Top 5 Playoff Football Games to Watch in West Texas This Week

SAN ANGELO, TX — Here are our top five high school football games to watch in West Texas in the opening round of the playoffs this week:

Reagan County (9-1) vs. Cisco (6-4)

7 p.m. Thursday, Big Spring

The Reagan County Owls won the District 3-2A Division I title, earning them a matchup with Cisco, the fourth-place team from District 4-2A. Reagan County is the favorite in this game, but Cisco could certainly be a sneaky No. 4 seed. The Loboes are a traditional power that went to the state quarterfinals three straight times from 2020 to 2022. They went 5-7 last year and won a playoff game, and they finished fourth in district this season behind No. 1 Stamford, No. 7 Hawley and Anson. Cisco is led by quarterback Julius Proffitt, who has thrown for 1,129 yards and 17 TDs, and rushed for 468 yards and nine TDs. Laike Kennedy is a big-play receiver with 24 catches for 592 yards and 11 TDs.

Reagan County has lost only once this year, and that was in overtime to Iraan. The Owls had a perfect run through their district after winning only one district game last year. They have a strong rushing attack with quarterback Jarrett Brown (777 yards, 11 TDs) and running back Chris Johnson (700 yards, 11 TDs). Brown has also thrown for 1,666 yards and 19 TDs, with Nick Franklin (40 catches, 804 yards, 8 TDs) as his top target. Of course, the Owls also have 6-foot-5 Kason Brown, who moved from QB to WR and has garnered several NCAA Division I offers. Reagan County’s defense has allowed 13.8 points per game, giving the Owls the look of a complete team capable of making a playoff run.

The pick: Reagan County 31, Cisco 21

Miles (8-2) vs. Lindsay (7-3)

7 p.m. Thursday Brock

Miles avoided a first-round playoff matchup with No. 4-ranked Collinsville thanks to last week’s 29-13 win over Roscoe. The Bulldogs will still have their hands full against a seven-win Lindsay team. The Knights are the No. 3 seed from District 8-2A Division II behind No. 1 Muenster and Collinsville, so they’ve been battle-tested. Miles can say the same after finishing as the runner-up behind No. 2 Albany. 

Miles posted three straight shutouts before allowing 13 points against Roscoe last week. The Bulldogs also have a dangerous offense, led by sophomore quarterback Liam Yancy (2,182 passing yards, 31 TDs), running back Tevin Meade (936 rushing yards, 13 TDs) and wide receiver Cooper Ellison (61 catches, 1,261 yards, 19 TDs). 

The pick: Miles 27, Lindsay 20

Brady (8-2) vs. Jacksboro (7-3)

7 p.m. Friday, Clyde

Brady has been one of the Concho Valley’s best teams this fall, improving from 3-8 last year to 8-2 this season. The Bulldogs claimed the No. 2 seed from District 5-3A Division II, but that didn’t earn them an easy first-round playoff draw. Jacksboro is a strong No. 3 seed coming out of a district with No. 8 Holliday and Wichita Falls City View, which was in the Top 10 earlier this year. Jacksboro took City View to overtime and lost 36-14 to Holliday. Jacksboro has a 2,500-yard passer in Wyatt Gavin, a 1,000-yard rusher in Luke Sams, and a 1,000-yard receiver in Cannon Valenzuela.

Brady has one of the more formidable 1-2 punches in the backfield you’ll find with Ashton Taylor (1,091 rushing yards) and Johnny Menefield (971 yards), but Menefield sat out last week’s game. He is also the team’s leading tackler on defense, so Menefield’s availability for this game could be a huge difference maker. Alijah Stark was able to step up in his absence and produce a 106-yard rushing performance last week.

The pick: Jacksboro 35, Brady 28

Water Valley (8-2) vs. Ira (7-3)

6:30 p.m. Friday, Blackwell

Water Valley has had a successful season in its return to the six-man game, capped by winning the District 8-1A Division I title. Now the Wildcats will see what they can do in the playoffs. They have the potential to make a deep playoff run, but they’ll first have to get past a solid Ira team. The Bulldogs are the runner-up out of District 7-1A, and their only losses are to Spur, Loraine and Westbrook. Ira also shares one common opponent with Water Valley, and that’s Robert Lee. Water Valley beat Robert Lee by 12 points, while Ira won by six points.

Water Valley has won six in a row since a 2-2 start. The Wildcats have shown what they’re capable of, particularly in a 54-52 loss to Buena Vista, which is ranked No. 5 in the state. Led by quarterback Landon Lacy, running back Anthony Quintana and linebacker Boston Wiese, Water Valley should be a fun team to watch this postseason.

The pick: Water Valley 58, Ira 50

Grape Creek (4-6) vs. Crane (5-5)

7 p.m. Thursday, Big Lake

Grape Creek is headed to the playoff for the fourth time in its program’s 27-year history. The Eagles are still looking for their first postseason trophy. Grape Creek finished in a three-way tie for second place in District 4-3A Division II, but the Eagles lost the tiebreaker to end up as the No. 4 seed. Even so, they couldn’t ask for a much better first-round draw. Crane, the No. 1 seed out of 3-3A, only has a 5-5 record and finished in a three-way tie for the district title with Alpine and Odessa Compass. No team in the district has a winning record. 

Though Grape Creek is just 4-6, the Eagles have played tough in losses to playoff-bound teams like San Saba, Reagan County and Tahoka. Grape Creek also owns solid wins over Coahoma and Bangs (erasing a 27-point deficit in that one). If the Eagles’ ground game, led by running back Sire Garcia, can find some success, this appears to be a winnable game for the Eagles. And it would be a historic win for the program.

The pick: Grape Creek 24, Crane 21

Of note: We also have a playoff game at San Angelo Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday between Brownwood (5-4) and Big Spring (5-5).

MORE: West Texas High School Football Playoff Schedule