There’s just three more weeks of regular season high school football and teams are now vying for their spots in the playoffs. This week will determine some teams that are in and those who are out in El Paso.
Before action starts Thursday night with Horizon taking on Eastlake, below is the playoff outlook from 1-5A, 2-5A and 1-6A play.
District 1-6A
Adrian Broaddus/TexasHSFootball.com
Who’s in: Montwood, Pebble Hills and El Dorado
On the bubble: Coronado, Franklin
Who’s out: Eastwood, Americas
The build-up for 1-6A has been stirring up all season and the victors will emerge in what has been a wild district race. Montwood and Pebble Hills rest atop the standings, both 7-0, and the two will square off next week with the district title likely on the line.
However, El Dorado might be the dark horse candidate in the mix. They take on Coronado on Friday and finish with Americas and Pebble Hills respectively. If they beat Coronado, hope Pebble Hills beats Montwood and then beat Pebble Hills, El Dorado could have a share of the district championship.
El Paso El Dorado QB Cedarious Barfield (Photo: Adrian Broaddus/TexasHSFootball.com)
Also, if Coronado defeats El Dorado and wins out, they have a shot at securing a third place spot.
Coronado and Franklin will square off next Thursday night for their annual rivalry game and that game will most likely decide the final spot in the 1-6A playoffs. Both teams have losses to Montwood and Pebble Hills.
Americas and Eastwood are more than likely out, unless truly a late-season miracle happens between the two teams. Eastwood would have to hope they win out, which includes games against Pebble Hills and Montwood, and also hope for Pebble Hills to lose against El Dorado. Americas would have to win out as well and hope Pebble Hills loses to El Dorado.
For it to actually happen, there are likely too many other things that have to happen.
District 1-5A
Adrian Broaddus/TexasHSFootball.com
Who’s in: Andress, Chapin & Burges
On the bubble: Bowie, Austin & El Paso
Who’s out: Jefferson
Andress, Chapin and Burges have really separated from other teams in terms of record and district wins. They’ve all emerged to 4-0 starts; now we see what happens when they face each other.
With Andress and Burges squaring off this week, a win from either would likely propel the team to the first place spot in district play. If Andress and Chapin were both able to beat Burges, then the two will square off in the last week for what looks like could be the possible district championship game.
But that isn’t always how things line up in football.
El Paso Burges quarterback Matteo Serrano finished with three rushing touchdowns in the win over El Paso Austin (Photo: Adrian Broaddus/TexasHSFootball.com)
If Andress beats Burges, Burges beats Chapin and Chapin beats Andress—or any interchangeable teams winning—then it will be a three-way tie for first place.
Then comes the fourth place spot, which is still up for grabs. The likely fourth place spot will probably come from the Bowie and Austin game. If Austin wins, however, El Paso is still alive. El Paso would have to win out, including a win over Burges, and hope Austin loses a game in that scenario.
If Bowie wins, however, they are in control of their own destiny for that last spot.
District 2-5A
El Paso Del Valle QB Raymond Montez (Photo: Tony Venegas/TexasHSFootball.com)
Who’s in: Eastlake & Del Valle
On the bubble: Parkland, Bel Air & Canutillo
Who’s out: Horizon & Hanks
The game between Eastlake and Del Valle last week most likely decided the winner of District 2-5A. Del Valle won 25-21 and that spot is currently theirs. The Conquistadores and Eastlake Falcons will have the top two spots, assuming they both win out.
Then comes the confusion between Parkland, Bel Air and Canutillo. Each team has two losses in 2-5A with Parkland leading the way at 4-2. If Parkland beats Canutillo, they will likely be the third place contenders in the district.
El Paso Parkland running back Deion Hankins (3) gets ready to warm up for the game against El Paso Socorro. (Photo: Tony Venegas/ TexasHSFootball.com)
Then, if Canutillo wins out, they will have to hope Bel Air loses at least one more. Bel Air, on the other hand, might snatch the last spot for the playoffs, assuming they win two of their last three games.
As for Horizon, it looks like they are more than likely out of the race, unless they can somehow upset Eastlake, upset Bel Air next week, win their last game against Hanks and hope Bel Air loses to Del Valle.
No matter how you shake, we’re in for a fun final three weeks of the regular season in the Sun City.
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