Playoffs taking shape as regular season ends this week

The regular season of high school football is winding down for the schools in Classes 4A and lower, and that means the playoffs are right around the corner starting next week. While some teams have already clinched a berth for the post-season, others are still battling for position and their playoff lives.

All four playoff spots in District 11-4A Division II are secured but there is still a battle for positioning to take place this weekend between Orangefield and Hardin-Jefferson with the winner locking down the third seed, while the other gets the fourth seed. West Orange-Stark has secured, at minimum, a share of the district crown and is locked in as the first seed. Silsbee will be the second seed.

These four teams will face representatives from District 12-4A, which will be Bellville (7-1, 3-1), La Marque (3-5, 3-1), Sealy (6-2, 4-0) and Sweeny (3-6, 2-2). However, these four teams are still battling for final positioning and seeding will not be known until late Friday evening.

In District 10-4A Division I, there is still a lot of excitement in this final week of the regular season as all three contests are relevant. The winner of the game between Huffman Hargrave and Livingston will be crowned district champion, while the other two games are basically win and in as Vidor takes on Lumberton and LC-M faces Splendora.

Vidor secures the third seed with a win and a LC-M victory. The Pirates will be the fourth seed with a win and if Splendora is victorious. LC-M can claim the third seed with a win and a Lumberton victory, or secure the fourth seed with a win and a Pirates victory. Both teams are out with a loss.

The District 10-4A teams will face off against the representatives of District 9-4A Division I in the playoffs. Kilgore (7-2, 5-0) faces Lindale (7-2, 5-0) for the district title and first seed this Friday night, while the losing team will be the second seed. Palestine (6-4, 4-2) has secured the third seed, while Chapel Hill (5-4, 2-3) and Henderson (3-5, 2-3) square off for the fourth seed this Friday as well.

In District 12-2A Division II, the Deweyville Pirates have already secured the district’s first seed and, at minimum, a share of the district championship. A victory over High Island this Friday will give them the outright title. Hull-Daisetta has clinched the second seed, while Evadale and Burkeville have nabbed the final two playoff spots and will decide the final seeding with a head-to-head matchup this Friday.

These teams will face teams from District 11-2A in the bi-district round. Tenaha (8-1, 6-0) is the first seed, Lovelady (4-5, 4-1) is second, and West Sabine (4-5, 3-2) is the third seed. Cushing and Colmesneil are battling this Friday for the fourth and final seed out of the district. The winner of this game will battle Deweyville in the playoffs, while West Sabine is already locked in to face Hull-Daisetta. Tenaha will get the loser of the game between Evadale and Burkeville, while Lovelady faces the winner of that same game.