A look at this week’s high school football playoff matchups

The second round of the Texas high school football playoffs is here, and if last week taught us anything, it’s that momentum matters—but matchups matter more. Several Panhandle teams enter this week riding emotional highs, historical subplots, or new-found offensive rhythm. Others walk in as heavy underdogs facing perennial state powers.

Let’s break down each matchup and what to expect on the field.

Class 5A Division I

Tascosa (7-5) vs. Aledo (11-0)

You don’t need two hands—and maybe not even one—to count how many people are picking Tascosa to pull the monster upset against Aledo. The Bearcats have been a nightmare for Texas Panhandle programs for nearly two decades, and they enter November looking just as polished and punishing as ever.

For Tascosa, the formula is simple on paper and brutally hard in practice:

Control the ball.

Avoid turnovers.

Shorten the game.

If they can do that, maybe this stays competitive into the third quarter. But “maybe” feels like the ceiling against an Aledo team that treats playoff preparation like a science.

Prediction: Aledo 49 Tascosa 10.

Class 5A Division II

Palo Duro (10-1) vs. Anna (9-2)

This matchup is rich in storylines before you even get to football. Palo Duro has ripped off 10 straight wins under head coach and proud alum Eric Mims, and last week’s victory snapped a playoff drought stretching back to 2014. That alone could fill a game program.

Across the field stands Anna—coached by Seth Parr, a former Palo Duro assistant whose father Steve spent 17 years leading the Dons. The Coyotes’ superintendent? None other than Toby Tucker, familiar to Panhandle fans from his days as Canyon ISD athletic director. You can’t script this stuff.

On the field, Palo Duro gained a small but meaningful advantage by playing on Thursday last week, giving them an extra prep day for Anna’s fast-tempo attack. If the Dons can stay balanced offensively and limit explosive plays, the magic may continue.

Prediction: Palo Duro 35 Anna 21.

Class 4A Division I

Randall (9-2) vs. Burnet (4-7)

Don’t let Burnet’s record fool you—playoff football has a way of flattening resumes. Burnet’s defense showed it can rise to the moment after holding Andrews to just seven points last week.

Still, Randall brings real momentum and a defense that has been suffocating opponents, including last week’s 49-0 shutout of El Paso Austin. The key development for the Raiders has been the move to Braylon Preciado at quarterback, which has opened up the passing game and diversified an already physical offense.

Burnet can keep this close early with defensive grit, but Randall’s balance should create separation late.

Prediction: Randall 38 Burnet 17.

Canyon (7-4) vs. Brownwood (7-4)

One of the most compelling games of the round, this matchup features two teams with identical records and similar trajectories. Canyon’s passing duo of Brox Hacker to Bayler Schilling has found its groove at the perfect time, and Brownwood’s secondary will have its hands full all night.

Both defenses have shown improvement heading into the postseason, so this might not turn into the shootout some expect. For Canyon, the mental battle will be just as important as the physical one—they cannot look ahead to a potential rivalry showdown with West Plains next week.

Stay focused, avoid the trap, win the details.

Prediction: Canyon 24 Brownwood 21.

West Plains (10-1) vs. Lampasas (9-2)

Prepare for fireworks. This is a rematch of last year’s regional shootout, where West Plains scored on every possession of a 63-35 win. The Wolves didn’t break a sweat last week, blowing out El Paso Irvin 85-0, and the starters spent most of the second half hydrating on the sideline.

Lampasas is far better than the team West Plains just steamrolled, and they’ll bring enough offense to keep this honest for a while. But the Wolves’ efficiency, depth, and big-play ability remain the separating factors.

Another high-scoring affair—but once again, most of the scoring will come from West Plains.

Prediction: West Plains 56 Lampasas 28.

Class 3A / Area Matchup

Bushland (5-6) vs. Jim Ned (10-1)

Bushland isn’t accustomed to being a heavy underdog, but that’s the role this week against a veteran Jim Ned squad. Still, there’s intrigue here: if Bushland gets its standout wide receiver back on the field, the offensive ceiling jumps significantly.

The Falcons’ defensive front is also capable of hanging in against Jim Ned’s run-centric approach. The question is whether Bushland can sustain drives and avoid the mid-game lull that has bitten them at times this season.

They have a puncher’s chance—but Jim Ned’s discipline and physicality make them the safer pick.

Prediction: Jim Ned 49 Bushland 21.

Final Thoughts

This week brings a little of everything: juggernauts vs. dreamers, rivalry teases, coaching ties that run deep, and Panhandle teams looking to keep Cinderella runs alive. Expect tight finishes in several games—and at least one result that flips the statewide narrative.

As the lights come on Friday night, the only certainty is that November football never disappoints.