Four games in the first round of the 5A playoffs consist of teams from District 21 and District 22. One game is between the heavily favored New Caney Eagles, who went 8-2 in the regular season and 7-1 in 5A Region III District 21 to win the district and the Beaumont Central Jaguars, who went 5-5 this year and 4-3 in 5A Region III District 22 to finish in fourth place.
The Jaguars may be able to hold their own for a little while as they piled up 300 points on the season and they had a point differential of 40. The Eagles should still win fairly easily as they had a point differential of 210. They scored 385 points, but their success is from the defensive end as they allowed 175 points. The most points they allowed in a game was 34 in a loss and 29 points in a win.
However, the three other games are some of the most compelling first round games.
Vidor (8-2) vs Crosby (8-2)
The Vidor Pirates have two losses: one within the district and one outside of the district. They lost to Barbers Hill and Port Neches-Groves. The Pirates’ only other non-district game was a win over 6A Pasadena Memorial. Within the district, Vidor beat Ozen, Lumberton and Lee. The Pirates have three other solid district wins over Beaumont Central, Nederland and Livingston. Vidor’s best win was last week on Nov. 4 at home against Port Arthur Memorial 31-21.
The Crosby Cougars have two tough losses one of which was against Manvel; the other was against Porter. The Cougars’ one non-district win was against Houston Heights. Crosby handled the other five teams pretty well starting with a win against Kingwood Park, then Caney Creek, Dayton, Splendora and Humble. Crosby’s two best wins against Barber Hills and the other win was their last game of the season, last week on the road at New Caney 21-16.
Crosby wins 30-18
Porter (7-2) vs Port Arthur Memorial (8-1)
The Porter Spartans enter the postseason on a two-game losing streak against two of the top four teams in District 21. One loss came last week at Barbers Hill and the other loss came against New Caney. They beat the second best team in the district Crosby and they’ve beaten Brazosport as their non-district win. In five district wins, Porter has beaten Kingwood Park, Caney Creek, edged out Dayton, blew out Splendora and blew out Humble.
The loss last week to Vidor snapped the Port Arthur Memorial Titans’ eight-game winning streak that began with a non-district win over Westside. They’ve beaten Ozen, Nederland, Lumberton and Lee. The Titans have quality wins over Beaumont Central, Port Neches-Groves and Livingston.
Port Arthur Memorial wins 35-16
Port Neches-Groves (9-1) vs Barbers Hill (8-2)
The Indians of Port Neches-Groves have one loss, which came against Port Arthur Memorial. They have a solid non-district win against Silsbee and another non-district win against Goose Creek Memorial. Within District 22, the Indians won against Lumberton, Lee, Ozen and Nederland. Their best win was Oct. 7 at home against Vidor 41-22 and they also have a win against Livingston and against Beaumont Central.
The Barbers Hill Eagles’ two losses came within District 21, which were against Crosby and New Caney. The Eagles’ two non-district wins came against Vidor and against Santa Fe. In five district wins, the Eagles won against Kingwood Park, Caney Creek, Dayton, Splendora and Humble. The Eagles’ best win came last week Nov. 4 at home against Porter 29-21.
Port Neches-Groves wins 39-20
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