Examining the area's football district playoff races

Jonathan Hull
Wichita Falls Times Record News

Someway, somehow, we've reached the home stretch of the high school football regular season — at least for teams in Class 4A through Class A. 

Several teams have already locked up playoff spots. Few have clinched at least a share of a district title. And many are battling for their postseason hopes. 

Each district carries it's own unique brand of drama heading into the final two weeks of this bizarre season. Here is a rundown of what is on the line for each 11-man district with ties to the Wichita Falls area. 

DISTRICT 4-4A DIVISION I  

IN: Decatur, Springtown 

IN WITH A WIN: Hirschi, Gainesville   

OUT: None

WHAT’S AT STAKE: Decatur beat Springtown to win at least a share of the district title and can finish 4-4A unbeaten by beating Hirsch on Friday. If the Huskies win on the road, they’ll also be in the playoffs.

Hirschi still has either Gainesville or Burkburnett left, too. Hirschi isn’t guaranteed a playoff berth yet because if it loses out, then it could be in a tie with Lake Worth and Gainesville for two spots. If Gainesville beats Lake Worth, then the Leopards will be in the playoffs and will face Hirschi to potentially determine third/fourth.

Burkburnett's chances don't look good, but the Bulldogs still  have a shot. It starts with a tall order of beating Springtown on Friday. Then they'll need a lot of help with Gainesville and Hirschi losing. 

DISTRICT 3-4A DIVISION II  

IN: Graham, Iowa Park  

IN WITH A WIN: Vernon  

OUT: None  

WHAT’S AT STAKE: Graham (3-0) has the No. 1 seed officially clinched because even if it somehow loses to Mineral Wells (and in the age of COVID, nothing can be taken for granted), nobody can own the tiebreaker over the Steers at 3-1. A win against the Rams gives Graham the district title outright. 

Iowa Park (2-1) has beaten both 0-2 teams (Bridgeport, Mineral Wells) so the Hawks are guaranteed a playoff berth, too. Vernon hosts Bridgeport on Friday, and if the Lions win, they’ll be playoff-bound. And then Vernon-Iowa Park would decide second place in Week 11.

In that scenario, the Rams and Bulls would meet in the season finale to decide fourth place. If Bridgeport beats Vernon, then there’s a possibility of a three-way tie at 1-3.

There’s also the scenario where Bridgeport wins out and takes third, dropping Vernon to fourth. The Lions are in a really good place since they maxed out Mineral Wells, but they haven’t clinched because there’s a scenario where Mineral Wells finishes 2-2 and Bridgeport takes the final spot over Vernon with a head-to-head advantage at 1-3.  

DISTRICT 4-3A DIVISION I  

IN: Brock, Boyd, Pilot Point  

IN WITH A WIN: Whitesboro  

OUT: Ponder, Bowie, Peaster  

WHAT’S AT STAKE: Brock (5-0) took a big step toward a district title Friday by beating Boyd. The Eagles can clinch it outright by beating Pilot Point in Week 11.

Boyd and Pilot Point are both 4-1 and will meet this week to likely decide second place, although there’s a chance of a three-way tie at 5-2 for teams 2-4.

Ponder and Bowie (both 1-4) are out because they’ve already lost to Whitesboro (3-2), the only team they can catch.

Paradise (2-3) hosts Whitesboro this week with the winner likely snagging the final playoff berth. If the Panthers win, they’d both enter the final week at 3-3 with Paradise needing to beat Ponder to advance.  

DISTRICT 5-3A DIVISON II  

IN: Eastland  

IN WITH A WIN: Jacksboro, Comanche, Millsap 

OUT: Nobody (although Dublin is close)  

WHAT’S AT STAKE: Eastland not only is in, but basically has the district title wrapped up since the Mavericks have beaten their top three competitors already and are heavy favorites against Merkel and Dublin.

Jacksboro and Comanche are all but in the playoffs and the winner of Friday's game not only clinches a berth but has a strong chance at second place.

By beating Dublin, Merkel still has an outside shot at the playoffs but will need to pull off at least one upset. If Comanche and Millsap both win in Week 11, all then the Millsap/Jacksboro matchup in Week 11 decides third/fourth.

The reason why Dublin (0-3) isn’t eliminated yet because it still has a chance of getting in a three-way tie for the final spot with Millsap and Merkel.  

DISTRICT 6-3A DIVISION II  

IN: Holliday, City View  

IN WITH A WIN: Henrietta, Callisburg  

OUT: Nocona  

WHAT’S AT STAKE: City View hosts Holliday with the winner earning the district title and the loser almost certainly finishing second.

Henrietta is basically in after beating Valley View decisively, but there’s a scenario where they get maxed out by Callisburg on Friday, Valley View wins out against Nocona and Callisburg and there’s a three-way tie at 2-3 for two berths. The Henrietta-Callisburg game likely decides third/fourth.

The reason why Nocona is out at 0-3 and Valley View isn’t – the Indians have decisive losses to both Callisburg and Henrietta in the standings, but the Eagles could still beat Callisburg and force a tie at 2-3.   

DISTRICT 6-2A DIVISION II  

IN: Seymour

IN WITH A WIN: Quanah, Archer City   

OUT: Electra  

WHAT’S AT STAKE: This district is tricky because not everybody is going to get five games in. Quanah-Munday will not be happening, and Olney can only play Munday or Archer City in Week 11.

Munday must beat Electra to have a chance at the playoffs. If that happens and Quanah beats Olney, then Olney and Munday will play for the final postseason berth.

Seymour takes on Archer City this week and Quanah the next. If the Indians win out, they’ll be district champs. If Seymour wins out, the Panthers will be district champs and Quanah will be second followed by Archer City.  

DISTRICT 7-2A DIVISION II  

IN: Windthorst, Petrolia, Muenster, Chico  

OUT: Era  

WHAT’S AT STAKE: All four playoff spots are set because Era (0-3) has already lost to both teams it could conceivably get into a three-way tie at 1-3 with. Windthorst (2-0) can clinch the district title by beating Petrolia (2-0) on Friday. If that happens, then Muenster and Petrolia would decide who gets second/third place in Week 11.