HORTON’S HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PICKS – WEEK 9

Games of the Week: Undefeated Showdown and District Championship Implications

Well, another week of high school football is in the books, and my picks are holding up pretty well! Last week, I correctly picked 92 of 110 games, for an 84% success rate. Not too shabby! As we head into Week 9, every team should be in district action, and the stakes get higher with each passing Friday night. District championships, playoff positioning, and postseason hopes are all on the line.

This week, I’ve got two games worth watching, along with a few other matchups that could shake things up across the South Plains and West Texas.

GAMES OF THE WEEK

Estacado (2-0/8-0) at #3 Cooper Liberty (1-0/7-0)

Since Cooper Liberty began playing varsity football in 2024, the Patriots and Estacado Matadors have squared off twice, splitting those meetings 1-1. Last season, Estacado suffered just one district loss, and it came at the hands of Liberty in a 49-22 defeat. Both teams went two rounds deep before their seasons ended.

This time around, the stakes are even higher. Both squads enter the matchup with perfect records, meaning somebody will walk away with their first loss of the 2026 season.

On paper, these teams are remarkably similar. Liberty is averaging 50 points per game while allowing just 14. Estacado isn’t far behind, averaging 51 points per game and allowing 19. On paper, this looks like a heavyweight battle between two explosive offenses and two solid defenses.

However, one significant difference remains: strength of schedule.

Estacado has certainly taken care of business, but the Matadors haven’t faced the same level of competition Liberty has. The Patriots have played larger schools throughout their non-district schedule and picked up back-to-back victories over ranked opponents Greenwood and West Plains. That kind of competition prepares a team for games like this.

The Matadors will certainly test Liberty, and I expect both teams to put points on the scoreboard. But the Patriots have proven they can handle tough competition, and I don’t see that changing this week.

Liberty seems to be free to do just about whatever it wants offensively, and I’m not picking against that kind of momentum.

HORTON’S PICK: LIBERTY OVER ESTACADO

Canadian (2-0/5-3) at Childress (1-0/4-3)

Another matchup could have major implications for the district standings and the playoff picture.

Both Canadian and Childress entered the 2026 season ranked among the top 25 teams in Class 3A Division II, and both have faced familiar opponents.

Each squad faced Shallowater, and both fell short. Childress fell to the Mustangs 35-21, while Canadian nearly pulled off the victory before losing a heartbreaker in the final minute, 31-28.

Both teams also beat Panhandle. Childress edged the Panthers 35-28, while Canadian put on an offensive show in a 63-38 win.

Offensively, these teams have different approaches. The Wildcats have developed a balanced attack, producing nearly equal yardage through the air and on the ground. That balance makes them hard to defend because opponents can’t focus on stopping just one part of their offense.

Childress, meanwhile, prefers to throw the football, having accumulated several hundred more passing yards than rushing yards this season. However, don’t think the Bobcats can’t run it. Against Panhandle, Childress opened the floodgates, rushing for 345 yards. That versatility can cause serious problems for opposing defenses.

Both teams could make some noise in the postseason, but here’s where things get interesting.

Winning the district certainly sounds appealing, but the projected playoff bracket could make that road considerably tougher. The district champion could face #1 Idalou in the third round, while the runner-up could draw #9 Jacksboro in the second round.

Either way, the playoffs won’t be easy. But before anyone looks ahead to Idalou or Jacksboro, a pretty important football game needs to be played Friday night.

I expect this one to be competitive, but Canadian’s offensive balance and experience against quality opponents give the Wildcats an edge in my book.

HORTON’S PICK: CANADIAN OVER CHILDRESS

GAMES TO WATCH – WEEK 9

Beyond the two featured matchups, several other West Texas games deserve attention this week. With district play in full swing, these contests could significantly affect district standings and playoff positioning.

• Crane vs. Coahoma – A matchup worth watching as both programs are undefeated in district.
• New Home vs. Post – Two local programs squaring off in what could be an important district showdown, again undefeated in district.
• Borden County vs. Klondike – A six-man football matchup featuring two programs with strong football traditions.
• Jayton vs. Hermleigh – Another intriguing six-man contest with plenty of implications as the postseason approaches.

It’s Week 9, and that means there’s little room for mistakes. Every possession matters, every district win becomes more valuable, and the road to the Texas high school football playoffs is getting shorter.

Good luck to all the teams this week, and let’s see how these picks turn out!

Horton’s High School Football Picks | Week 9 | TownTalk Media