Celeste Tx Vs Bosqueville Live Feed

Staff report

The high school football playoffs arrive with a full slate of games involving Central Texas teams the next two days.

Although three of the area's biggest schools — Midway, Waco High and University — missed the postseason, there are still plenty of contenders to stay around a while. Among them, La Vega, China Spring, Lorena, West, Crawford, Mart, Abbott, Jonesboro and Live Oak all look like they're in the hunt for state championships.

Here are some of the top games to watch in the opening round.

No. 9 La Vega (7-3) vs. Fort Worth Western Hills (6-4)

Round: Class 4A Div. I bi-district

Site, time: 7 p.m. Thursday at Joshua

Radio: 94.5 FM, centexbeat.com

What's at stake: The Pirates have put the pedal to the metal in the last month starting with wins over Brownwood and Midlothian Heritage. That has La Vega eyeing another long playoff run. But to get it started, the Pirates will have to beat a Western Hills team that finished the regular season with three straight wins against Fort Worth rivals Castleberry, Eastern Hills and Dunbar.

No. 5 China Spring (10-0) vs. Madisonville (4-6)

Round: Class 4A Div. II bi-district

Site, time: 7 p.m. Friday at Bryan

What's at stake: Few area programs appear more equipped for a long road trip through the playoffs than China Spring. The Cougars have pounded people by an average score of 49-10, and should still be brimming with confidence over last year's eye-opening playoff run. Major Bowden gives China Spring a highly skilled, dual-threat field general, while playmakers like defensive end Keith Njemini, linebacker Dawson Exline and safety Tre Hafford should make it tough on a Mustang team that scored a combined 16 points in its final two regular-season games.

Connally (4-5) vs. Jasper (5-4)

Round: Class 4A Div. II bi-district

Site, time: 7:30 p.m., Thursday at Whitehouse

Streaming/Radio: centexsportsnetwork.com, NFHS Network; 107.9 FM, SicEm365 app

What's at stake: There's no question the Cadets can score points in bunches after rolling for 73 points against Jarrell and 47 against Gatesville in recent games. But is Connally's defense good enough to slow down a Jasper offense that's averaged 37.7 points during a three-game winning streak heading into the playoffs? Coming off a 48-7 loss to China Spring, the Cadets are in a tough playoff bracket. The winner of the bi-district game will face the No. 4 West Orange-Stark and LaMarque winner.

Gatesville (4-6) vs. No. 1 Carthage (9-0)

Round: Class 4A Div. II bi-district

Site, time: 7 p.m. Friday at Bruce Field in Athens

What's at stake: Gatesville is playing its first playoff game since an abrupt coaching change and subsequent 0-10 season in 2019. The Hornets made the playoffs last season, but didn't actually play a game because of COVID-19 issues during the bi-district week. Now Gatesville will suit up in the postseason and face a Carthage team that might be the biggest favorite (other than Mart) to win its division in the entire state.

No. 4 West (10-0) vs. Fairfield (4-6)

Round: Class 3A Div. I bi-district

Site, time: 7 p.m. Friday at Corsicana Tiger Stadium

What's at stake: West worked hard to post its first undefeated regular season since 1976. Now the Trojans have to stay focused and get a potential long playoff run started with a win over the Eagles. Of course, Fairfield fans can easily remember a time when they were the heavy favorites to win a bi-district game. The Eagles reached the 3A DII state championship game in 2013.

No. 5 Lorena (8-2) vs. Hutchinson (5-5)

Round: Class 3A Div. I bi-district

Site, time: 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Montgomery

What's at stake: Lorena will make the long, 138-mile trek to Montgomery for its bi-district opener, but the Leopards have every reason to be enthusiastic for the road ahead. Lorena has won eight straight games since losing its first two games to Franklin and China Spring, including the final two by a combined score of 112-0. In addition to a prolific running attack headed up by Rhett Hanson and Reed Michna, the Leopards can score in a variety of ways. That includes special teams, where Kasen Taylor and Colton Dale represent major, field-flipping threats.

Whitney (5-5) vs. Groesbeck (8-2)

Round: Class 3A Div. I bi-district

Site, time: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Waco ISD Stadium

What's at stake: Local high school football fans have a nice matchup to go watch in town on Friday night as the Goats and Wildcats will roll out two of the better passing attacks in Central Texas. Groesbeck QB Allen Lewis is second among Centex passers with 2,186 passing yards this season, just eight yards in front of Whitney QB Garrett Peacock (2,178) in third. While Groesbeck is the second-place seed from its district in this matchup against the third-seeded Wildcats, keep in mind that Whitney's district featured two state-ranked teams this fall in West and Grandview. It should be a pretty high level playoff game for the first round at Waco ISD Stadium.

No. 4 Crawford (10-0) vs. Dawson (3-7)

Round: Class 2A Div. I bi-district

Site, time: 7 p.m., Thursday at Midway

What's at stake: This bi-district game has mismatch written all over it since unbeaten Crawford won by an average score of 51-7 in its last three District 7-2A Division I games. Meanwhile, Dawson is trending in the opposite direction with three straight losses that included a forfeit against Marlin two weeks ago. The winner will advance to the area round against the Celeste-Tioga winner.

Bosqueville (6-4) vs. Marlin (7-3)

Round: Class 2A Div. I bi-district

Site, time: 7 p.m. Friday at Robinson

Streaming/Radio: NFHS Networ,; 106.7 FM, SicEm365 app

What's at stake: It's a battle of the Bulldogs for the second straight postseason, and it figures to be a far more competitive tussle than last year, when Bosqueville rolled to a 72-8 victory. Ruben Torres' 7-3 debut matched the late Jerry Malone for the best first season for a Marlin coach. The pass-catch combination of Desmond Woodson (22 TDs, only 4 INTs) and Derion Gullette (1,001 yards, 11 TDs) has presented problems for defenses all year. Bosqueville, though, can counter with one of the more prolific tacklers in Central Texas in John Youens (156 stops).

No. 1 Mart (10-0) vs. Clarksville (4-6)

Round: Class 2A Div. II bi-district

Site, time: 7 p.m., Friday at Eustace

What's at stake: The biggest question isn't whether Mart will win to improve to 11-0 but whether there will be a running clock in the second half like so many of the Panthers' games this year. In the last three games, Mart's average score was 68-0. Clarksville allowed 109 points in its last two regular season games. The winner will face the Hull-Daisetta vs. Lovelady winner.

Best of the Rest

Waxahachie (6-4) at Temple (8-2): The Indians might've contended for a district title in some other leagues, but they'll still find a potent first-round foe in surging Temple, especially at Wildcat Stadium. … Teague (4-6) vs. Grandview (8-2): The Lions overcame an 0-3 start to the season to find their footing. Can they put a scare into the Zebras? … Chilton (8-1) vs. Simms Bowie (5-4): With only a loss to No. 1-ranked Mart, Chilton could be a sleeper to make a deep postseason push.

Trib staff's playoffs week 1 high school football predictions

	CHAD CONINE	BRICE CHERRY	JOHN WERNER
Belton (6-4) at Duncanville (8-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday	Duncanville	Duncanville	Duncanville
Waxahachie (6-4) at Temple (8-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday	Temple	Temple	Temple
La Vega (7-3) vs. FW Western Hills (6-4), 7 p.m. Thursday at Joshua	La Vega	La Vega	La Vega
Hillsboro (6-4) vs. Caddo Mills (7-3), 7 p.m. Thursday at Corsicana	Hillsboro	Caddo Mills	Caddo Mills
Mexia (2-8) vs. Gilmer (9-1), 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Lindale	Gilmer	Gilmer	Gilmer
China Spring (10-0) vs. Madisonville (4-6), 7 p.m. Friday at Bryan	C. Spring	C. Spring	C. Spring
Connally (4-5) vs. Jasper (5-4), 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Whitehouse	Jasper	Connally	Jasper
Gatesville (4-6) vs. Carthage (9-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Athens	Carthage	Carthage	Carthage
West (10-0) vs. Fairfield (4-6), 7 p.m. Friday at Corsicana	West	West	West
Whitney (5-5) vs. Groesbeck (8-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Waco ISD Stadium	Groesbeck	Groesbeck	Groesbeck
Teague (4-6) vs. Grandview (8-2), 7 p.m. Thursday at Whitney	Grandview	Grandview	Grandview
Lorena (8-2) vs. Hitchcock (5-5), 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Montgomery	Lorena	Lorena	Lorena
Cameron Yoe (4-6) vs. Hallettsville (8-2), 7 p.m. Thursday at Brenham	Hallettsville	Halletsville	Halletsville
Riesel (5-4) vs. Van Vleck (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Caldwell	Riesel	Van Vleck	Van Vleck
Crawford (10-0) vs. Dawson (3-7), 7 p.m. Thursday at Midway	Crawford	Crawford	Crawford
Bosqueville (6-4) vs. Marlin (7-3) , 7 p.m. Friday at Robinson	Marlin	Marlin	Marlin
Hamilton (6-4) vs. Italy (8-2), 7 p.m. Thursday at Robinson	Italy	Italy	Italy
Rosebud-Lott (6-4) vs. Centerville (9-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bremond	Centerville	Centerville	Centerville
Mart (10-0) vs. Clarksville (4-6), 7 p.m. Friday at Eustace	Mart	Mart	Mart
Chilton (8-1) vs. Simms Bowie (5-4), 7 p.m. Thursday at Bullard	Chilton	Chilton	Chilton
Bremond (4-6) vs. Quinlan Boles (7-3), 7 p.m. Thursday at Venus	Boles	Boles	Boles
Wortham (5-5) vs. Maud (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Whitehouse	Maud	Maud	Maud
Abbott (10-0) at Avalon (6-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday	Abbott	Abbott	Abbott
Blum (5-5) at Coolidge (6-4), 7:30 p.m. Thursday	Coolidge	Blum	Coolidge
Jonesboro (10-0) vs. Leakey (6-3), 5 p.m. Thursday at Fredericksburg	Jonesboro	Jonesboro	Jonesboro
Cranfills Gap (7-3) vs. Gordon (8-2), 7 p.m. Thursday at Dublin	Gordon	Gordon	Gordon
Morgan (3-5) at Strawn (10-0), 7:30 p.m. Thursday	Strawn	Strawn	Strawn
Calvert (5-3) at Oglesby (7-2), 7 p.m. Thursday	Calvert	Calvert	Calvert
Mount Calm (5-3) at Oakwood (6-3), 7 p.m. Thursday	Oakwood	Oakwood	Oakwood
FW Temple Christian (2-8) at Bishop Reicher (2-7), 7 p.m. Friday	Reicher	Reicher	Reicher
Austin Hill Country (4-5) at Live Oak (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday	Live Oak	Live Oak	Live Oak
Vanguard (9-1) at Lucas Christian (9-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lowrey Freshman Center, Allen	Vanguard	Vanguard	Vanguard
Methodist Home (8-2) vs. Dallas Academy (4-6), 6 p.m. Thursday at Avalon	MCH	MCH	MCH
RESULTS
Last week	39-2	37-4	38-3
Season to date	344-95	339-100	334-105