The regular season is in the rearview mirror, and the road to a state championship officially begins!
Well… here we are! The first week of the postseason has arrived, and I honestly cannot believe how quickly the past 11 weeks have flown by. It seems like just yesterday we were kicking off the 2026 Texas high school football season, and now teams across the Lone Star State are preparing for the most exciting time of the year: the playoffs!
For some programs, reaching the postseason has become an annual tradition. For others, it’s been a long road filled with rebuilding, hard work, and determination. Regardless of how they got here, every team still playing has the same goal: survive and advance.
Before we get into the bi-district round, let’s look back at my final week of regular-season picks. I correctly picked 96 out of 115 games, giving me an 83.5% winning percentage. Not too shabby, if I say so myself!
Of course, the playoffs bring a completely different level of excitement. Records can be thrown out the window, district championships don’t guarantee anything, and one bad quarter can bring an entire season to a screeching halt.
Throughout the regular season, I typically highlighted a few Games of the Week. However, with the playoffs getting underway, I’m changing things up a little. There are several first-round matchups that have caught my attention, and I want to take a closer look at five of them.
Let’s get to it!
Dalhart vs. Sweetwater
This could very well be one of the closest and most competitive matchups of the entire bi-district round.
Both programs know what it takes to compete in Texas high school football, and this is the kind of first-round matchup that could come down to one possession.
When two teams are evenly matched, the little things become the big things. Field position, special teams, penalties, and turnovers could ultimately determine which team punches its ticket to the area round.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this one comes down to the final minutes of the fourth quarter. It’s definitely a game worth keeping an eye on.
Horton’s Pick: Sweetwater
Childress vs. Littlefield
This is another interesting bi-district matchup featuring two programs with plenty of football tradition.
I’m going with the Childress Bobcats in this one, but I certainly wouldn’t count out the Littlefield Wildcats.
The biggest factor in this matchup could be turnovers. In the postseason, giving an opponent extra possessions is a dangerous game, particularly when both teams are fighting to keep their seasons alive.
If Childress takes care of the football, executes offensively, and limits costly mistakes, I like its chances of moving on. However, if Littlefield can create turnovers and capitalize on short fields, things could get interesting in a hurry.
Horton’s Pick: Childress
Friona vs. Slaton
If you’re a fan of offensive football, this could be one of the more entertaining games of the first round.
I’m taking the Slaton Tigers in this matchup, but I have a feeling we could see plenty of points put on the scoreboard.
This game certainly has the potential to turn into a shootout, where each possession becomes increasingly important. When two teams get into that kind of battle, sometimes the difference isn’t which offense scores the most, but which defense can come up with one or two critical stops.
For Slaton, the key will be offensive consistency and avoiding mistakes that give Friona additional opportunities.
I like the Tigers to get the job done, but don’t be surprised if this one turns into a back-and-forth contest.
Horton’s Pick: Slaton
Klondike vs. Rankin
Now we move into the exciting world of six-man football, where momentum can change in the blink of an eye.
I’m going with the Rankin Red Devils to come away with the victory over the Klondike Cougars.
However, there’s something important to remember about Class 1A football in Texas. Unlike the larger classifications, where four teams from each district qualify for the postseason, only the top two teams from each Class 1A district advance.
That creates some interesting first-round matchups because a district runner-up from one district could actually be stronger than a district champion from another.
In other words, don’t automatically assume that winning a district championship makes a team the favorite against a second-place finisher.
Six-man football is also a completely different animal. A couple of defensive stops can be the difference between a comfortable victory and a nail-biter.
I believe Rankin has what it takes to advance, but the Red Devils cannot afford to overlook Klondike.
Horton’s Pick: Rankin
Blackwell vs. Cherokee
Here’s another six-man matchup that has my attention.
I’m picking the Cherokee Indians to outlast the Blackwell Hornets in what I believe could be a full four-quarter football game.
For those unfamiliar with six-man football, games can end early under the 45-point mercy rule. But I don’t necessarily see that happening in this matchup.
Instead, I think both teams will have opportunities to make plays, and we could see a competitive contest that requires all four quarters to determine a winner.
The key for Cherokee will be maintaining its offensive rhythm while finding ways to slow down Blackwell’s attack.
Six-man football is known for its explosive scoring, and no lead ever seems completely safe. One minute a team can be comfortably ahead, and the next minute it’s a one-possession game.
I believe the Indians will find a way to pull away when it matters most and advance to the next round.
Horton’s Pick: Cherokee
My picks are below:
The Road to State Begins Now
One of my favorite things about Texas high school football is the excitement that surrounds the postseason.
From the bright lights of the big stadiums to the small-town communities that practically shut down on Friday nights, playoff football is something special.
Here on the South Plains and across West Texas, we have several teams representing their schools and communities, and every one of them has worked hard to earn this opportunity.
For some seniors, this could be the final time they ever put on their school’s football uniform. For others, the journey may continue for several more weeks.
That’s what makes playoff football so special. Every snap matters. Every possession matters. And every game could be your last.
There are always surprises during the first round. A heavily favored team gets knocked off, an underdog rises to the occasion, or a game everyone expects to be a blowout turns into an instant classic.
And that’s exactly why they play the games!
I’ll be watching several matchups closely this week, including our local teams as they begin their postseason journeys.
To all the players, coaches, cheerleaders, bands, and fans heading out to support their teams, enjoy every minute of it. These are the moments that make high school football so memorable.
Good luck to all our area teams, and remember: at this point in the season, it doesn’t matter how you win. Just win and advance!
Let the Texas high school football playoffs begin!
— Horton’s Weekly High School Football Picks
