The battle of Texas Highway 289 will take place Friday night when Pottsboro (4-2, 0-1 in District 5-3A-Division I) hosts Gunter (5-1, 1-0).
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium in Pottsboro. The Cardinals lost to Pilot Point, 34-6, while the Tigers trounced Plainview, 80-15, last week.
In Pottsboro’s loss, Levi Hackler caught four passes for 64 yards and his team’s only touchdown. Brayden Sheffield passed for 86 yards and a touchdown while rushing 10 times for 40 yards. Brody Burdette (11 carries, 88 yards) was the Cardinals’ leading rusher.
Gunter was led by quarterback Tristan Barton (212 yards, three TDs passing; two carries, 63 yards, TD rushing), Cole Bolt (two catches, 86 yards, two TDs) and Ashton Pinkernell (13 carries, 97 yards, two TDs).
Rhys Dainauski (four catches, 32 yards, TD), Witten Overman (42-yard TD run) and Jayden Stogsdill (five carries, 39 yards, two TDs) also contributed offensively, while Andrew Pulpaneck returned an interception for a touchdown.
VALLEY VIEW (1-5, 0-2) AT HOWE (5-2, 3-0)
The Bulldogs can clinch a playoff berth Friday if they defeat the Eagles in a crucial District 7-3A-Division II contest scheduled for 7 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium in Howe.
Howe defeated Blue Ridge, 41-21, while Valley View lost to Bells, 43-12, last week.
In the Bulldogs’ win, the Big Three — Deacon Bender, Riken Cross and Rylan Strong — accounted for all six touchdowns.
Bender threw for 121 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 11 times for 43 yards and two scores. Cross caught two passes for 62 yards and a touchdown and
ran eight times for 33 yards and a score. Strong carried the ball 25 times for 207 yards and a touchdown while catching two passes for 48 yards.
BELLS (5-2, 3-0), BYE
The Panthers have a bye this week after running past Valley View, 43-12, last week.
In Bells’ win, Jaxon Brown (10 carries, 104 yards, TD), Asa Curtis (10 carries, 86 yards), Westin Hicks (seven carries, 61 yards, TD rushing; 19-yard TD reception), Jax Pitt (two carries, 15 yards, TD rushing; 19-yard TD pass) and Je’Darius Washington (three carries, 50 yards, TD) led the offense.
Je’Kobe Washington led the defense with a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown.
S&S (1-6, 0-3) AT CALLISBURG (0-6, 0-2)
One of these teams will earn its first District 7-3A-Division II victory when the Rams visit the Wildcats at 7 p.m. Friday.
The game is slated to be the first at Callisburg’s newly renovated Wildcat Stadium.
S&S lost to Leonard, 42-7, last week, while Callisburg had a bye.
Eli Nortman (22 carries, 93 yards rushing), Joe Orr (75 yards, TD passing) and Gabriel Jaramillo (six catches, 45 yards, TD) led the way for the Rams.
TIOGA (3-3, 0-1) AT CHICO (1-5, 0-1)
The Bulldogs visit the Dragons in a crucial District 6-2A-Division I contest at 7 p.m. Friday at Dragon Stadium in Chico.
Tioga suffered a 53-48 loss to Muenster last week, while Chico fell to Nocona, 49-7.
In the Bulldogs’ loss, Tioga led 22-0 before Muenster began its comeback. Tioga held a 28-13 halftime lead, but the Hornets stormed back to take a 40-34 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
Muenster scored twice more to build a 53-34 lead before the Bulldogs scored two touchdowns late in the game.
Hornets quarterback Carter Heller (27 carries, 272 yards, six TDs rushing; 45 yards, TD passing) led the way for Muenster.
Camden Stephens (253 yards, four TDs passing; 21 carries, 168 yards, two TDs rushing) led Tioga.
Quesyn Arrington (five catches, 82 yards, TD), Jake David (16 carries, 167 yards, TD rushing; four catches, 28 yards, TD receiving) and Jaxson Hurst (seven catches, 129 yards, two TDs) also contributed.
COOPER (4-2, 2-0) AT WHITEWRIGHT (5-2, 2-1)
The Bulldogs visit the Tigers in a District 9-2A-Division I matchup at 7 p.m. Friday in Whitewright.
Cooper defeated Tom Bean, 49-7, while Whitewright won at Honey Grove, 35-21, last week.
In the Tigers’ win, Nick Ulmer (six carries, 195 yards, two TDs) led the way.
Jacoby Brown (five carries, 36 yards, two TDs) and Colt Parker (seven carries, 68 yards, TD) also contributed.
TOM BEAN (4-3, 2-1), BYE
The Tom Cats have a bye this week after falling to Cooper, 49-7, last week.
Carter Mayo scored Tom Bean’s only touchdown on a run.
VAN ALSTYNE (5-1, 1-0) AT KRUM (4-2, 1-0)
One of these teams will take an early lead in the District 6-4A-Division II race when the Panthers visit the Bobcats at 7 p.m. Friday in Krum.
Van Alstyne dominated Lake Worth, 83-26, while Krum defeated Sanger, 56-33, last week.
The Panthers scored a school-record 83 points behind big performances from quarterback Cason Howard (187 yards, three TDs passing; nine carries, 53 yards, three TDs rushing) and Seth Wyatt (eight carries, 130 yards, three TDs).
Tim Moore (two catches, 105 yards, two TDs) and Xavier Vidaurri (10 carries, 113 yards, TD) also had big nights.
Sammy Lathrop (TD run) and Amyrion Taylor (TD reception) also reached the end zone, while Aydin Mowry was perfect on all 11 extra-point attempts and two field-goal attempts.
FRISCO MEMORIAL (3-3, 1-3) AT DENISON (2-5, 1-4)
Two teams fighting for their postseason lives square off when the Wolverines visit the Yellowjackets at 7 p.m. Friday in Denison.
Memorial lost to Anna, 49-7, while Denison surrendered a 17-point lead in a 47-36 loss to Frisco last week.
The Yellowjackets couldn’t make a 29-12 second-quarter lead stand against the Raccoons. Frisco stormed back to outscore Denison, 35-7, the rest of the way to claim an 11-point victory.
For the Yellowjackets, Rashaud Dehorney (26 carries, 167 yards, two TDs rushing), Paxton Neasbitt (155 yards, two TDs passing) and Christian Ramos (four catches, 78 yards) led the way.
Shandan Love (TD reception) and Gavin Mandrell (TD reception, TD run) also contributed.
SAGINAW CHISHOLM TRAIL (3-3, 1-1) AT SHERMAN (1-6, 1-2)
Both the Rangers and Bearcats look to bounce back from tough losses last week when they meet at 7 p.m. Friday in Sherman.
Chisholm Trail lost a 37-34 nail-biter against Denton, while Azle rallied past Sherman, 32-21.
The Bearcats built a 21-6 lead behind a pair of Daniel Ramos-to-Christian Mackey touchdown passes and a fumble return for a score by Mackey. But the Hornets scored 26 unanswered points to complete the comeback.
Mackey (five catches, 143 yards, two TDs) and Ramos (334 yards, two TDs passing) led the way for Sherman. Brycen Taylor (six catches, 55 yards) also contributed.