Football Friday Night Slate: Week Three Preview

Week two is in the books, as teams start to emerge and show their true colors entering week three of high school football across the city. More non-division games this week, as teams try to improve their records and gear up for district play.

Week Two Matchups:

District 1-6A:

• Las Cruces Onate at Americas - Thursday, 7 p.m.
• Carlsbad (N.M.) at Coronado - Friday, 7 p.m.
• Franklin  at Midland High - Friday, 7:30 p.m.
• Midland Lee at Montwood - Friday, 4 p.m.
• Pebble Hills at Chapin - Friday, 7 p.m.
• Socorro at Austin - Friday, 7 p.m.

A lot of big games this week for 1-6A, as the featured game will be slated for Friday, as Pebble Hills (2-0) takes on Chapin (1-1) in a highly anticipated non-division game. For Pebble Hills, junior quarterback Sebastian Ochoa has looked sharp during his first two wins in varsity action and clicks well with senior standout running back Caleb Gerber.

Americas (1-1) is hoping to bounce back after a sloppy loss to Midland Christian last week, losing 23-3, as they take on Las Cruces Onate (0-3). Franklin (0-2) will travel on the road to take on a Midland team that lost in the final minutes against Pebble Hills last week. The Cougars will be seeking their first win of their season on Friday. Coronado (1-1) hosts a tough Carlsbad team  (2-0-1) on Friday that could give them a run for their money.

Two streaks are also on the line for Friday’s slate, as Montwood (2-0) takes on Midland Lee (1-1) and hopes to continue their undefeated streak. Socorro will put their 29-game losing streak on the line against Austin on Friday as well.

District 1-5A Division I:

• El Paso High at Bel Air - Friday, 7 p.m.
• Pebble Hills at Chapin - Friday, 7 p.m.  
• (Cancelled) Del Valle at Hutto - Friday, 7 p.m.
• Burges at Eastlake - Friday, 7:30 p.m.
• Horizon at Eastwood - Friday, 7 p.m.
• El Dorado at Andress - Friday, 7 p.m.

In the Super 1-5A district, there is no team that is unbeaten already; but, this week a lot of teams in the district have a ton at stake. Despite Del Valle’s game getting cancelled against Hutto due to weather, the matchups this week should be interesting for 1-5A.

Both El Dorado (0-2) and Eastwood (0-2) started off on the wrong foot and hope to bounce back after losing their two first games of the season. El Dorado will take on a tough Andress team, while Eastwood should be able to manage Horizon on Friday.

Chapin’s (1-1) talent-heavy defense hopes to match with Pebble Hills’ strong offense. They will need a huge game from ATH Christian McKeever offensively to pull off a win.

Bel Air (1-1)  is hoping for a comeback against El Paso High this week after their close game over Canutillo last week. And, Eastlake (1-1) hopes to find some offensive identity this week when they take on a tough Burges (1-0-1) squad.

District 1-5A Division II:

• Mountain View at Canutillo - Friday, 7 p.m.
• Fabens at Hanks- Friday, 7 p.m.
• Horizon - at Eastwood - Friday, 7 p.m.
• Parkland at Jefferson - Thursday, 7 p.m.
• Riverside at Fort Stockton - Friday, 7 p.m.
• Ysleta at Irvin - Thursday, 7 p.m.

For 1-5A, Mountain View and Canutillo (0-2) should be interesting, as the Eagles are vying for their first win of the season. Teams like Hanks (1-1) and Horizon (1-1) continue to try and develop their offenses in preparation before district play. And, the undefeated Ysleta Indians (2-0) want to keep their winning hopes alive against Irvin on Thursday.

Parkland (1-0-1) will join Ysleta in playing on Thursday against a struggling Jefferson squad. And, Riverside (0-2) seeks their first win on the road against Fort Stockton.

District 2-5A Division II:

• El Dorado at Andress - Friday, 7 p.m.
• Socorro at Austin  -  Friday, 7 p.m.
• Clint at Bowie - Friday, 7 p.m.
• Burges  at Eastlake - Friday, 7 p.m.
• Bel Air at El Paso - Friday, 7 p.m.
• Ysleta at Irvin - Thursday, 7 p.m.
• Parkland at Jefferson - Thursday, 7 p.m.

Andress (1-1) wants to come back after an 18-17 setback to Chapin last week. They will take on a struggling El Dorado team and hope to compile some consistent offensive play.

Teams like Bowie (1-1), Austin (1-1), Jefferson (1-1) and El Paso High (1-1) will try and compile some wins this weekend and try to find their own team identities. For Austin and Bowie, their run game has shown signs of improvement.

Irvin (2-0) will put their undefeated record on the line against an undefeated Ysleta team on Thursday. And Burges (1-0-1) wants to show the city that they can hang with the big dogs as they play Eastlake on Friday.