Friday, October 30, 1998

Picking the Games

By Bill Hart

The Wylie Bulldogs can wrap up a District 6-3A playoff spot with a victory tonight over Ballinger or next week against Grape Creek.

But it may take a District 5-3A executive meeting to determine Wylie's Division I (large school) bi-district opponent.

According to enrollment figures supplied by the University Interscholastic League, Graham is the largest school in 5-3A with 744.5 students. Next are Vernon and Iowa Park with 678 each.

The only problem is, Graham is 1-2, tied for fourth place and must win its next two games, against 3-0 Childress and 2-1 Iowa Park, to make the playoffs. Vernon is also 2-1 and already owns a win over Graham.

The district thought it had things worked out because it checked both the enrollment at Iowa Park and Vernon on Oct. 1, 1997. At that time, Vernon had 729 students and Iowa Park 698.

But the UIL told the district the figures had to be this year's enrollment figures, so now District 5-3A will have to hold a meeting to determine the formula to decide its Division I playoff representative in case Graham doesn't make the playoffs. The meeting will probably be held next week.

It would be logical to use the head-to-head result between Vernon and Iowa Park, won by Vernon, to determine which team would go into Division I or Division II. But it is enrollment that is the determining factor, not wins and losses.

Graham could solve the problem by winning its next two games. I predict that won't happen. Now, the rest of the picks:

- Cooper 28, Odessa High 13 - Cougars are getting that playoff smell.

- Midland High 20, Abilene High 17 - Bulldogs take a bite out of Eagles.

- Andrews 27, Sweetwater 20 - But this doesn't happen very often.

- San Angelo Lake View 33, Big Spring 20 - Chiefs are coming back to life.

- Snyder 37, Fort Stockton 15 - Tigers had better be looking to this game rather than last week's win over Sweetwater.

- Brownwood 42, Joshua 14 - Brownwood is no Jericho.

- Stephenville 37, Burleson 13 - Yellow Jackets now can make playoff plans.

- Seminole 26, Colorado City 21 - The Indians to capture the Wolves.

- Wylie 22, Ballinger 14 - But both will make it to the playoffs.

- Clyde 14, Merkel 6 - The Bulldogs are trying to salvage the season.

- Breckenridge 28, Comanche 16 - Buckaroos will stop this Indian uprising.

- Eastland 22, Clifton 21 - There is (Justin) Justice in this prediction.

- Glen Rose 33, Dublin 20 - A rose by any color smells good.

- Coahoma 12, Tahoka 8 - A battle of Bulldogs not going anywhere.

- Albany 29, Stamford 20 - There are no Lion tamers in Jones County.

- Anson 26, Hawley 14 - A Tiger can outduel a Bearcat.

- Jim Ned 26, Hamlin 24 - Another overtimer for the Pied Pipers?

- Holliday 31, Haskell 20 - What Holliday is celebrated on Oct. 30?

- De Leon 21, Cisco 16 - De Leon to win De Game.

- Bangs 15, San Saba 13 - This is a victory for youth.

- Coleman 27, Hamilton 19 - No kidding, Bluecats thinking playoffs.

- Goldthwaite 36, Early 21 - The Eagles are double tough at home.

- Winters 29, Mason 13 - The Blizzards cool off another opponent.

- Aspermont 17, Paducah 14 - Don't ever take the Dragons lightly.

- Knox City 14, Crowell 13 - Greyhounds can cro well after this win.

- Munday 28, Throckmorton 20 - Moguls could have a hard time with 'Hounds.

- Rotan 13, Robert Lee 12 - Yellowhammers snap their losing streak.

- Sterling City 28, Roby 14 - The Lion's share of wins is slim.

- Roscoe 35, Water Valley 16 - Plowboys still putting it all together.

- Baird 21, Bronte 19 - A flip of the coin.

- Cross Plains 34, Santa Anna 16 - No close calls for Buffaloes this week.

- Ranger 44, Evant 21 - Third place not a playoff spot, but it's better than being last in 2A.

- Gorman 31, Rising Star 14 - The Panthers a step closer to the title.

- Tolar 28, May 15 - The Rattlers might be looking ahead.

- Six-Man: Happy Hill 48, Abilene Christian High School 46; Rule 48, Patton Springs 14; Rochester 36, Jayton 33; Guthrie 56, Benjamin 37; Westbrook 40, Grady 35; Borden County 58, Ira 30; Sands 44, Hermleigh 22; Trent 34, Veribest 21; Blackwell 48, Paint Rock 18; Lueders-Avoca 46, Moran 28; Newcastle 59, Paint Creek 38; Gordon 40, Strawn 39; Blanket 45, Sidney 26; Mullin 55, Star 40; Zephyr 38, Gustine 24; Panther Creek 59, Brookesmith 36.

- Others: Midland Lee 21, Odessa Permian 20; Cleburne 22, Crowley 15; Granbury 41, Everman 20; Lamesa 36, Brownfield 15; Denver City 40, Slaton 14; Brady 42, Grape Creek 13; Seymour 232, Olney 20; Seagraves 26, Plains 15; Stanton 22, Post 20; Electra 28, Archer City 12; Rio Vista 16, Godley 13; Hico 31, Millsap 13; Eden 26, Miles 24; Santo 33, Lometa 25; Walnut Springs 26, Morgan 20; Iredell 29, Blum 28; Cherokee 50, Rochelle 30; Lohn 38, Richland Springs 30.

- Last week: 55 right, 13 wrong, 80 percent. Season: 438 right, 146 wrong, 75 percent.

Bill Hart can be reached at 676-6773 or at sports@abinews.com.