last Friday in its 46-0 victory over Rice … senior Tyler Green had an interception and a receiving TD for the Bobcats … RB Micheal Jordan continues to have a stellar season … sophomore offensive guard and defensive lineman DJ Woods has proven his worth playing both ways … the Bobcats have outscored opponents in district play, 134-38 … but the Tigers have shown equally impressive scoring power posting a 186-79 point margin against common district opponents … the statistics reveal that Malakoff has a more explosive offense compared to the Bobcats stingy defense … the Tigers have trouble stopping an efficient passing game … and their strength is against the run … Jackson Blacketer is the catalyst at running back for Malakoff.

— Michael J Crawford



Blooming Grove at Scurry-Rosser

7:30 p.m. Friday

At Wildcat Stadium

RECORDS: Class 2A Blooming Grove is 1-7, 1-4 in District 14-2A. Scurry-Rosser is 3-6, 1-4.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Blooming Grove: RB/DB Trey Davis, WR/DB Landon McGraw, LB Dalton Leopard, QB/DB Devante Starling. Scurry-Rosser: RB Blaise Brown, RB Carlos Cruz, WR/P Ryan Tibbert, RB/LB Colton Tuberville.

UPDATE: Last week, Blooming Grove lost to Malakoff, 35-22. Malakoff staked a 21-0 lead in the second quarter before the Lions made a comeback. Before halftime, Starling connected on 4 of 5 passes for 49 yards and scored on a 1-yard run …in the third quarter, the Lions rally continued as Davis ripped off a 45-yard touchdown run. With 2-point conversions, Blooming Grove closed the gap to 21-16 … the Lions passing game features Jordan Tennell (11-103) and Matt Bayer (8-102) …Last week, Scurry-Rosser lost at Edgewood 14-0 … Blaise leads Scurry-Rosser’s rushing attack with 6.6 yards-per-carry totaling 385 yards and 3 TDs. Tibbert has 20 catches for 202 yards this year …Defensively, the Wildcats rely on Tuberville. He recorded 15 tackles last week and has 108 this season. Meanwhile, DB Rydge Patton has 3 interceptions.

— Dan Lansford



Hubbard at Wortham

7:30 p.m. Friday

At Bulldog Field

RECORDS: Class 1A Hubbard is 2-7, 2-3 in District 21-1A. Class 1A Wortham 5–4, 3-2.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Hubbard: OL/DL Shawn McKinney, QB/DB Lance McClain, RB Isaiah Thompson, RB Jordan Reinke. Wortham: RB/DB Jake Jones, QB/DB Brandon Lansford, RB/CB Manton Capers, DE Blake Ridge.

UPDATE: With playoff hopes on the line for both teams, this week’s matchup between Hubbard and Wortham will be full of intensity. Winning simply isn’t enough for both teams, they are looking for help from the Italy at Itasca game … For Wortham to move into the playoffs, the Bulldogs must win and Italy can either win or not lose by more than six points … The Jags need Italy to beat Itasca and must win against Wortham by at least 14 points to advance to the playoffs…Look for an explosive running game from the Bulldogs and Jags, as there will be a battle for the Golden Circle rushing title. Currently Wortham’s Jake Jones is No. 1 with 1,390 rushing yards, while Hubbard’s Lance McClain is only trailing by 22 with 1368 yards ... Hubbard won the last four matchups against Wortham.

— Lindsey Coffman



Axtell at Dawson

7:30 p.m. Friday

At Ed Mitchell Field

RECORDS: Class 1A Axtell is 3-6, 1-4 in District 21-1A. Class 1A Dawson is 7-1, 5-0.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Axtell: DB Brandon Bordovsky, DB/WR Robert Bordovsky, WR/LB Jay Helleck, RB/LB J. Pat Martin. Dawson: RB/DB Nick Warren, RB/LB Justin Oliver, OL/DL Oscar Padron, WR/DB Dustin Sanders.

UPDATE: Dawson clinched the District 21-1A title with last Friday's come-from-behind “Mud Bowl” victory over Italy ... the Bulldogs' last district title came in 1999 ... RB Oliver led all Bulldog rushers with 88 yards on 12 carries ... Oliver also led Dawson in receiving, hauling in 2 passes for 82 yards, including a 31-yard TD from QB Trey Tennison ... Tennision breached the 100-yard passing mark for just the second time this season in the win ... the 128-passing yard performance was his best in 2009 ... the Longhorns fell to Wortham in last week's action, their third district loss in a row ... in 2008 Dawson won a low-scoring slug-fest over Axtell, a7-0 win ... the Longhorns turned the ball over three times in the loss ... the Bulldogs have outscored opponents 289-171 this year ... Axtell has been outscored 158-233.

— James Ratliff