West Texas: Week 9 Preview

The 2023 West Texas high school football season enters Week 9 with several must-watch games on the schedule. Here the top five games in each region:   PANHANDLE   Game of the Week: Canadian (7-0) at Friona (4-3)   The winner will take a major step forward in claiming the District 3A-3 championship with a perfect 3-0 mark. These are the only two remaining undefeated teams left in district play, and the winner will be difficult to catch. How prolific is the Canadian offense? The Wildcats have scored 413 points in seven games. Friona's defense will have to bring it's A+ game to the stadium.         Bushland at Shallowater: With a victory, Bushland (7-1) will set up a showdown with Dalhart in Week 10 for the likely district championship. Bushland trounced River Road last week. Shallowater gave Dalhart a fight last week and we'll see if they can do the same to Bushland.   Randall at Canyon: Two Top 10 teams in the MaxPreps Amarillo Region poll clash. Neither team has lost in district play. Randall (2-0) can claim at least a share of the district championship with a win.      Tascosa at Caprock: Tascosa snapped a 5-game losing streak by beating Lubbock Monterey last week. Tascosa is one of three teams tied for fourth place in the district with 1-2 marks, so this is amust-win for the Rebels.     Gruver at Sunray: The winner of District 2A-1 will come from this game. Both teams won their district openers last week.   More Games To Watch: Sanford-Fritch at Stratford; Perryton at White Plains (Thur.); Muleshoe at River Road; Dumas at Pampa; Highland Park at Farwell; Levelland at Borger; Childress at Spearman; Palo Duro at Whita Falls Rider; Panhandle at West Texas;   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/hpisani91/status/1714349612570443857?s=20 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/THS_FB/status/1713898232277807425?s=20 </div></figure>   SOUTH PLAINS   Game of the Week: Brownwood (7-1) at Lubbock Estacado (6-1) (Thur.)   Lubbock Estacado (6-1) is ranked No. 3 in the latest MaxPreps Lubbock region poll and the only team in District 4A-2 with a better record is Brownwood. The winner has the inside track to the district championship.      Lubbock Monterey at Lubbock-Cooper: Lubbock-Cooper sits in third place in the district with a 2-1 mark. If they're going to catch Amarillo or Abilene in the district standings, they must win this one. Monterey is tied with Tascosa and Coronado for the final playoff spot.   Abilene at Lubbock Coronado: Abilene is already 4-0 in District 5A-2 and could put separation between themselves and the rest of the district with a win here. Coronado is desperately trying to stay in the race and qualify for the final playoff spot.   Plainview at Abilene Cooper: Plainview is one of four teams tied for second in District 5A-2 with 1-1 marks, so they need to win this one badly. Cooper is also 1-1 in the district.   Lubbock Roosevelt at Idalou: District 3A-4 is top-heavy with three teams at 2-0 in the district and three at 0-2. Two of the 2-0 teams are Roosevelt and Idalou along with Littlefield. The winner has a future showdown with Littlefield for the district title.     More Games To Watch: Muleshoe at River Road; Abilene Wylie at Lubbock; Littlefield at Abernathy; Liberty Christian at Midland Christian; Sterling City at Iraan; Water Valley at Wink; Sweetwater at Midland Greenwood; Anthony at Forsan; Fabens at Pecos; Lubbock Christian at Dallas First Baptist; Levelland at Borger; Kermit at Brownfield; New Home at Plains.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/FootballLCP/status/1713940362992267610?s=20 </div></figure>   PERMIAN BASIN   Game of the Week: Odessa (5-1) at Midland (7-0)   After failing to qualify for the 6A playoffs a season ago, both teams are positioned nicely to reach the post-season in November. And they've done it in different ways offensively, Midland runs the ball about 90 percent of the time. In fact, they've attempted only 32 passes in 7 games. Odessa QB Mikey Cota has thrown for 2,233 yards and 25 TD. Three receivers have 30+ catches for the Bronchos. Which style is better? We'll find out Friday.        Frenship at Odessa Permian: Both teams has different outcomes a week ago. In fact, Frenship has lost its first two district games and would fall to 0-3 in the district with a loss here. Thus, this contest is HUGE for the Tigers. It's also big for Permian, which edged Midland Legacy in a Week 8 thriller, because a loss would likely drop them into a fourth place tie with Frenship in the district.        Midland Legacy at San Angelo Central: You have to think Midland Legacy is still fuming over the one-point loss to Permian last week. Don't be surprised by surprised if they take their frustrations out on SAC, which barring an upset would fall to 0-3 in the district with a loss here.      Monahans at Fabens: Monahans just keeps on rolling. The unbeaten Loboes are up to No. 4 in the MaxPreps Permian Basin Region poll. Monahans would improve to 3-0 in the district and would be virtually impossible to catch with a victory here.      El Paso Mountain View at Fort Stockton: The winner here would be 2-1 in the same district as Monahans. Fort Stockton has already lost to the Loboes while Mountain View gets its chance against Monahans next week.   More Games To Watch: Big Spring at Lake View;  Wink at McCamey; Ozona at Reagan County; Kermit at Brownfield; Coahoma at Stanton; Midland Christian at Fort Worth Christian; Forsan at Christoval; Water Valley at Iraan; Tornillo at Crane;   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/rachelhallamtv/status/1713774861728854475?s=20 </div></figure>   FAR WEST TEXAS   Game of the Week: Eastwood at Montwood (Thur.)   Nine team District 6A-1 has been as unpredictable and entertaining as we thought. Eastwood (5-0 in district) and Montwood (4-1) are the top two teams in the standings. Eastwood would take a major step towards the title with a victory in this game, although their final two contests are against Franklin and Eastlake. Neither one is a gimmee. Montwood is tied with Americas and Pebble Hills for district victories (4) but Montwood has played one fewer game.   Pebble Hills at Franklin: A monstrous game with the loser possibly facing an uphill climb to qualify for the 6A playoffs. Right now, Franklin (3-2 in district; 5th place) is on the outside looking in with six teams realistically battling for the 4 spots.   EP Coronado at Americas: If Eastwood beats Montwood, Americas could climb into second place in the district with a victory here. Coronado is just 1-4 in the district but all five games have been very competitive. Expect the same here.   Hanks at Del Valle: Del Valle looks to be the best team in District 5A-1 and they've handily won their first two district games by wide margins. Hanks is 1-1 in the district and is one of five teams battling for four playoff spots.   Canutillo at Chapin: Battle of two teams that are both 2-0 in the district. Thus, the winner takes a major leap toward securing the title with two games left. However, the other four teams in the district are a combined 5-23 overall, so both teams might not lose in the final two weeks.   More Games To Watch: Bel Air at Parkland; Austin at Riverside; Burges at El Paso;    El Dorado at Socorro; Ysleta at Horizon; Burges at El Paso; Jefferson at Andress; Monahans at Fabens; Pecos at Clint; Santa Fe (NM) St. Michael's at Cathedral; San Elizario at Bowie.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Fchavezeptimes/status/1714739186660421958?s=20 </div></figure>

The 2023 West Texas high school football season enters Week 9 with several must-watch games on the schedule. Here the top five games in each region: