Who Can Knock Wall Out of the Playoffs?

WALL, TX-- Wall has been the most dominant team in Class 3A Division 1 all year. In my honest opinion, nobody will be able to knock Wall out before they reach Arlington.

But that doesn't mean there aren't teams with the capability of completing the upset, especially in their region.

Getting through Region 1 will be tough with contenders like Brock, Shallowater, and even historic Jim Ned. However, thanks to a 35-yard field goal by Breckenridge to lift the Buckaroos past Brock, that means Brock will more than likely play Shallowater in the Area round. Consequently, Wall would only have to play one of those two rather than having to play both, as it seemed early on in the year.

The obvious contender to beat the Hawks would have to be Brock. The Eagles and Hawks have played each other the past three years in the playoffs, with the winner usually going to the State Semifinals. Brock lone loss before week 11 came to a tough Midland Christian team. The Eagles are averaging 45.7 points per game while allowing 14 points per game. Brock's explosive offense could spell trouble for Wall, if the two were to meet this year. 

Brock's path is on a collision course with a stout Shallowater team though. Shallowater is 9-1 with their only loss coming to Lubbock Estacado. That loss has been widely attributed to an injury to their star receiver. The Mustangs are putting up 44.6 points per game and allowing 17. Want to pick the winner of Shallowater and Brock? Flip a coin.

Other than Shallowater and Brock, there shouldn't be many problems for Wall in the first few rounds.

Assuming the Hawks make it to the State Semifinals again this year, they would likely square off with an undefeated Mount Vernon team from Region 2. Mt. Vernon walloped Mineola, the team who beat Wall in 2016, 60-21 earlier this season. Mt. Vernon has a tough defense, allowing just 13 points per game. Could they be the team to knock off Wall? Possibly, but I'm sticking to my original prediction of Wall making it back to state.

If Wall makes it back to State, they won't face Cameron Yoe like I thought at the beginning of the season. The Hawks are going to get either Halletsville or Yoakum from Region 4. Both teams are 9-1 right now.

Yoakum narrowly edged out Halletsville 13-12 in the early part of the season. Yoakum's only loss came to a good Cuero team in week 2. Since then, the 2016 State Runner-up has rattled off eight straight wins. The Bulldogs also boast a strong defense that's giving up 15.9 points per game this season while their offense is putting up 39.7.

However, Halletsville is who I think ought to make it to Arlington from the right side of the bracket. Halletsville is allowing 12.4 points per game while putting up 40.1 points per game. Halletsville boasts two strong wins against 3A-D2 Runner-up Boling and 2A-D1 power Shiner this season.