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

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

Water Valley (12-0) vs. Robert Lee (11-1)

This is a state-quarterfinal matchup we’ve been anticipating all season between two district rivals who are each ranked in the Top 10 in the state. No 2-ranked Water Valley got the best of No. 6 Robert Lee in a 67-30 victory when they met Oct. 24 in Water Valley. The rematch should be much closer at 6:30 p.m. Friday at San Angelo Stadium. Water Valley jumped on the Steers 22-0 in the first meeting in a game that was delayed by heavy rain. The wet conditions may or may not have played a factor, but it was nonetheless an extremely impressive performance by the Wildcats. Last year, Water Valley had a 62-50 win over Robert Lee before reaching its first-ever state semifinals. The Wildcats returned most of that team, including quarterback Landon York and linebacker Boston Wiese, and they’re led by head coach Trey Sisco, who guided Sterling City to the state championship in 2020. That postseason experience could come into play as Robert Lee hadn’t won a playoff game since 2012 before this season. The Steers are in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 1984. Robert Lee has one of the most dynamic players in the state with spread back Brenner Sherwood, and he could single-handedly turn a game. The winner of this game will meet No. 5 Whiteface or Rankin.

The pick: Water Valley 66, Robert Lee 52

Junction (12-0) vs. Granger (12-0)

The Junction Eagles are 12-0 for the first time in program history, but they’ll have to get past another 12-0 team if they want to return to the state quarterfinals. No. 4 Junction and No. 6 Granger will clash at 7 p.m. Friday in Johnson City. Junction hasn’t had a game closer than 29 points since back in Week 4 when the Eagles topped Mason 27-16. While Junction’s offense is averaging 42.7 points per game, the Eagles’ defense is allowing only 7.6 points. Granger is averaging 44.6 points and giving up 14.8. The Lions have won every game by 21 points or more, with the exception of a 49-34 win over Johnson City and a 35-33 win over Burton. Granger has some solid playoff tradition and has eight straight seasons of eight or more wins. Junction was a two-win team just three years ago, but the Eagles have skyrocketed up into the state’s elite. They reached the state quarterfinals last year and returned most of last year’s team, including quarterback Chasen Doyal and head coach Scott Freeman. The winner will meet No. 1 Shiner or Iola next week.

The pick: Junction 28, Granger 21

Richland Springs (10-1) vs. Oglesby (11-1)

These two state powers will meet in the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six years when they collide at 3 p.m. Saturday in Dublin. Oglesby has ended Richland Springs’ season the last two years, each time by 14 points. This time, Richland Springs is ranked No. 2, while Oglesby is unranked. The Coyotes opened the season with a 52-6 loss to No. 1 Gordon, but they’ve steamrolled every team since then. Spread back Cohen Ethridge has 1,944 all-purpose yards and 37 TDs, and he has nine kick returns for scores. Billy Perry has 88 tackles, three interceptions and five fumble recoveries, while Ethan Deeds has 66 tackles, five INTs and four fumble recoveries. Oglesby’s only loss this year was 59-58 to Coolidge. The Tigers are led by Holdyn Goff, who has 2,203 rushing yards and 48 TDs. He also has 1,101 passing yards and 13 TDs with no INTs. Richland Springs will have to find a way to slow him down. The winner will meet No. 6 Strawn or Three Way next week in the state semifinals.

The pick: Richland Springs 64, Oglesby 56

Mason (9-3) vs. Kenedy (10-2)

The Mason Punchers will continue their resurgent run when they take on the Kenedy Lions at 7 p.m. Friday in Hutto. After a 1-3 start, Mason has won eight straight games to reach the regional semifinals. The Punchers are in familiar territory as they’ve been a perennial power for years. Mason has won at least eight games every season since 2008. Kenedy, meanwhile, is enjoying its winningest season since 1978. The Lions lost to a Schulenburg team that Mason just throttled 55-14 last week, but Kenedy also had an impressive 33-27 loss to No. 2-ranked Ganado. They enter this matchup on a six-game winning streak, and they’re certainly a team that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Running back David Salas has 1,568 yards, while freshman QB Jericho Jackson has 1,971 passing yards and 32 TDs with five INTs. Kenedy has scored 40 or more points seven times this year, but Mason’s defense has allowed only 6.1 points per game during its winning streak. As the old saying goes, offense wins games, but defense wins championships. The winner of this game will play No. 2 Ganado or No. 1 Refugio next week.

The pick: Mason 24, Kenedy 20

Wall (12-0) vs. Slaton (10-2)

The No. 2-ranked Wall Hawks will continue their pursuit of the program’s first-ever state title when they play Slaton at 1 p.m. Friday in Sweetwater. Wall has about as complete of a team as you could hope for. The Hawks have a dynamic passing attack led by QB Landon York and WR Reid Robertson, a capable rushing attack paced by Brady Neal, and a powerful offensive line anchored by Baine Jenschke. The offense is averaging 49.5 points per game, while the defense is allowing a ridiculous 5.9 points with six shutouts. Slaton is a big underdog in this matchup, but the Tigers have come a long way since a winless season just three years ago. Their only two losses this year were in overtime to Post (28-27) and in district to Idalou (41-6). If Wall takes care of business, the Hawks will meet either No. 6 Canadian or Idalou next week in the regional final. Canadian won this region every year but once since 2014 before the Hawks dethroned the Wildcats last season. If Wall meets Idalou, it will be a rematch of a 35-21 win by Wall earlier this year in the only game the Hawks have had that was within 24 points.

The pick: Wall 42, Slaton 14