Week seven is here and last week I went 59 of 83, or 71%. Not too shabby. I missed a lot of 2A and 3A. Most teams will be in district play this week, and so I have that broken down on my picks. Take a look at this week games of the week.
WEEK 7 PICKS: GAMES OF THE WEEK
District Showdowns, Panhandle Rivalries, and Tough Decisions Highlight Week 7
Week 7 of the Texas high school football season is here, and things are about to get interesting! District play is beginning for many teams across the state, and we’re starting to see which teams are legitimate contenders and which may have benefited from a softer non-district schedule.
This week’s featured games take us into the Texas Panhandle, where District 1-3A Division II is shaping up to be much tougher than some originally thought. Canadian and Childress entered the season with high expectations, but now they face two teams that have been winning games and turning heads.
And, of course, we can’t forget one of the Panhandle’s best small-school rivalries: Stratford vs. Gruver.
Three games. Six teams. Some difficult decisions. Here we go!
Canadian (3-3) @ Friona (5-1)
The Wildcats Have Been Battle-Tested, but Can Friona Make a Statement?
District 1-3A Division II looks a lot tougher than many expected when the season began. Both Canadian and Childress found themselves in the preseason Top 25, but now they’re about to face two teams that have been stacking up wins. One of them has been putting serious points on the scoreboard.
Let’s start with Canadian and Friona.
The Chieftains come into this matchup with an impressive 5-1 record, with their only loss coming against a larger Class 4A Hereford squad, 30-20. Outside of that game, Friona has been lighting up the scoreboard and finding ways to win.
But here’s where things get interesting.
While Friona has the better record, I don’t believe the Chieftains have faced competition nearly as strong as Canadian’s.
The Wildcats’ three losses came against Dalhart and Shallowater, both from District 1-3A Division I, and a tough overtime loss to Randall in Class 4A Division I. That’s not exactly a cupcake schedule!
And take a look at Canadian’s wins. The Wildcats knocked off Panhandle when the Panthers were ranked No. 9, defeated another District 1-3A Division I opponent in Bushland, and picked up a huge victory over Class 4A Division I Pampa.
Canadian has been tested, challenged, and pushed by some very good football teams all season long.
Friona deserves credit for its 5-1 start, but there’s a big difference between winning games and being battle-tested against quality competition.
I have a feeling the Wildcats will be battle-tested on Friday night — WILD!
HORTON’S PICK: CANADIAN OVER FRIONA
Childress (3-3) @ Dimmitt (5-1)
The Battle of the Bobcats Could Be One of the Best Games of the Week
Now this one is interesting!
We’ve got a Battle of the Bobcats as Childress travels to Dimmitt, and if you had told me before the season that Dimmitt would be sitting at 5-1 heading into this matchup, I probably would have raised an eyebrow or two.
Let’s face it. Childress has traditionally had a strong football program, while Dimmitt has struggled to find consistent success.
In fact, Dimmitt has recorded just two winning seasons since 2000 and only 30 winning seasons in the program’s 96-year history. That’s a lot of football seasons without consistently being on the winning side.
But this year’s Dimmitt squad appears determined to change that narrative.
The Bobcats are 5-1, with their only loss coming in heartbreaking fashion, a one-point defeat to former district opponent Littlefield. That’s certainly nothing to hang your head about.
Meanwhile, Childress enters this game at 3-3, but like Canadian, the record doesn’t tell the whole story.
Childress has suffered losses to some very good football programs, including Shallowater from Class 3A Division I, Iowa Park from Class 4A Division II, and Perryton, also from Class 4A Division II.
That’s some stiff competition!
However, one result gives me a little pause. Childress managed just a one-point victory over a Holliday team that was winless at the time. That makes me wonder which Childress team will show up Friday night.
I’m not going to lie. This is probably one of the toughest picks I’ve had to make this week.
Childress has the tradition and the experience of facing quality opponents. Dimmitt has the momentum, confidence, and chance to prove this season isn’t a fluke.
Sometimes a team just starts believing it can win, and that confidence becomes contagious.
I’m backing the home team in what I think could be one of the closest games of the night.
HORTON’S PICK: DIMMITT OVER CHILDRESS
Stratford @ Gruver
Forty Miles, Decades of History, and a Panhandle Rivalry That Never Disappoints
If you know anything about Texas Panhandle football, then you know this game has probably been circled on a whole lot of calendars since the schedules were released.
Stratford and Gruver.
Just about 40 miles separate these two communities. Between them, you’ll find beautiful ranchland, row crops, wide-open skies, and some of the most peaceful country you’ll ever drive through.
But don’t let all that peaceful scenery fool you!
When these two football programs get together, there isn’t a whole lot of peace on the football field.
These two programs have met 57 times over the years, building a rivalry full of tradition, pride, and some outstanding football games.
Over the past eight seasons, Stratford and Gruver have shared a district in six seasons and have also met three times in the playoffs, with those postseason meetings coming in regional finals.
Gruver has won two of those three regional final matchups, but Stratford has still held a 7-4 advantage in their meetings over that eight-season stretch.
Now that’s what I call a rivalry!
Both communities take their football seriously. These are the kinds of games where records don’t always mean a whole lot, emotions run high, and every yard has to be earned.
There’s also something special about small-town Texas football when two programs with this kind of history square off. The stands will be packed, the communities will show up, and neither team will want to be the one that has to hear about a loss for the next 365 days.
Like the other two featured games this week, I expect this one to be close.
But I’ve got a suspicion that the Greyhounds are going to find a way to pull this one out.
Maybe it’s the home-field advantage. Maybe it’s the recent playoff history. Or maybe it’s just a gut feeling.
Either way, I’m rolling with Gruver!
HORTON’S PICK: GRUVER OVER STRATFORD
FINAL THOUGHTS
Week 7 is where the football season starts getting serious. Those non-district records are nice, but once district play begins, everybody starts with a clean slate.
Canadian has something to prove. Dimmitt has an opportunity to show that its winning season is for real. And Stratford and Gruver? Well, those two never need much of a reason to get after each other.
One thing is certain: We’re going to learn a whole lot about these six football teams Friday night.
Will the favorites take care of business? Will we see some surprises? Or will somebody make a statement that shakes up the district standings?
That’s why they play the games!
Those are my Week 7 Games of the Week picks. We’ll see how they turn out Friday night!
