WAKE UP! | A look at this weekend’s high school football games in the ETB area
EDITOR’S NOTE: We’d like to congratulate our friends at Cozy Coffee Station in Kilgore on their one-year anniversary (for their Kilgore store), and they’re celebrating with an official grand opening! It’s November 1, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., at 110 Midtown Plaza, at Credit Union of Texas. There will be cool stuff (free T-shirts with the CCS logo), and starting a checking account at CUTX that day allows you to get a free drink at Cozy Coffee Station when you visit the branch. Of course, the menu is always great, and you can check that out right now, right here: Home | Cozy Coffee Station. Cozy Coffee Station is also located in Gilmer, at 755 Highway 271 North, and if you want to see owner Oscar Cavazos explain more about the grand opening, go to the CCS Kilgore Facebook page, simply Cozy Coffee Station-Kilgore. By the way, we also have another one of our ad partners celebrating an anniversary next month. More on that soon!
OK, so where will YOU be tomorrow night, if you’re going to a high school football game?
If you’re a big fan of one of the 15 programs we cover, then you already know where you’re going. If you’re needing a game to go to, well, I’m about to help you right now. Here’s what’s on tap.
Tatum (2-4, 1-1) at Gladewater (6-1, 3-0), 7 p.m.: The Eagles had an open date last week, and Gladewater has just been mowing over folks, like a runaway John Deere. Right now, Gladewater and Atlanta are both unbeaten in this district but it is FAR from settled. Obviously four teams will make the playoffs out of this field: Gladewater, Atlanta, Jefferson, Liberty-Eylau, White Oak, Tatum and Sabine.
Sabine (0-7, 0-3) at White Oak (4-2, 0-2), 7 p.m.: Speaking of, the Roughnecks and Cardinals go at it, and one of two things is going to happen: either the Cardinals are going to (at the same time) get their first overall win AND their first district win, OR White Oak is going to get its first district win and stop the two-game skid. Roughnecks quarterback Jaxsen Ludlow has 1,871 total yards and has had a hand in 23 touchdowns (thrown 13, ran for 10), and he’s looking to play the role of the “Six Million Dollar Man” Friday night. (In case you don’t remember the “Six Million Dollar Man”… dang, I feel sorry for you, but here it is: The Six Million Dollar Man).
Leverett’s Chapel (1-6, 0-1) at Savoy (1-5, 0-1), 7 p.m. (according to LC’s schedule; some places list this as a 7:30 kickoff): Neither of these teams has been lighting the world on fire, but they’ve only played one district game each, in this district. Someone has a chance to turn things around IF they start now. And remember, for those of you unfamiliar, this is a six-man game. Chances are there will be a TON of points scored.
Gilmer (2-4, 1-0) at Van (4-2, 1-0), 7 p.m.: We all know, it’s been well-documented, that Gilmer had a rough non-district schedule. Repeat that last part with me: NON-DISTRICT SCHEDULE. Now, keep doing that, and remember that your playoff fate is ONLY based on how you do in DISTRICT play. And in DISTRICT play, Gilmer is a bright, shiny 1-0. Now, can the Buckeyes get out of Van with a win? Remains to be seen. We’ll all know at about, oh, say 10:30 p.m. Friday.
Arp (5-1, 1-1) at Elkhart (1-6, 0-3), 7:30 p.m.: If this goes how it will likely go, not that I’m counting Elkhart’s chickens before they hatch, then Arp fans are likely going to see the Tigers run for about 273 yards, hold Elkhart to somewhere around 12 points, win the game, and then find a Whataburger along the way and get a combo No. 1, with double cheese and a Coca-Cola, and talk about how Josh Smith ran over that freakin’ guy.
Troup (7-0, 3-0) at New Diana (3-3, 1-1), 7:30 p.m.: For the first time in a while, coach Sam Wells’ team has to be careful here. They’re on the road in a dangerous environment; New Diana has good athletes, as well; and there’s this: they’re playing this Friday, while District 11-3A’s other unbeaten team, West Rusk, has the weekend off. The Tigers can’t do anything about West Rusk’s Raiders this week, and they can’t let that get into their heads. West Rusk won’t be on that field; New Diana will, and Troup needs to keep its focus there. Some numbers to scare the Eagles: Troup quarterback Josh Childress, just a junior, is 87-of-121 (71 percent of his passes) for 1,574 yards, 19 touchdown passes and just two interceptions. Yeah, I said “two.”
Pine Tree (3-3, 1-1) at Henderson (5-2, 2-1), 7:30 p.m.: Here’s a money game, as in, where you make your money. Henderson coach Ricky Meeks has a ton of talent and potential; the Lions are on the cusp of the playoffs and again, only have to be in the top four. Their only district loss is to Kilgore, with games against Pine Tree (Friday), Chapel Hill and Lindale remaining. Now, that’s a tall order, but four wins in district for SURE puts the Lions back in the postseason and three might. As for Pine Tree, they’re 1-1 in district because they’ve already had their open date. They’ve got Henderson, Chapel Hill, Lindale and Palestine remaining. As much as you can pencil in a win, the Palestine game looks like one. The other three, whew, another tall order. “That’s why they play the games.” — Chris Berman.
Kilgore (6-1, 3-0) at Lindale (6-0, 2-0), 7:30 p.m: This week’s Game of the Year of the Decade of the Century. Seriously, a pair of programs both ranked in the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football top 10 (and here that is: NEW POLLS! | Carthage still tops 4A-DII, KHS third in 4A-DI; Troup sixth in 3A-DI) that respect each other and one, defending district champion Kilgore, that if it wins this game, has pretty much got the District 9-4A, Division I title sewn up. The only thing remaining in Kilgore’s path after its game at Lindale Friday night: a home game against Palestine, an open date and a trip to Mabank, whose Panthers have won exactly two games this season and have scored 149 points. Good luck with that.
Athens (6-1, 1-0) at Carthage (6-0, 1-0), 7:30 p.m.: Another matchup of top-10 teams, this one in 4A-DII, but I’ll be honest: Like with Kilgore, I’ve had a chance to see Carthage a few occasions this season (like every game except one). And if Athens can stay with them, I’ll be surprised. This will be the ultimate test for the Hornets. If they can play with Carthage IN Carthage, then they should make a good run in the playoffs.
