GRIDIRON MATCHUPS: WEEK 8

Class 3A, 2A & 1A teams across the Heart of Texas turn full attention to district races with eyes on postseason berths

With just four Friday nights under the lights left in the 2020 Texas high school football regular season for Class 3A, 2A & 1A teams, the spotlight turns to district races and some traditional rivalries across the Heart of Texas.

In Class 3A, Division I, the undefeated defending state champion and second-ranked Grandview Zebras (3-0 in district, 6-0 overall) may be facing their toughest test on the District 7-3A, DI schedule when they hit the road to take on the West Trojans (2-0, 5-1) Friday at 7:30 p.m.  

Week after week, the tough District 11-3A, DI race features intriguing matchups, and this week will be no exception as the Lorena Leopards (1-1, 3-2) will play host to the McGregor Bulldogs (2-1, 4-3).

The undefeated Comanche Indians (1-0, 6-0) will be challenged in a classic showdown in District 5-3A, DII by the Eastland Mavericks (1-0, 3-3), while the Clifton Cubs (2-1, 3-4) will hit the road in hopes of knocking the Buffalo Bison from the undefeated ranks in District 13-3A, DII.

In Class 2A, DI, the seventh-ranked Crawford Pirates (2-0, 6-0) will find out if the surprise team of District 7-2A, DI is for real when they host the Rio Vista Eagles (2-1, 6-1) Friday night, the Hamilton Bulldogs (2-1, 4-3) hope to stay in the top half of the race after visiting the Tolar Rattlers (1-1, 1-5), and the co-district leading Bosqueville Bulldogs (2-0, 3-2) hit the road to face the Valley Mills Eagles (0-3, 2-5).

In Class 2A, DII, the upstart Meridian Yellowjackets (1-1, 3-3) hit a bump in the road when Covid-19 precautions preempted Friday night’s scheduled clash with District 8-2A, DII co-leading Cross Plains (2-0, 6-1), but the two teams hope to reschedule later in the season. In the meantime, the Hico Tigers (0-2, 1-6) will be looking for their first district victory when hosting the Santo Wildcats (1-1, 4-3).

In District 8-2A, DII, the Bremond Tigers (1-0, 4-2) will host the Hubbard Jaguars (1-0, 4-1) in what could set up a showdown with three-time defending state champion and top-ranked Mart Panthers (1-0, 5-0) for the district title.

As Class 1A six-man football turns its full attention to district competition this week, a number of intriguing matchups will be on tap.

In District 11-1A, DI, the defending state champion Blum Bobcats (0-0, 2-3) will visit the Covington Eagles (1-0, 3-3) in hopes of moving into the district driver’s seat, while District 15-1A, DI opens with a much-anticipated clash between the previously state-ranked Jonesboro Eagles (6-1) and the undefeated Evant Elks (4-0) in Jonesboro Friday night.

In Class 1A, DII, the defending district champion Cranfills Gap Lions (0-1, 1-4) hope to overcome a rash of injuries when they visit the 15th-ranked Morgan Eagles (0-0, 4-2).

Once again this season, THE SPORTS BUZZ provides award-winning coverage of the 2020 Texas high school football season, focusing on Class 3A, 2A and 1A schools in the 10-county Heart of Texas region — which includes Bosque, Comanche, Coryell, Erath, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, Johnson, McLennan and Somervell counties.

Be sure to check in with THE SPORTS BUZZ every week to find the complete schedule for teams from the Heart of Texas region. And be sure to tune late Friday for our as-soon-as-they-become-final updated scoreboard.

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