East Texas Playoff Picture, Which Teams Are In, Out, On The Edge

With one week to go in the regular season of high school football in Deep East Texas, the playoff picture for various districts has started to come into focus. Let's take a look at how that playoff snapshot looks for many of the area teams. I have taken the liberty in some of these districts of assuming that major upsets will not take place this coming Friday.

Lufkin Panthers - Clinched playoff berth. Most likely representing District 9-5A, Div I as the 3rd place team. Could finish 2nd with a win Friday against Galveston Ball, paired with a Barbers Hill loss to Beaumont Westbrook.

Nacogdoches Dragons - Playoff berth is probable. The Dragons will be heavy underdogs to district champs Texas High on Friday. Even with a loss, Nacogdoches will earn fourth place in District 9-5A, Div II, as long as Hallsville loses at Mt. Pleasant. If Hallsville pulls off the upset, Nacogdoches will be out of the playoffs due to the point differential tiebreaker rules.

Center Roughriders/Rusk Eagles - Center will be heavily favored on Friday against Rusk. If the Roughriders win, they lock up the 3rd place spot in District 8-4A, Div II, and Rusk would be eliminated from the playoffs. An upset victory by Rusk would give the Eagles 3rd place, and Center would take 4th.

Diboll Lumberjacks/Crockett Bulldogs - Diboll's Halloween victory over Crockett was huge for the 'Jacks. As a result, Diboll is pretty much a lock to make the playoffs. If Diboll defeats Teague on Friday, the Lumberjacks will represent District 9-3A, Div I as the 3rd place team. Diboll still goes to the playoffs as the 4th-place team with a loss against Teague, which is due to the Lumberjacks' win over Crockett. Crockett's only shot at making the playoffs would be to score a major upset victory over state-ranked Fairfield on Friday. This would also throw a wrench into Diboll's playoff chances.

Corrigan-Camden Bulldogs/Groveton Indians - Thanks to their victory over Hearne, Groveton is guaranteed a playoff spot as the 4th-place team in District 12-2A, Div I. The Bulldogs have also clinched a playoff berth. Depending on the outcome next Friday against Centerville, the Bulldogs will finish either 2nd or 3rd in the district.

Mt. Enterprise/Lovelady/Alto/Grapeland - There are still several playoff scenarios in District 11-2A, Division II, so let's just stick with the highly probable outlooks. Mt. Enterprise will be the district champs. Friday's game between Lovelady and Grapeland will determine the 2nd and 3rd-place teams. Overton will most likely be the 4th place team.

San Augustine/Timpson/Garrison/Shelbyville/Joaquin - Five playoff-worthy teams, but only four will make it. State-ranked San Augustine is the District 11-2A, Div I champion. Friday's Garrison-Joaquin game will determine which team is going as the 2nd and 3rd place teams. The only way Timpson can advance is to upset San Augustine on Friday and hope that Hemphill upsets Shelbyville. Otherwise, the Dragons will advance to the playoffs.

Shepherd Pirates/Jasper Bulldogs - Shepherd has clinched a playoff berth, most likely as the 4th-place team from District 8-4A, Div II. If the Pirates could upset Silsbee on Friday, there is a chance they could move up in the standings. Jasper has been eliminated from the playoffs.

Newton/Woodville/Trinity - The state-ranked Newton Eagles are the District 12-3A, Div II champs, and they should make a serious run at a state championship. The Woodville-Kountze game on Friday will determine the 2nd and 3rd-place teams. If the Trinity Tigers defeat New Waverly, they will be playoff bound. A loss, and it will come to a point differential tiebreaker between Trinity, New Waverly, and Anderson-Shiro.

West Sabine/Colmesneil - The Tigers of West Sabine are District 12-2A, Div II champs. Colmesneil's victory over Evadale was huge for the Bulldogs. It has pretty much set up a must-win match between Colmesneil and West Hardin. Whoever wins that game will finish 4th and claim the last playoff spot. That is, unless Hull-Daisetta pulls off a major upset over Evadale.

Chester Yellowjackets/Apple Springs Eagles - The Yellowjackets are District 12-A, Div I Champs. I believe the other playoff team from this district will be decided with Friday's Apple Springs-Burkeville game.