SAN ANGELO, TX — There are West Texas teams all over the 2A DI bracket. Mason's run to repeat starts Thursday night in Marble Falls while #3 San Saba and #5 Hawley look to knock them off the throne. Here is a rundown of the local teams trying to make noise, and their chances against round one opponents. The action starts Thursday and will carry over to Friday night.
From Region IV:
#9 Mason 8-2 vs. Thrall 6-4 (Thursday at 7:00, Marble Falls’ Mustang Stadium)
Mason has had a fantastic season to follow last year’s 2A DI State Championship. Their only two losses are to two of the best 3A teams in the state, Wall and Jim Ned, at the beginning of the season. Five weeks ago, Mason beat Brackett 23-22 on a last second hail mary. That close call must have struck a chord over their past four games, and Mike McLeod and his staff have figured something out. Since that game, Mason has outscored its opponents 214-6; only Junction was able to get on the scoreboard.
Thrall should be a light test for them. The Tigers finished 3-3 in the 13-2A DI district and barely snagged the final playoff spot. Their three district wins came against the three worst teams, Marlin, Milano, and Rosebud-Lott. They are a combined 3-27. Thrall has not proven they can beat a top level team, and Mason is most certainly that. Their three other wins were against teams with a combined 7-23 record. The winner will advance to play either Wiemar or Santa Maria.
Junction 4-6 at #7 Holland 10-0 (Thursday at 7:00, Johnson City's Eagle Field)
Junction made the playoffs after finishing their 14-2A DI schedule 2-3. They placed fourth in the six-team district by beating the two teams below them in the standings and losing to the three above.
As a reward, they have the opportunity to play undefeated and #7 ranked Holland in the first round. The Hornets have blown out their opponents and finished the season with a total point differential of 477-83. They have scored 59 points or more five times, and held their opponents to a touchdown or less on six occasions.
On the other side, the Eagles have allowed five teams to score at least 58 points, and have been held to 6 points or less four times, themselves. Holland will be too talented and disciplined behind Head Coach Brad Talbert to be upset in this game. Whoever wins will play the winner of the Three Rivers/Kenedy game on Friday.
Brackett (7-3) and Center Point (6-4) are also in Region IV. Brackett plays 6-4 Hearne Friday at 7:30 in San Antonio's Wheatley Heights Sports Complex. Center Point will take on 8-2 Thorndale at Llano Stadium Thursday at 7:00. Hearne and Thorndale finished in second and third place, respectively, in the 13-2A DI District behind Holland.
From Region I:
Winters 5-5 at Lindsay 8-2 (Thursday at 7:00, Archer City's Wildcat Stadium)
Winters, who started the season 4-2 and gave Eldorado their only loss of the year, finished the year 5-5 and 1-3 in the district. The Blizzards lost to each team that finished above them, 10-0 Hawley, 7-3 Ozona, and 6-4 Stamford.
Lindsay comes into the first round game with a 4-2A DI District Championship and a six game win streak. Their only losses on the season were to 8-2 Muenster in week two and 5-5 Whitewright in week four. They were outscored by a combined five points in those games. In the six contests since the Whitewright game, the Knights have scored 240 points to their opponents' 14.
Ozona 7-3 vs. Alvord 5-5 (Friday at 7:30, Abilene's Bulldog Stadium)
Both teams have a good chance to win this game. Ozona was 3-0 in the 3-2A DI District before last week's de facto championship game against Hawley. Hawley put 62 points and 538 yards on the Lions and gave them their third loss of the season. Alvord heads into Abilene on a two-game win streak having beat Chico 7-0 and Olney 62-22, the worst two teams in the district standings.
The winner will play either Post or Sanford-Fritch next week.
Another semi-local team in Region I is undefeated #5 Hawley. The Bearcats play 3-7 Chico Thursday at 7:00 in Ram Stadium in Mineral Wells. They would not see another area team until a potential matchup with Winters in the third round or Ozona in the regional round.
Undefeated #3 San Saba is a team to watch in Region II. The unbeaten Armadillos face the 4-6 Riesel Indians Thursday at 7:00 in McGregor's Bulldog Stadium.
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