Seven Grayson County football teams either clinched playoff berths or secured at least a share of their district championships last week.
Bells, Collinsville, Gunter and Van Alstyne all claimed at least a share of their respective district titles, while Tioga, Tom Bean and Whitesboro secured postseason berths. Howe, which had a bye last week, clinched a playoff spot three weeks ago.
Two more teams — Pottsboro and Whitewright — have opportunities to reach the postseason with victories in their regular-season finales Friday.
Denison, Sherman and S&S have been eliminated from playoff contention and will conclude their seasons this week.
CALLISBURG (3-6, 3-2) AT BELLS (7-2, 5-0)
The Panthers can claim the District 7-3A Division II championship outright with a victory over the Wildcats at 7 p.m. Friday in Bells.
Callisburg secured a playoff berth with a 12-7 victory over Valley View last week, while Bells defeated Leonard, 42-14, to clinch at least a share of the district title and the league’s No. 1 playoff seed.
The Panthers earned the victory in typical Bells fashion, relying entirely on their ground game. All 352 yards of offense came on the ground, marking the seventh time this season Bells has accomplished that feat.
Two Panthers surpassed 100 rushing yards. Westin Hicks carried nine times for 129 yards and two touchdowns, while Jaxon Brown added 102 yards and a score on 15 carries.
Other contributors included Asa Curtis (10 carries, 76 yards, TD), Jax Pitt (eight carries, 62 yards, TD) and Je’Darius Washington (five carries, 51 yards, TD).
Washington led the defense with 13 tackles, while Brown added 11.
LEONARD (3-6, 3-2) AT HOWE (6-3, 4-1)
The Tigers will attempt to secure a playoff berth when they visit the Bulldogs at 7 p.m. Friday in Howe.
Leonard is coming off a 42-14 loss to Bells, while Howe had a bye last week.
The Bulldogs’ most recent outing also resulted in a loss to Bells.
Howe can secure second place outright in District 7-3A Division II with a victory. The Bulldogs could also claim a share of the district championship with a win and a Bells loss to Callisburg.
Leonard, meanwhile, could finish as high as second place with a victory.
SANGER (7-2, 3-1) AT VAN ALSTYNE (8-1, 4-0)
The Panthers had an opportunity to claim the District 6-4A Division II championship outright when they hosted the Indians on Thursday night.
Sanger entered the contest following a 41-27 victory over Ponder, while Van Alstyne received a forfeit victory against Gainesville last week.
PILOT POINT (7-2, 3-1) AT GUNTER (8-1, 4-0)
The Tigers hosted the Bearcats on Thursday night in a showdown to determine the District 5-3A Division I championship.
Pilot Point entered the matchup following a 58-6 rout of Dallas A+ Academy, while Gunter defeated Dallas Life Oak Cliff, 44-26, last week.
A Gunter victory would give the Tigers the outright district championship and the No. 1 playoff seed.
Pilot Point, meanwhile, could claim a share of the district title and the top seed with a victory, dropping Gunter to second place.
Gunter’s offense was led last week by quarterback Tristan Barton, who rushed seven times for 154 yards and two touchdowns while passing for 90 yards and another score.
Running backs Ashton Pinkernell and Jayden Stogsdill also delivered strong performances. Pinkernell rushed 20 times for 130 yards and a touchdown, while Stogsdill added 120 yards and a score on 11 carries.
Blake Borland contributed a touchdown run, while Alex Fenner caught a touchdown pass.
NOCONA (6-3, 2-2) AT TIOGA (6-3, 3-1)
The Bulldogs had an opportunity to secure second place in District 6-2A Division II when they hosted the Indians on Thursday night.
Nocona entered the contest following a 37-7 loss to Alvord, while Tioga rolled past Olney, 65-6.
Quarterback Camden Stephens powered the Bulldogs’ offense against Olney, passing for 254 yards and six touchdowns while rushing 10 times for 122 yards and two more scores.
Wide receiver Quesyn Arrington caught eight passes for 213 yards and five touchdowns.
Graham Arnold added a fumble return for a touchdown, while Calan Sweeney contributed a touchdown reception.
TRENTON (6-3, 2-3) AT TOM BEAN (6-3, 4-1)
The Tom Cats can secure second place in District 9-2A Division I when they host the Tigers at 7 p.m. Friday.
Trenton is coming off a 51-0 loss to Cooper, while Tom Bean blanked Wolfe City, 55-0.
Paxton Parrish led the Tom Cats against Wolfe City, passing for 163 yards and two touchdowns while rushing 12 times for 106 yards and two more scores. He also converted seven of eight extra-point attempts.
Cain Pearson caught seven passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
Other offensive contributors included Tatum Hanson (eight carries, 89 yards, TD), Slayton Farris (eight carries, 77 yards, TD) and Carter Mayo (TD run).
Anthony Secreto added an interception return for a touchdown.
WOLFE CITY (4-5, 1-4) AT WHITEWRIGHT (5-4, 2-3)
The Wolves visit the Tigers at 7 p.m. Friday in a matchup with postseason implications for both teams.
Whitewright and Wolfe City each need Tom Bean to defeat Trenton to remain in playoff contention.
If Tom Bean wins, Whitewright can secure the fourth and final playoff berth with a victory over Wolfe City. The Wolves, meanwhile, must defeat Whitewright by at least 15 points to claim the spot.
If Trenton defeats Tom Bean, both Whitewright and Wolfe City will be eliminated from postseason contention.
Whitewright had a bye last week, while Wolfe City suffered a 55-0 loss to Tom Bean.
DALLAS LIFE OAK CLIFF (7-2, 2-2) AT POTTSBORO (5-4, 1-3)
The Cardinals face a must-win situation when they host the Lions at 7 p.m. Friday in their regular-season finale.
Pottsboro needs a victory to secure a playoff berth.
Both teams are coming off 18-point losses. Dallas Life Oak Cliff fell to Gunter, 44-26, while Pottsboro lost to Whitesboro, 52-34.
Quarterback Brayden Sheffield led the Cardinals against Whitesboro, passing for 206 yards and three touchdowns while rushing 18 times for 62 yards and another score.
Brody Burdette added 69 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, while Brady Wynn caught six passes for 83 yards and a score.
Corbin Robison contributed four receptions for 56 yards, and Evan Roebuck caught five passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.
S&S (1-8, 0-5) AT VALLEY VIEW (3-6, 2-3)
The Rams had an opportunity to play spoiler when they visited the Eagles on Thursday night.
Both teams entered the contest following losses. Valley View fell to Callisburg, 12-7, while S&S suffered a 55-7 defeat against Blue Ridge.
Valley View still had a path to the postseason entering Thursday’s game.
If the Eagles defeated S&S and both Callisburg and Leonard lost their finales, Valley View would claim third place in District 7-3A Division II.
The Eagles would win the tiebreaker by virtue of their 44-27 victory over Leonard, which defeated Callisburg, 14-8.
Under that scenario, Leonard would claim the fourth playoff spot based on its head-to-head victory over Callisburg.
CELINA (7-2, 5-2) AT DENISON (3-6, 2-5)
The Yellowjackets will look to finish their season on a positive note when they host the Bobcats at 7 p.m. Friday.
Celina enters the contest following a 35-28 loss to District 4-5A Division II leader Anna, while Denison had a bye last week.
With postseason contention out of reach, Denison will attempt to close its season with a victory on its home field.
SAGINAW (1-8, 0-5) AT SHERMAN (1-8, 1-4)
The Bearcats will attempt to close their season with a victory when they host the Rough Riders at 7 p.m. Friday.
Both teams have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Saginaw is coming off a 48-13 loss to Denton, while Sherman had a bye last week.