Week 11 football game capsules

Staff Report

Weatherford vs. Burleson

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Roos Stadium

Type: District 3-5A finale

Last year's result: Burleson 41, Weatherford 7

Burleson Elks (2-3, 6-3)

Last Season: 5-7 overall, 3-3 in District 3-5A, D-I area finalist

Last week: Beat Paschal, 41-27

Players to watch: DE Derrick Elllsworth (6-0, 240, 4.9), FB Blake Smith (6-1, 215, 4.7), TE Patrick Houston (6-3, 220, 4.7), DE Clint Allen (6-2, 190, 4.7), QB Brice Warren (6-2, 170, 4.6).

Weatherford Kangaroos (3-2, 5-4)

Last season: 1-9 overall, 1-5 in District 3-5A

Last week: Beat North Crowley, 26-22

Players to watch: QB/FB Mitchael Rucker (5-10, 180, 4.6), S/WR Dakota Abernathy (6-3, 215, 4.5), DL Cory Matlock (6-1, 240, 5.0), MLB Derek Ogg (6-1, 200, 4.6), RB Colton Kamper (5-10, 195, 4.6).

Game notes: The Roos' game-plan priority this week looks to be the same as Burleson's ... stop the run. Coach Reid Waller will be prepping Weatherford defenders to counter Haltom's wing-T offense, while the Elks defense will be boning up on stopping Weatherford's triple option.

While Roos' fullback Jaren Gentry has been the most productive of late, averaging 30-plus carries over the past few weeks, the WHS slotbacks, Colton Kamper, Shaun Houlihan, Trooper Reynolds and Tyler Henderson are still worthy diversions for Burleson to contend with, as well as quarterback Mitchael Rucker. The Elks spend most of their time opening holes for running back Blake Smith, who has topped 1,600 rushing yards on the year, a six-yard per carry clip.

Playoff implications: Weatherford heads into the final week of district play with a plethora of scenarios determining its postseason fate. The simplest outcome is to beat the Elks, which, with a Richland win over Haltom, grants the Roos a share of the district runner-up spot. A win and a Richland loss pushes the Roos to a third-place tie, but still in the playoffs.

A loss for WHS, coupled with a Haltom win, and the picture just gets weird. Because a 3-way tie would occur with a loss, point differentials would come into play for the record-knotted teams. Should Burleson win big (i.e., more than 13 points), the Elks get in with the largest point margin and after crunching the point differentials. The remaining teams, Richland and Weatherford would be subject to a head-to-head tie-breaker, thus the nod would go to the Roos.

With a Weatherford loss and a Richland win, the Kangaroos are out of luck, having lost to Haltom, previously.

The bottom line is clear. Win, and the Roos are in.

Springtown vs. Saginaw

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Porcupines Stadium

Type: District 6-4A finale

Last year's result: Springtown 41, Saginaw 35

Saginaw Rough Riders (3-3, 4-5)

Last season: 4-6 overall, 3-4 in District 6-4A

Last week: Lost to Boswell, 41-21

Players to watch: OL A.J. Gutierrez (6-0, 285, 5.1), FS Michael Lenth (6-0, 185, 4.9), DE Joe Vandegriff (5-11, 190, 4.7), WR Logan Sumpter (6-3, 180, 4.7), QB Brannon Riley (6-0, 180, 4.7).

Springtown Porcupines (1-5, 4-5)

Last season: 6-5 overall, 3-4 in District 6-4A (DII bi-district finalists)

Last week: Lost to Azle, 26-24

Players to watch: WR Clayton Cooper (6-2, 190, 4.6), DB Roger Kubrak (6-0, 170, 4.4), K/CB Montana Marsh (5-8, 160, 4.5), RB Xavier Sanchez (5-8, 185, 4.5), WR Dalton Gentry (5-7, 165, 4.6), OL Cody Horton (6-1, 240, 4.9).

Game notes: Springtown is playing for Senior Night and a close-out win in its new stadium, after the loss to Azle removed the Porcupines from contention. Senior Clayton Cooper returned to productivity against the Hornets last week, gaining yards on the ground and tallying respectable receiving yards, as well. Pojo's defense will have to step up to keep Saginaw's offense from gaining early momentum, particularly the Rough Rider's running game.

Saginaw's defense has been its bane this season and thus the Rough Riders may need to simply outscore the Porcupines rather than depend on trying to stop Springtown's offense with any frequency.

Playoff implications: Regardless of the outcome, there will be no effect on postseason. Springtown was eliminated from contention with the loss to Azle. Saginaw has already locked a fourth-place finish in the district, and cannot harm nor improve its seeding.

Aledo at Birdville

Time: 7 p.m., Thursday

Site: Birdville FAAC

9200 Mid Cities Blvd

Type: District 6-4A finale

Last year's result: Aledo 42, Birdville 7

Birdville Hawks (6-0, 9-0)

Last season: 7-4 overall, 6-1 in District 6-4A, bi-district finalist

Last week: Beat Brewer, 50-28

Players to watch: QB Josh Dorman (6-1, 170, 4.9), OL Gary Aguilar (6-3, 305, 5.4), WR Cory Hines (5-11, 180, 4.5), WR Clarke Renfro (5-10, 185, 4.6), WR Jonathan Dents (6-1, 195, 4.6)

Aledo Bearcats (6-0, 8-1)

Last season: 11-1 overall, 7-0 in District 8-4A (DII area finalists)

Last week: Beat Mineral Wells, 34-9

Players to watch: MLB Danny Heiss (6-1, 190, 4.5), DE Cy Wilson (6-1, 205, 4.4), CB Rylan Reiney (5-11, 165, 4.7), SS Rob Blowers (5-10, 165, 4.6).

Game notes: The Aledo-Birdville showdown looks to be a ground game versus an air attack. With Johnathan Gray's yardage total on the season approaching three-quarters of a mile, there's no reason to believe, on paper anyway, the Hawks' defense will put much of a barrier in front of Aledo's running game. The Bearcats also average more than 200 yards in the air, a steady compliment to the rushing assault.

Aledo's threat to Birdville's quarterback Josh Dorman is likely in preventing his throwing comfort more than picking off passes, and the signal caller is not particularly attuned to running if forced to. The Bearcats' defensive line, led by senior captain Cy Wilson and the linebacker corps, headed up by mike linebacker Danny Heiss will try to make sure Dorman does not get comfortable in the pocket.

The contest may come down to who wears out first ... Gray's legs or Dorman's arm. Or Dorman's legs if Aledo manages to keep the Hawks' senior quarterback on the run with any success.

Playoff implications: This one is simple. No tie-breakers or new math ... the winner takes the district crown outright.

Millsap vs. Boyd

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Bulldogs Stadium

Type: District 9-2A finale

Last year's result: Boyd 54, Millsap 26

Boyd Yellowjackets (4-0, 5-4)

Last Season: 5-6 overall, 3-2 in District 9-2A, D-I bi-district finalist

Last week: Beat Paradise, 38-7

Players to watch: QB Tim Fleming (6-1, 190, 4.5), G. Andrew Guevara (6-0, 295, 5.5), CB Ryan Wilson (5-11, 170, 4.7), C George Lavigne (6-0, 250, 5.1).

Millsap Bulldogs (3-1, 8-1)

Last season: 5-5 overall, 1-4 in District 9-2A

Last week: Beat Chico, 27-0

Players to watch: RB/WR Chris Hicks (5-11, 170, 4.6), DE Robert Martinez (5-11, 225, 4.9), RB Mat Callan (5-10, 170, 4.6), OT/DE Kyle Gooch (6-2, 225, 4.9).

Game notes: Millsap players and coaches had to hold their respective tongues in check last week, lest they utter the 'B' word while trying to concentrate on getting a win over winless Chico. With business over the Dragons taken care of, the Bulldogs are in full force prepping for the Boyd Yellowjackets. Millsap takes a healthy crew into the match and will be revving the engines of its ground attack behind the running tandem of Mat Callan and Chris Hicks. Junior quarterback Zeb Littlefield has been solid in the passing game and has added yet another dimension as a rushing diversion.

Boyd, after an inauspicious start to its season on non-district, has rolled through the district schedule with relative ease. The Yellowjackets primary offensive threat comes in the form of Tim Fleming, the Boyd quarterback, who provides a dual threat, leading his team in running and passing yards.

The size of Boyd against the speed of Millsap are prime factors in the contest.

Playoff implications: Millsap must win to share the district title and earn a first seed, thus a first-round bye. A loss by the Bulldogs likely throws them in a 3-way tie with Jacksboro and Alvord. With point differentials determining the advancing teams, Alvord will draw the short straw, with Millsap going to postseason.