Rice at Rio Vista

7:30 p.m. Friday

At Eagle Field



RECORDS: Class 2A Rice is 1-4, 0-2 in 6-2A DII. Rio Vista is 2-3, 1-1.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Rice: WR/DB Codie Pair, OL/LB Justin Smith, TE/LB Jaime Metcalfe, OL/DL Scott Robinson.  Rio Vista: QB/DB Nick Russell, OL/LB Ryan Jimison, WR/DB Garrett Woodlee, RB/DB Jacob Stanley.

UPDATE: Third meeting between the two schools, with Rio Vista winning both of the previous matchups, including 14-7 season opening win last year, scoring twice in the fourth quarter… Last week, Rice lost to district rival Blooming Grove 41-21… Ragan Henderson surpassed the 1000 yard mark rushing last week, but was held 70 yards below his season average of 220 yards per game… Dalton Pike got the Bulldog passing game going in the fourth quarter last week, completing four passes for 63 yards, including two to Eric Hughes and a scoring pass to Henderson… After missing the three previous games, Raven Huffman returned last week to lead the Bulldog defense with 10 stops… The Eagles opened district play two weeks ago with a win over Millsap, but fell last week at Mildred, 56-7… Nick Russell and Jacob Stanley led Rio Vista last week, combining for 79 yards of total offense against the stout Mildred defense… Rio Vista is undefeated at home this year and has already eclipsed last season’s win total.

— Jim Pitts

Mildred at Millsap

7:30 p.m. Friday

At Bulldog Stadium



RECORDS: Class 2A Mildred is 4-1, 2-0 in District 6-2A DII. Millsap is 0-5, 0-2.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Mildred: L Jasper Marshall, RB/LB Nathan Childress, L Hunter Freeman, L Joe Carrizales. Millsap: L Payton Vanderver, WR/DB Shawn Harper, RB Kristian Martinez, LB/L Tim Newberry.

UPDATE: Mildred is coming off a 56-7 win over a Rio Vista team that beat Millsap, 31-7, two weeks ago … Millsap lost to Tolar last week, 61-0 … the Eagles are beginning to look a lot like the team that went to the semifinals last year, outscoring its last two opponents, 117-7, and outgaining them 1,068-223 … Mildred is averaging 46.4 points and 461.2 yards per game … the Eagles have seven players with at least two TDs, led by Draylon Sterling with 8 … the two schools are 130 miles apart (according to Google Maps driving directions), about 30 miles more than previous district long haul Lone Oak … Millsap went 3-7 last year but returned only three starters on each side of the ball … the Bulldogs have been outscored 232-20.

— Raymond Linex II



Wortham at Meridian

7:30 p.m. Friday

At Yellow Jacket Stadium



RECORDS: Class 1A Wortham is 2-4, 0-0 in District 9-1A DII. Meridian is 1-5, 0-0.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Wortham: WR/DB Brandon Campbell, Micah McCord, Blake Hutson, RB/DB Kyle Goerner, Angus Worchester. Meridian: DB/RB Johnny Lira, DL/TE Jorge Flores, QB/DB Nick Prestwood, TE/LB Chad Crawford, RB/DB Jordan Wright.

UPDATE: Wortham tries to rebound from a 32-0 loss to Axtell to close out non-district play ... the Bulldogs managed two first downs and 13 yards of total offense ... Wortham will turn to RBs Tyvon Freeman and Kyle Goerner, who have rushed for 360 and 229 yards respectively ... QB Witty Busby has completed 34 percent of his passes for 283 yards and two TDs ... NT Cameron Lewis has 1 1/2 sacks ... Steven and Blake Hutson each have two fumble recoveries ... Goerner leads the Bulldogs with three interceptions ... Meridian played Valley Mills tough, falling 21-10 last week ... the Yellow Jackets picked up their only win against Itasca, 26-0, the same team that defeated Wortham 14-6 ... Meridian’s only TD came on a fumble return last week ... Crawford had 111 tackles as a sophomore last season.

— Todd Wills

Kerens at Cayuga

7:30 p.m. Friday

At Scarborough Stadium



RECORDS: Class 1A Kerens is 2-3, 0-0 in District 6-1A DI. Cayuga is 3-2, 0-0.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Kerens: QB Nate Betts, WR Brett Anderson, WR/DB Kevin Townsel, RB/LB Zak Starkey, Javoni Coronado. Cayuga: QB Chandler Rigdon, RB D’onte Jackson, LB Donald Holly III, OG Daniel Jock, K Stephen Slater.

UPDATE: Kerens lost to Hubbard 24-8 in a non-district showdown last Friday at Corsicana’s Tiger Stadium ... Betts threw three INTs in the game, but most of them came as he was trying to rally the Bobcats to a victory ... Betts is a dangerous runner with 518 yards this season, averaging 7.1 yards per carry ... the Bobcats should continue to improve in the passing game ... Anderson has 10 catches for 247 yards, second in the Golden Circle, and Kevin Townsel has 11 receptions for 137 yards ... Kerens has 12 takeaways on defense ... Cayuga had an open week so it had two weeks to prepare for the district opener ... Cayuga lost to Carlisle 20-13 on Sept. 28 ... Jackson led the Wildcats’ rushing attack with 104 yards on 13 carries ... Rigdon is a dual threat at QB ... the Wildcats outgained Carlisle 259 to 242 ... Wesley Rigdon has in interception for Cayuga.

— Todd Wills

Life Oak Cliff at Blooming Grove

7:30 p.m. Friday

At Lion Stadium



RECORDS: Class 2A Blooming Grove is 4-1, 1-1 in District 6-2A DII. Class 2A Life Oak Cliff is 0-5, 0-2.



PLAYERS TO WATCH: Blooming Grove:  QB/DB Jayd Kirby, RB/LB Travis Whiteside, RB/LB Dalton Thornton, OT/DT Anthony Black. Life Oak Cliff: QB Raymond Mack, WR/CB Travion lee, OL Montrell Williams.

UPDATE: It's a big week in District 6-2A DII as teams prepare for their third conference game of the season ... After losing its league opener to Mildred, Blooming Grove bounced back to top Rice 41-21 las week ... QB Kirby has rushed for 632 yards and passed for 535 halfway through the season ... four BG running backs have scored TDs this season ... Defensively, Whiteside, Thornton and Black all had solid outings against Rice ... Tyler Ellis, who is the backup QB and also plays running back and receiver, is a big weapon for the Lions -- the sophomore has booted three field goals this season ... Life Oak Cliff is looking for their first distict win afte losing to Tolar 61-12 and Scurry-Rosser 42-20.

— J.J. Guidry