Top 5 area-round football games to watch in West Texas

1. Ballinger vs. Spearman

7 p.m. Friday

Tyer Stadium, Floydada

No. 10-ranked Ballinger is having its best season in 13 years, but the Bearcats' second-round opponent is a formidable one in No. 5 Spearman. Each team brings a 10-1 record into the matchup. Ballinger's only loss was to Llano (34-0), which is ranked No. 7 in Class 3A Division II. Spearman's only loss was a forfeit victory against No. 1 Canadian due to COVID-19. Ballinger won its first playoff game since 2007 last week when Odessa Compass Academy forfeited. The district-champion Bearcats would have been a heavy favorite over fourth-place Compass had they played. Spearman, meanwhile, is coming off a 63-34 shootout win over Lubbock Roosevelt last week. The Lynx could give Ballinger trouble with their high-powered offense that has helped them outscore teams by an average score of 53-17. Ballinger's defense, led by first-team all-state lineman Adam Winn, has allowed only 9.5 points per game, but the one team the Bearcats struggled against — Llano — beat them through the air.  That could be a blueprint for the Lynx, who have shown they can score points in the passing game and on the ground. Controlling the tempo and the ball will be critical for the Bearcats on offense, while fundamental tackling will be necessary against Spearman's spread offense. The Lynx were vulnerable on defense last week in allowing four rushing TDs and one passing TD. The 34 points were the most they've given up all season. The winner advances to the regional semifinals, where it will face either Crane or Childress.

The pick: Ballinger 22, Spearman 21

2. Sterling City vs. Rankin

6:30 p.m. Friday

Bird Memorial Stadium, Big Lake

This Class 1A Division I area-round game is a rematch of last year’s 86-60 win by Rankin in the first round of the playoffs. It avenged the Red Devils’ earlier loss to Sterling City (74-66) in regular-season play and helped vault Rankin into the state semifinals. Returning a lot of talent off that 2019 team, Rankin started the season with a No. 1 state ranking. Now, Sterling City (11-0) is ranked No. 1 while the Red Devils (10-1) are No. 5. The Eagles started at No. 4 and beat four teams ranked No. 6 or better to rise to No. 1. The Eagles are coming off a 61-12 win over Hermleigh in the first round. It snapped a streak of four seasons without a playoff win for the program, which last won a playoff game in 2015 under coach Bret Tyler. It was coincidentally against Rankin. If the Eagles can get past the second round, it will be the farthest they have advanced in the playoffs since making the Division II state semifinals in 2011. The Red Devils are coming off a forfeit win over Van Horn and have not played since a 50-0 win over Garden City for the district title. Their only loss was 40-34 over Borden County, the team the Red Devils beat to advance to the state semis last year. It’s also another of two common opponents for Rankin and Sterling City. The Eagles beat Garden City 74-28 to open the season and beat Borden County 62-58. The winner advances to face Garden City or Westbrook in the regional round.

The pick: Sterling City 48, Rankin 32

3. Water Valley vs. Leakey

7 p.m. Friday

Lion Stadium, Ozona

The Class 1A Division I area-round game is another matchup of Top 10 teams. The Water Valley Wildcats (6-2) are ranked No. 10, while the Leakey Eagles (10-1) are No. 8. The Wildcats are coming off a convincing 54-8 win over Baird to open the playoffs. It was Water Valley’s first playoff win since 2013 and its first playoff appearance since 2017. The Eagles beat Lometa 79-30 last week to advance after being bounced from the playoffs in the first round last year. The Eagles were state semifinalists in 2018. Water Valley is on a six-game winning streak after starting the season late due to COVID-19 cancelations. They earned impressive wins over Highland and Irion County and dethroned two-time defending district champ Eden. Their formula on offense has been simple — pave the way for running back Canon Wiese. Leakey has beaten Eden, scored 97 points in a loss to No. 5 Rankin and has won the last seven games. Leakey is favored by 10 points, according to sixmanfootball.com. The winner of this game advances to play No. 4 May or No. 12 Jonesboro in the regional round.

The pick: Leakey 48, Water Valley 32

4. Christoval vs. Bruni

7 p.m. Friday

Bulldog Stadium, Somerset

Because of COVID-19, but not forfeits, the No. 7 Christoval Cougars have played four more games than the Bruni Badgers going into this Class 2A Division II game. Bruni was in a district that opted to eliminate all nondistrict games and spread out their district schedule to ensure all games could be played. Christoval faced its first cancelation, either for itself or its opponent, when Burton forfeited the bidistrict game to the Cougars. Now the Cougars have a chance to advance to the third round of the 11-man playoffs for the first time in program history. Bruni comes off a 34-19 win over Runge in bidistrict and is on a three-game winning streak since losing two district games (La Pryor, D'Hanis). Christoval is on a nine-game winning streak (10, counting the forfeit) after opening the season with a road loss to then-No. 5 Wink. Christoval averages 43 points per game and gives up an average of 14. Other than the loss to Wink, the Cougars have not allowed more than 20 points to an opponent the rest of the way. Bruni averages 36 points while giving up 25. The Cougars are more balanced offensively, averaging 250 rushing yards and 177 passing, while the Badgers average 315 on the ground and just 82 through the air. The winner meets either Snook or Yorktown in the regional semifinals.

The pick: Christoval 27, Bruni 14

5. Wall vs. Bushland

7 p.m. Friday

Tiger Stadium, Snyder

This Class 3A Division I area-round game is a rematch of a playoff game from 2018, when the Hawks beat Bushland 21-14 in this same round. Bushland, which is about 15 miles west of Amarillo, and Wall don't meet all that often on the field. The Hawks own a 3-0 advantage over the Falcons. Wall (8-3) is coming off a 20-14 overtime win against Boyd in bidistrict. The Hawks' defense made a goal-line stand in the final minutes of regulation after Boyd reached the 2-yard line. After another defensive stop, Wall's Gabe Haskins threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Chase Rios to win the game. Bushland (8-2) beat Slaton 70-14 in its playoff opener. The winner will play either Shallowater or Pilot Point in the regional round. The Falcons have outscored their opponents 41-19, while the Hawks own a 26-14 advantage. Wall has advanced to the third round of the playoffs every year since 2012. Bushland is also a regular in the third round of the playoffs, except for 2018 when its season was ended by Wall.

The pick: Bushland 21, Wall 20

Amy McDaniel is a multimedia sports journalist. Send news tips to amy.mcdaniel@gosanangelo.com. Consider supporting West Texas journalism with a subscription to GoSanAngelo.com.