Week 7 Previews and Predictions: How Will Miles Fare Against Menard?

SAN ANGELO, TX-- The high school football season rolls on to week 7 with most of the area teams starting district play.

Starting on the right foot in district is crucial for teams looking for a playoff berth.

Here are the previews and predictions for week 7:

Menard Yellowjackets (3-2) @ Miles Bulldogs (3-2); Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m.

This is arguably the biggest matchup in the Concho Valley this week.

Menard leads the rivalry with a 21-9 record all-time. Miles beat Menard in 2016, while Menard won both meetings in 2017.

Miles is resurgent under first-year head coach Charles Boles. Menard is as good as they were last year, if not better.

Both teams are very evenly matched, especially on the offensive line.

Both defenses are allowing roughly 19 points per game.

Miles holds the advantage in points scored with 37.2 points per game while Menard is scoring 27 points per game.

This game could hinge on each team's star running backs. Last year, the duo combined for 2,950 yards rushing.

Miles' Mason Bryan is averaging well north of 100 yards rushing per game this year. The same could be said of Menard's Christian Salazar.

Road games have been a struggle for the Yellowjackets. In their only two away games this season, Menard lost to Cross Plains and Iraan.

On the other side, Miles has only played two home games this season and is 1-1 in those games.

However, Boles is familiar with Menard. Last year, Boles led his Lindsay Knights past Menard in the third round of the playoffs.

Miles 30, Menard 28

Central Bobcats (4-2, 1-1) @ Abilene Eagles (5-1, 2-0); Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m.

The Bobcats need a win in this game.

Euless Trinity looks poised to sprint through District 3-6A. However, the other three playoff spots are up for grabs in a wide open district.

After Trinity, the next four teams are separated by 1.5 games in the standings. If Central were to lose, they'd be just a half-game clear of fifth place.

Abilene is really good in Del Van Cox's fourth year, as their record shows. Their only loss came to the hands of Amarillo Tascosa in week 1.

In that Tascosa game, Abilene lost their starting quarterback. Senior Kallin Sipe has stepped up since then and has led the Eagles to five-straight wins and a 2-0 start to district.

Sipe, who has thrown for 933 yards in six games, is also the leading rusher for Abilene with 262 yards on 60 carries.

Central will look to get back on track in their run defense after allowing Euless Trinity to rush for 385 yards. Prior to that game, Central allowed an average of 72.8 yards rushing. That average has now soared to 136.5 yards per game after that loss.

Sophomore QB Malachi Brown and the Central offense will have to limit turnovers this week. So far this season, Central has turned the ball over 13 times with seven interceptions and six fumbles. Three interceptions were thrown last week.

But Brown has shown constant progression this season, even in that loss to Trinity.

The sophomore has completed 55 of 113 attempts passing for 648 yards and seven touchdowns. He also leads the team in rushing with 477 yards and six touchdowns on 61 carries.

Abilene will give Central a stiff test on defense. The Eagles are allowing 16.3 points per game. In comparison, Central is allowing 26.3 points per game, mostly because of the 70 points Trinity put up last week.

If Brown can get the offense rolling again, Central should beat Abilene.

Central 28, Abilene 20

Wall Hawks (2-2) @ Clyde Bulldogs (2-3); Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m.

The Hawks have definitely hit their stride at the right time. District 3-3A Division I is wide open and the games tonight should reflect that.

Wall's offense is finally clicking how head coach Houston Guy wants it to.

The Hawks have posted 40 points in each of their last game and they're averaging 305 yards rushing per game while averaging 110 yards passing.

In their first two games, Wall was averaging 253.5 yards rushing per game and 161.5 yards passing.

The Hawks are also scoring an average of 33.7 points per game will allowing an average of 23.5 points.

Over their last two games, with the offense operating well and the defense rested, Wall has held opponents to just 16 points per game and 218.5 yards per game.

However, don't expect an easy test from Clyde. After all, they held Stamford to just 13 points the week after posting 90 points. Overall, opponents are scoring an average of 21 points against Clyde.

If Wall's offense keeps operating like they have been, though, it will be too much for Clyde.

Wall 38, Clyde 14

Other games in the area:

Grape Creek @ TLCA

Grape Creek 34, TLCA 31

Blanco @ Sonora

Sonora 35, Blanco 21

Hawley @ Winters

Winters 35, Hawley 34

Rocksprings @ Christoval

Christoval 32, Rocksprings 28

Eldorado @ Irion County

Eldorado 40, Irion County 14

Sabinal @ Junction

Junction 21, Sabinal 0

Robert Lee @ Veribest

Robert Lee 52, Veribest 20