Top 5 Football Games to Watch in West Texas This Week

Here are our top five high school football games to watch in the Concho Valley and West Texas in Week 7:

Merkel (5-1) at Wall (6-0)

The No. 2-ranked Wall Hawks have been expected to romp through District 4-3A Division II on the way to a deep playoff run. Some of their district competitors, however, are also quietly putting together strong seasons. Merkel and Coahoma both have 5-1 records, while Grape Creek is 4-2. The Hawks’ first challenge will be at home Friday against Merkel, which is much improved following last year’s winless season. The Badgers ultimately haven’t played the same level of competition as Wall, but they own wins over Ballinger, Bangs, Cross Plains, TLCA and Brownfield, and they put up points in a 51-34 loss to Hawley. Wall has largely dominated its schedule — which includes Mason, Brownwood, Jim Ned, Monahans and Sweetwater — though the Hawks were finally in a fourth-quarter game last week in a 35-21 win over Idalou. Merkel’s promising sophomore quarterback, Easton Malone, could present some problems, but Wall should be heavily favored.

The pick: Wall 38, Merkel 14

Midland Legacy (1-4) at San Angelo Central (3-2)

The Central Bobcats will carry a three-game winning streak into their District 2-6A opener at home Friday at San Angelo Stadium against the Legacy Rebels. After five games of nondistrict play, Central has the district’s second-best record behind Odessa Permian (4-1), but none of that matters now in terms of the race for the district’s four playoff spots. Central hasn’t made the playoffs since 2022, and a win against Legacy would go a long way toward ending that slide. The Bobcats’ offense has come alive during its winning streak with an average of 46 points per game. Legacy went 1-4 against a ridiculously difficult nondistrict schedule, but the Rebels are undoubtedly battle tested after playing Allen, Euless Trinity, Lake Travis and Ruston (Louisiana). Their only win was 42-28 against Abilene High, a team that beat Central 42-21. The Bobcats will be the underdog in this one, but they nearly pulled off an upset in a 42-36 loss in Midland last year. It should be close again.

The pick: Legacy 35, Central 31

Grape Creek (4-2) at Coahoma (5-1) 

The District 4-3A Division II playoff race should be a fun one, beginning with Grape Creek’s trip to Coahoma. The Eagles are riding a three-game winning streak, including a 49-12 win over San Angelo TLCA last week. Coahoma had a five-game winning streak snapped last week with a 35-21 loss to Littlefield. Grape Creek will bring its ball-control offense, led by Darrell West with 677 rushing yards and 11 TDs. Coahoma has a more balanced attack led by QB Austin Joslin with 781 passing yards and 16 TDs (along with four interceptions), and RB Lanson Moore with 385 rushing yards and three TDs. Coahoma was off to a 4-1 start last year when Grape Creek beat the Bulldogs 34-20. The winner of this game will have the inside track to the second playoff spot from this district (assuming that No. 2-ranked Wall defends its district title).

The pick: Grape Creek 28, Coahoma 24

Bangs (3-2) at Ballinger (3-2) 

The Ballinger Bearcats’ pursuit of a return trip to the playoffs begins Friday at home against Bangs in their District 5-2A Division I opener. Ballinger has won three of its last four games, led by a strong defense in victories over Christoval (13-6), San Angelo TLCA (27-6) and Stanton (21-17). Bangs has won three straight after an 0-2 start with wins over Grape Creek (31-26), Abilene TLCA (71-0) and Colorado City (56-0). Ballinger and Bangs have a common opponent in Merkel. The Badgers beat Ballinger 38-26 in Week 1, followed by a 29-26 win over Bangs in Week 2. Ballinger could see the return of quarterback Kyson Burleson this week from a torn ACL suffered last spring. Coming back for district play has been the goal since before the season began. Ballinger won this matchup 33-12 last year in Bangs. It won’t be so easy this time.

The pick: Ballinger 27, Bangs 26

Reagan County (2-3) at Ozona (5-0)

This is a matchup of the defending District 3-2A Division I champion, Reagan County, and the favorite to win the title this year, Ozona. Reagan County beat Ozona 44-28 last year on the way to its first undisputed district title since 1993. The Owls lost a strong senior class from that team, and they’ve struggled to find their footing this season, which includes a 69-14 loss to Iraan two weeks ago. Ozona, meanwhile, is undefeated and ranked No. 7 in the state. The Lions are led by running back Christian Villarreal, who is on pace to break the state’s all-time rushing record at the midpoint of the regular season. In five games, he has rushed for 1,772 yards and 23 touchdowns. Villarreal is averaging 354 yards per game. If he can somehow keep it up, he would break the record in the second round of the playoffs, which was set in 1953 by the Sugar Land Express, Kenneth Hall, when the quarterback rushed for 4,045 yards. Everyone is waiting to see what Villarreal can do this week.

The pick: Ozona 49, Reagan County 14

The Rest of Week 7

San Angelo Lake View at Brownfield

Sweetwater at San Angelo TLCA

Dublin at Brady

Christoval at Colorado City

Sonora at Forsan

Mason at Thorndale

Iraan at Eldorado

Van Horn at Sterling City

Albany at Miles

Winters at Hamlin

Center Point at Junction

Rankin at Garden City

Robert Lee at Irion County

Veribest at Paint Rock

Leakey at Menard

Olfen at Blackwell

Loraine at Bronte

Brookesmith at Richland Springs

Lohn at Panther Creek

San Antonio St. Mary’s Hall at Rochelle

MORE: Lake View Eyes Win in Nondistrict Finale Against Brownfield

MORE: Grape Creek Kicks Off District Play Against Coahoma One Day Early

MORE: Ozona's Villarreal Featured by Texas Football as He Chases State Record

MORE: West Texas Football District Standings: Week 7

MORE: Texas High School Football State Rankings: Week 7