A double rainbow sets behind Rangers Stadium in Perryton during a game earlier this season. [David Erickson/ Press Pass Sports]
Thursday’s games
Class 5A
Palo Duro (5-2, 1-2) vs. Amarillo High (6-2, 3-1), 7 p.m., Dick Bivins Stadium:
The Dons-Sandies started playing this one in 1955,
This year PD needs a W to keep playoff hopes alive.
AHS had that scare against Coronado a week ago,
Not the story here, AHS earns the playoffs, fo sho. … Amarillo High 40, Palo Duro 14
Class 1A
Valley (5-3, 2-0) at Happy (5-2, 1-0), 7 p.m.
This game is most likely for the District 1-1A Division I championship. Two teams that are too familiar with one another face off once again, and like many times before, it is a toss up. Valley is the underdog, but cannot be overlooked. Happy has home field advantage, and it could be what gives them the edge. … Happy 65, Valley 60
Darrouzett (1-7, 0-2) at Follett (7-0, 1-0), 7 p.m.
This will be all Panthers. … Follett 60, Darrouzett 6
Wildorado (6-1, 0-0) at Silverton (2-4, 0-0), 7:30 p.m.
The Mustangs are primed to make a run at back-to-back playoff appearances. That run starts with a win at Silverton. … Wildorado 52, Silverton 20
Friday’s games
Class 5A
Lubbock Monterey (3-4, 1-2) at Tascosa (7-1, 4-0), 7 p.m., Dick Bivins Stadium Plains
These Rebs are legit as the No. 4 team in the state,
Meanwhile, Monterey rides a roller-coaster to date.
Tascosa signs its name to school history with a win,
That speed, defense and Major, means fans will grin. … Tascosa 48, Monterey 21
Caprock (2-4, 1-2) at Lubbock Coronado (3-4, 2-1) 7 p.m., Lowrey Field at PlainsCapital Park, Lubbock
Sherwood’s Rock is all about the ground and pound,
Kinda cool to see the Longhorns personality found.
Coronado is no joke, making defenses look meek.
No homer here, just an upset special of the week. … Caprock 31, Coronado 27
Randall (5-2, 2-0) at Abilene Wylie (2-5, 0-2) 7 p.m., Sandifer Stadium, Abilene
Randall fans have Raider Fever and rightfully so,
This team certainly not full of ordinary Joe(s).
Wylie surprised us last week losing to Old High by 16,
Look more of the same for the Raider who can be mean. … Randall 44, Wylie 21
Wichita Falls Rider (6-0, 1-1) at Plainview (1-6, 0-2), Greg Sherwood Memorial Stadium, Plainview
Rider coming off a heartbreaker of a loss to Cooper,
The wounds are healed, Riders offense simply super. … Rider 49, Plainview 13
Wichita Falls High (2-5, 1-1) at Lubbock Cooper (6-1, 2-0), Pirate Stadium at First United Park, 7 p.m., Lubbock
Cooper goes back-to-back against teams from The Falls,
This one quite a bit different, and Cooper mauls.
Cooper 45, Old High 13
— Lance Lahnert
Last week: 5-1 (.833)
Season: 26-6 (.812)
Class 4A
Canyon (6-1, 0-0) at Pampa (6-1, 0-0), 7 p.m.
Something has to give in this clash of first-year head coaches (Canyon’s Todd Winfrey and Pampa’s Cody Robinson) who have led their respective teams to six straight wins after season opening losses. Both teams can justifiably claim momentum heading into district and it’s hard to settle on a clear-cut favorite. This one should be close but Canyon’s defense seems most likely to make a key stop when it really counts late. … Canyon 28, Pampa 27
Hereford (5-2, 0-0) at Dumas (4-2, 0-0), 7 p.m.
Both teams have shown improvement as district play has drawn near and Hereford carries three straight wins on the road. Dumas has taken a bit longer to find its footing after losing several key players to graduation, but the Demons may just be hitting their stride. Couple that with the excitement of playing their district opener at home and they enjoy a definite edge in beginning the defense of their district championship. … Dumas 35, Hereford 20
Lubbock Estacado (5-3, 2-0) at Perryton (2-5, 1-0), 7 p.m.
The winner of this one will claim the outright district lead and Estacado will claim a playoff berth with a victory. Perryton made a statement by routing Levelland in the district opener last week and playing at home will definitely help the Rangers in what will be along road trip for Estacado. But it won’t quite mitigate the athletes of the Matadors, who will still have to fight to get out of town with a victory. … Estacado 27, Perryton 19
Seminole (2-5, 0-1) at Borger (3-5, 1-1), 7 p.m.
Playoff positioning is important in this one, with the winner having a much easier path the rest of the way. Former Pampa coach Greg Poynor brings his Seminole team to a visiting field he became familiar with while leading the Harvesters. He’ll head back south with a hard-earned victory over the Bulldogs, who will have a lot of incentive after being routed by Estacado last week. … Seminole 30, Borger 20
— Lee Passmore
Last week: 3-0 (1.000)
Season: 30-7 (.810)
Class 3A
Bushland (5-2, 2-0) at Dalhart (2-5, 1-0), 7 p.m.
Dalhart has a ton of moment after last week’s epic comeback at Littlefield, but do they have the firepower to match the Falcons. … Bushland 34, Dalhart 20
Muleshoe (2-5, 0-1) at River Road (5-3, 1-1), 7 p.m.
The Wildcats run attack is as good as any team in the Texas Panhandle. The more River Road keeps it away from the Mules the better the outcome. … River Road 35, Muleshoe 26
Friona (6-1, 2-1) at Canadian (6-1, 3-0), 7 p.m.
How to pick this District 3-3A Division II showdown? Two weeks ago it was a lock for the Wildcats. However, a lot has changed. Canadian is missing key players, and the Chieftains proved they are a contender. This should be a dandy. … Canadian 42, Friona 38
Tulia (5-2, 2-1) at Childress (7-0, 4-0), 7 p.m.
The Bobcats will need to beware of Tulia’s pass attack, but will stay unbeaten to celebrate Senior Night. … Childress 48, Tulia 21
Dimmitt (2-6, 0-3) at Spearman (4-3, 1-2), 7 p.m.
The Lynx pull back into .500 in district with a W. … Spearman 42, Dimmitt 12
Olton (5-2, 1-1) at Sanford-Fritch (2-5, 1-1), 7 p.m.
Olton brings a tough challenge for the Eagles who are fighting for a playoff spot. … Olton 38, Sanford-Fritch 19
Panhandle (2-5, 2-0) at Boys Ranch (1-6, 0-2), 7 p.m.
The Panthers are hot since opening up the district schedule. … Panhandle 48, Boys Ranch 14
Farwell (6-1, 2-0) at WT High (0-7, 0-2), 7 p.m.
The Steers make this a quick night of work. … Farwell 50, WT High 8
Bovina (3-5, 0-2) at Smyer (0-7, 0-1), 7 p.m.
The Mustangs have found new life in the district season. … Bovina 26, Smyer 8
Sudan (0-7, 0-1) at Ropes (5-2, 0-2), 7 p.m.
Ropes snaps a nasty two-game losing skid. … Ropes 22, Sudan 7
Gruver (7-0, 2-0) at Stratford (6-1, 1-0), 7 p.m.
What a game this should be between the two rivals. The Greyhounds have been a surprise story, but now it’s time to see where they stand. The Elks are no strangers to games like this, and have the best player on the field in QB Cody Rinne. … Stratford 34, Gruver 20
Vega (5-2, 0-1) at Booker (1-6, 0-2), 7 p.m.
Vega is fresh off a bye week ready to get back in the groove. … Vega 49, Booker 12
Clarendon (6-1, 1-0) at Wellington (5-2, 2-0), 7 p.m.
The Skyrockets will bring a heavy dose of running back Marc Ramirez at the Broncos defense. It will be up to Clarendon maintain the dynamic back… Wellington 35, Clarendon 21
Memphis (1-7, 0-2) at Wheeler (3-4, 0-1), 7 p.m.
The Mustangs bounce back with their first district win. … Wheeler 40, Memphis 13
— Kale Steed
Last week: 12-1 (.923)
Season: 100-24 (.806)
Class 1A
McLean (4-3, 0-1) at Claude (2-6, 0-2), 7 p.m. Both teams are on the outside looking in at a playoff berth, but the Tigers still have something to prove. … McLean 68, Claude 45
Nazareth (5-2, 1-0) at Kress (4-3, 1-0), 7 p.m. Kress has been easy to overlook in the past, but the Swifts can take no chances in this grueling district. Look for the Swifts to control the clock and secure the W. … Nazareth 56, Kress 42
Petersburg (0-8, 0-2) at Springlake-Earth (5-1, 1-0), 7:30 p.m. The Wolverines are really good. … Earth 56, Petersburg 6
Lefors (0-1, 2-4) at Miami (3-4, 1-0), 7 p.m. Riding momentum out of a big first week of district play, the Warriors will defend the home field well. … Miami 60, Lefors 16
Groom (4-3, 0-0) at Hart (1-7, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. Its been a rough go to start the year for the Tigers, but they are happy to finally be in district play. … Groom 58, Hart 14
— Tommy King
Last Week: 3-1 (.750)
Season: 54-12 (.818)