It’s time to start making travel plans for the upcoming season. As the start of high school football draws ever closer, we’re taking a look at what appear to be the best games in the Lubbock area, week by week.
Week 1: Tuscola Jim Ned at Estacado
There are few things in this sport that are as beautiful as an exciting duel on opening night.
Lubbock is fortunate to have such an occasion on Thursday, as Eric Ward’s era at Estacado begins with a bang. It also marks the debut of Tuscola Jim Ned coach Johnathon McClure.
Jim Ned may be playing in a lower division, but the program won a state title just four years ago. This year’s team is experienced and expected to compete for a district title.
This will be a real test for the Matadors, who are young but talented and have a number of fast playmakers in the offensive.
THE BEST OF THE REST: Canyon West Plains in Seminole; Lubbock-Cooper Liberty in New Home; Monahans in Shallowater; Wave at Lubbock Christian.
Week 2: Seminole at Shallowater
This game has not disappointed over the last two seasons and it shouldn’t disappoint this year either.
Seminole’s fast-paced attack will face a typically strong defense, and Shallowater’s offense also brings a lot of experience.
Seminole won last year 35-30, ending the Mustangs’ three-game winning streak in the series. Both teams are entering the season with high expectations as usual, so this will be a nice early refresher.
THE BEST OF THE REST: Hereford in Estacado; Abernathy in Sunray; Roosevelt’s New Deal; Sudan in Tahoka.
Week 3: Hereford at Plainview
This matchup surprised the state last season when both teams went into the match 4-0, and Hereford lived up to expectations, winning 24-21.
The teams will look different this year, although there will still be many who experienced the 2023 clash. And no matter what the teams look like, the excitement in this rivalry never wanes.
Hereford and Plainview have drawn their last two meetings, so this game is considered a playoff.
THE BEST OF THE REST: Lubbock-Cooper in Amarillo Tascosa; Lubbock Christian in Stamford; Muleshoe in New Home; Trinity Christian in Denver City.
Week 4: Friendship Study at Lubbock-Cooper
Speaking of rivalries: This one needs no introduction.
The best big school programs in the Lubbock area put on one of the better games every year. It doesn’t get any closer than last year’s 35-34 win in favor of Frenship. The Tigers prevented a two-point conversion and won in overtime.
That’s three straight wins for Frenship over Cooper, but none of them have been by more than three points. In fact, every game since 2019 has been decided by a single possession. Mark that one on your calendar.
THE BEST OF THE REST: Lubbock Christian in Wellington; Sweetwater in Estacado; Abernathy in Farwell; Klondike in whiteface.
Week 5: New home in Roscoe
New Home were put to the test by the Plowboys last season and this year should be no different.
Roscoe won 10 games in 2023, with the 22-15 loss to the Leopards being the only loss outside of district. The Plowboys get another chance with 18 returning starters.
Considering New Home have a lot to replace early in the season, the playing field could be even more even. One thing is for sure, this contest is the conclusion of a busy non-district slate.
THE BEST OF THE REST: Idalou in Shallowater; Frenship at Midland Christian; Amarillo High in Monterey; Brownfield in Littlefield.
Week 6: Idalou on the Wall
Idalou is one of the most consistent teams in the South Plains, and tough competition outside of the district is part of the recipe for success.
Few teams in Region I are stronger than Wall, which reached the regional finals last season. The Wildcats were eliminated one round early. The Hawks will have a new head coach but begin the year ranked in the top 10.
This should be a physical game and give both teams a good assessment of their position in the overall picture.
THE BEST OF THE REST: Monterey at Coronado; Hereford at Seminole; Lubbock-Cooper at Wichita Falls Legacy; Shallowater at Canadian.
Week 7: New home in Abernathy
Week 7 marks the start of district play for most of the region, and there are significant matchups right from the start.
Abernathy is new to Class 2A and begins the year ranked 12th. New Home is 22nd.
The Leopards have controlled the 2A landscape in the South Plains for the past two seasons, so it will be interesting to see how the Antelopes’ presence impacts it. This could very well decide the district championship.
THE BEST OF THE REST: Morton in Lockney; Midland High in Frenship; Ropes in Tahoka; Muleshoe at Roosevelt.
Week 8: Friendship at Midland Legacy
The last five weeks of the regular season have one motto: Fight for the district title.
Frenship and Midland Legacy have split the last two meetings, and each time the winner has taken at least a share of the 2-6A crown. This year, that trend appears to be continuing.
The total score over the last two years is 105-97 in favor of the Tigers.
THE BEST OF THE REST: Roosevelt in Idalou, Lockney in Sudan, Abernathy in New Deal, Littlefield in Muleshoe.
Week 9: Bushland at Shallowater
Better than its 6-6 record, Shallowater suffered losses in the non-district league before reaching a respectable finish. After a setback against Bushland, the team won three games in a row.
The Falcons begin the season ranked 6th and are clear favorites to win the district title. Two years ago, a similar situation ended with the Mustangs pulling off an upset on their way to the top of the table.
Bushland won 35-3 last season. If Shallowater needed any more motivation, it’s here.
THE BEST OF THE REST: Denver City in Brownfield; rallies in Lockney; Wichita Falls Memorial in Lubbock-Cooper; Amarillo Palo Duro in Plainview.
Week 10: Lubbock-Cooper at Abilene Wylie
The familiar opponents meet again in a football district.
This encounter is fun in any sport and this game should decide the district championship.
THE BEST OF THE REST: New Home at New Deal; Estacado at Lubbock-Cooper Liberty; Gruver at Farwell; Frenship at Odessa Permian.
Week 11: Monahans at Seminole
Seminole missed the district title by one game last season. Canyon West Plains moved up to 4A Division I, but there’s still a huge hurdle in its way.
Monahans released its star quarterback but has 11 starters back. The Lobos reached the third round before coincidentally losing to West Plains.
Like any remarkable early season clash, it’s a satisfying feeling when the district championship is on the line in the finals. Here we are.
THE BEST OF THE REST: Idalou near Muleshoe; Sudan near Ralls; Whiteface near Borden County; Dalhart near Shallowater.
