While the Brownfield Cubs head out of town and out of the county Friday night, another game closer to home will certainly be worth watching.
The Wellman-Union Wildcats will make the 25-mile trip northeast to take on their Terry County rival, the Meadow Broncos, with the District 4-1A Division II championship on the line.
In the latest UIL realignment, both programs dropped to Class 1A Division II. At the same time, several regional powerhouses moved up to Division I, including defending state champion Jayton, state semifinalist Klondike, area-round playoff qualifier Sands and former District 3-1A Division II champion Whitharral.
However, that doesn’t mean the road through Region I will be any easier.
Motley County remains in Division II and continues to be one of the region’s most formidable programs. Dave Campbell’s Texas Football ranks the Matadors No. 1, and SixManFootball.com ranks them No. 2.
Motley County has recorded just one losing season over the past 20 years, a remarkable stretch that includes a state championship, multiple appearances in state championship games and several other deep playoff runs.
But before either Meadow or Wellman-Union can start thinking about a postseason run, they have unfinished business to take care of Friday night.
Both teams have already punched their tickets to the playoffs, but the district championship — and the postseason seeding that comes with it — remains up for grabs.
The winner and runner-up from District 4-1A Division II will face representatives from District 3-1A Division II in the opening round of the playoffs. At this point, Hart appears to be in the driver’s seat for the District 3 championship, while Anton looks to be the likely runner-up. However, those two teams still have their regular-season finale to play, meaning their final standings have yet to be determined.
For now, neither Meadow nor Wellman-Union is looking that far ahead.
Both coaching staffs understand what is at stake Friday night, and their attention is firmly on the opponent standing across the field.
The rivalry itself adds another layer of excitement to an already meaningful matchup.
This marks the ninth consecutive season the Broncos and Wildcats have competed in the same district. Over the previous eight seasons, Meadow holds a 5-3 head-to-head advantage.
The Broncos enter Friday night’s showdown with a 5-3 overall record and a perfect 2-0 mark in district play.
Meanwhile, Wellman-Union comes into the contest at 6-3, having already secured its first winning season since 2017.
That accomplishment alone is significant for a Wildcats program looking to reestablish itself as a contender in six-man football.
Friday’s matchup also has an interesting scheduling twist.
District 4-1A Division II has five teams, so one program must have a bye during the final week of the regular season. This year, that team is Wellman-Union.
As a result, Friday night’s game will mark the Wildcats’ 10th consecutive week of football without a break. After facing the Broncos, Wellman-Union will have its bye week before beginning postseason play.
On paper, these two teams look evenly matched, especially in their ability to put points on the board.
For Meadow, much of the offense starts with Brayson Parker, who has been a workhorse for the Broncos all season.
Parker has piled up 1,854 rushing yards and added 317 through the air, making him one of the most dangerous offensive weapons on the field.
But Meadow is far from a one-man show.
Poncho Arita, E.J. Piedra, and the rest of the Broncos’ supporting cast have proven they can step up whenever their number is called.
When opposing defenses focus too much attention on Parker, Meadow has other playmakers who can make them pay.
The Wildcats bring plenty of offensive firepower.
Gabe Quintanilla remains a force in the running game, using his speed and playmaking to keep opposing defenses on their heels.
Quarterback Edgar Macias has also been key to the Wildcats’ offensive success, while receiver Braxton Dill has emerged as another dangerous weapon capable of making big plays.
Like Meadow, Wellman-Union can attack defenses in multiple ways, making the Wildcats a difficult team to prepare for.
While both offenses can light up the scoreboard, the defense could ultimately decide Friday night’s outcome.
Both teams feature aggressive, opportunistic defenses that have consistently looked for ways to force turnovers and give their offenses additional possessions.
In six-man football, where momentum can change in the blink of an eye, one fumble, one interception or one critical defensive stop can completely change the complexion of a game.
That could prove especially important in a matchup featuring two teams that know each other as well as these county rivals do.
Motivation will certainly be high when the Wildcats and Broncos take the field.
For Meadow, it’s a chance to defend its home turf, build on its recent success against Wellman-Union, and claim another district championship.
For Wellman-Union, it’s a chance to put an exclamation point on its first winning season since 2017, turn the tables on its county rival, and bring home a district title of its own.
Both programs have already earned the right to play beyond the regular season, but Friday night is about much more than simply improving their playoff position.
It’s about county bragging rights.
It’s about a district championship.
And it’s about two familiar rivals leaving everything on the field to call themselves champions.
When the final whistle blows Friday night in Meadow, only one team can claim the District 4-1A Division II crown.
DISTRICT 4-1A DII CURRENT RECORDS
Week 10 Texas High School Football Ranking
TownTalk Media uses Dave Campbell’s Texas Football as the primary source for its weekly high school football rankings. After the preseason polls are released, the rankings move to a Top 10 format in every classification except Class 6A.
For six-man football, TownTalk Media uses two different ranking sources. Based on feedback from local six-man coaches, many consider SixManFootball.com the more accurate ranking system, so we include its Top 25 rankings. We also continue to use Dave Campbell’s Texas Football (TexasFootball.com), which publishes a Top 10 for six-man football.
NOTE: In Classes 6A through 3A, Region I teams are shown highlighted in yellow. In Classes 2A and 1A, teams shown highlighted in yellow are Region I teams, while teams highlighted in blue are from Region II.
