Top 5 Football Games to Watch in West Texas This Week

Here are our top five high school football games to watch in the Concho Valley and West Texas in Week 5:

Levelland (2-2) at San Angelo Lake View (4-0)

The atmosphere at San Angelo Stadium last week was electric during the Lake View Chiefs’ 50-49 win over Lubbock High. It was an incredibly entertaining game, and it was also an important one as it gave Lake View its first 4-0 start in 42 years. Expect Chiefs fans to pack the stadium again Friday when Lake View hosts former district rival Levelland. The Chiefs have a chance for their best start since 1982 when they had a perfect regular season at 10-0 before losing their playoff opener to Lubbock Dunbar. Levelland has won three straight games against Lake View, including a 44-26 decision last year. The Lobos are coming off a 50-0 win over Brownfield. The Chiefs have to leave last week’s excitement behind and refocus for another tough test.

The pick: Lake View 38, Levelland 30

Sands (3-1) at Robert Lee (4-0)

This is a rematch of a wild game last year that Robert Lee won 78-74. Brenner Sherwood scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with five seconds remaining to give the Steers the win. Robert Lee is off to a 4-0 start this year and has vaulted to No. 5 in the Class 1A Division I state rankings. The Steers have won every game by 45 points or more, including a 56-6 win over Blackwell last week. Sands was tripped up 46-29 by Hermleigh in the Mustangs’ season opener, but they’ve rolled since then, including an impressive win over Garden City. This has the potential to be another shootout.

The pick: Robert Lee 68, Sands 44

Falls City (2-2) at Junction (4-0)

The Junction Eagles just pulled off one of their biggest wins in years with last week’s 27-16 win over longtime rival Mason. It snapped an 18-game losing streak against the Punchers. It also bumped Junction up a spot to No. 5 in the Class 2A Division II state rankings. The Eagles have another big game this week with traditional power Falls City coming to town. It’s a rematch of last year’s second-round playoff meeting between the two schools, which Junction won 35-13. It could also be a preview of another potential playoff matchup later this year. This is Junction’s final nondistrict game before a bye week and the start of district play Oct. 10 against Center Point. Falls City hasn’t had fewer than seven wins in a season since 2007. This is a strong program that can’t be taken lightly.

The pick: Junction 28, Falls City 17

Sweetwater (1-3) at Wall (4-0)

The Wall Hawks will look to continue their impressive start to the season when they host Sweetwater. Wall has dominated in every matchup so far, with its closest margin of victory coming in a 24-0 win over then-No. 10-ranked Jim Ned. The Hawks walloped Monahans 50-13 last week. Wall is ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 3A Division II, trailing only Tidehaven. Sweetwater is off to a 1-3 start, but the Mustangs have played a difficult schedule against the likes of Idalou, Greenwood, Seminole and Lubbock Estacado. Sweetwater gave Wall some trouble last year after jumping out to a 21-6 lead in the second quarter before Wall stormed back to win 42-21. 

The pick: Wall 38, Sweetwater 14

Bronte (3-1) at Eden (3-1)

This is a matchup of 3-1 teams who are coming off their first loss of the year. Bronte was overwhelmed 51-0 by Menard last week, while Eden lost 74-29 to Ladonia Fannindel. Both of these teams narrowly missed the playoffs last year, and both have legitimate playoff aspirations this fall. Eden won 51-38 over Bronte last year, and it should be another competitive game this time.

The pick: Eden 42, Bronte 38

The Rest of Week 5

San Angelo Central at Waco

Merkel at San Angelo TLCA 

Tahoka at Grape Creek

Brady at Ingram Moore

Christoval at Mason

Ozona at Miles

Iraan at Reagan County

McCamey at Sonora

Stanton at Ballinger

Eldorado at Harper

Cross Plains at Sterling City

Abilene TLCA at Winters

Midland Trinity at Garden City

Irion County at Klondike

Menard at Paint Rock

Medina at Veribest

Rochelle at Water Valley (on Thursday)

Highland at Blackwell

Veribest JV at Olfen

West Texas at Richland Springs

Lohn at Three Way

Panther Creek at Paint Creek