By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
There is no shortage of big matchups and important games this week as the playoffs continue for small schools and district zones begin to short themselves out for large schools.
Raymondville and Lyford impressed in their first-round playoff games, holding on for wins in thrilling games to advance to the area round in Class 4A Division II and 3A Division I, respectively.
The Raymondville Bearkats (3-0) will play District 14-4A Division II champion Geronimo Navarro (9-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Buccaneer Stadium in Corpus Christi. Bearkats coach Frank Cantu was named the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 4A coach of the week after his team overcame a 21-0 deficit to defeat Devine 48-47.
The Lyford Bulldogs (6-1) will battle undefeated District 13-4A Division I champion Llano (10-0) at 7 p.m. Friday at Beeville’s Veterans Memorial Stadium. Lyford beat Palacios 34-31 in a back-and-forth contest despite being shorthanded during the bi-district round.
Brownsville St. Joseph (3-4) opens its TAPPS playoff run at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Houston Lutheran South (3-4). The Bloodhounds finished fifth in TAPPS Division II District 3 and have had an up-and-down season, but they’re going into the playoffs with some steam after a 52-27 victory last week.
The Dec. 5 district certification deadline for Class 5A and 6A programs is just more than two weeks away, and the race for the top spots in district zones is heating up as the end of the regular season nears.
Brownsville Porter (3-1, 2-1) and Brownsville Pace (1-1, 1-1) will square off at 7 p.m. Friday at Sams Memorial Stadium in a highly important District 16-5A Division I zone game. A win would put either team securely in contention for the East Zone’s top spot, but a second loss would likely end a team’s chances at the district title game.
The Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers (2-2, 1-1) will face Weslaco East (2-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bobby Lackey Stadium in Weslaco. Both teams are coming in with some momentum after earning comfortable wins last week, and another win would go a long way to stay in the hunt for the No. 1 seed.
Brownsville Hanna has a chance to clinch the District 32-6A East Zone title today as it returns to action after consecutive bye weeks. The Golden Eagles (2-0, 2-0) battle the Brownsville Rivera Raiders (0-2, 0-2) at 7 p.m. at Sams Memorial Stadium, and a win would punch Hanna’s ticket to the district championship game.
Harlingen High (4-0, 3-0) and San Benito (2-1, 2-1) will cross District 32-6A zone lines for the Rio Grande Valley classic Battle of the Arroyo at 7 p.m. Friday at Boggus Stadium.