UPDATE: Volleyball playoff clarification

Apparently, I've gotten the playoff scenario wrong for District 20-3A's playoff situation, which will be resolved tonight and tomorrow in Fairfield.

Tonight, Palestine and Fairfield play for the chance to play Saturday. The winner of tonight's game moves on to Saturday at 3 p.m. to play Westwood for the district's second-place spot. The loser of the 3 p.m. match then moves on to play the loser of tonight's match for third place.

Sorry for the confusion, I just had the scenario re-explained to me today. I was under the impression that the loser of tonight's match is done. Not the case.

Where's the Cayuga love?

So, as I do every Tuesday when I get in from my weekend, I pulled up the Associated Press Top-10 High School poll today. And, as has been the case for the past nine weeks, there are still no local teams ranked. The closest thing to it is Cayuga, who's currently listed at No. 12 in 1A under the 'Others receiving votes' headings.

Which leads me to this question: What do the 'Cats have to do to crack the top-10?

Undefeated? Check.
Defending state champions? Check
Comparable schedule to other ranked teams? Check.

For instance, to keep it relatively local, let's compare Cayuga's schedule to Garrison, the No. 10 team in the poll, also at 8-0.

Pre-game notes

Both Terrance Simon and Ryan Pardue are in uniform tonight. With Fairfield's downhill style Pardue could play a huge role in a Wildcat win.
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Playoffs begin tonight in Fairfield, Groesbeck

While the actual postseason for Texas High School football is still almost a month away, it starts in all earnest tonight for both teams residing inside the Palestine city limits.

Needless to say, both the Palestine Wildcats and Westwood Panthers have had disappointing seasons in 2010 that once began with promise, but all that can be forgotten--at least for a week--with victories tonight.

The situation is a little complicated, but it boils down to this: Both teams have to win to keep hope alive. Now, winning out doesn't guarantee anything for either team, but losing even a single game from here forward officially ends the playoff dream.

Now, lets get to some predictions:

Cats lead at the half

Despite having some big-time players out due to injuries, Palestine leads Mexia, 24-19, at the half here at Wildcat Stadium. Kenny Green has run for two touchdowns to lead the Wildcats.

Across town, Westwood trails Fairfield, 35-0, while Cayuga led Rice at the half, 28-3.
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Big players out tonight

Ryan Pardue and Terrance Simon are both in street close as the game nears kickoff
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This is football weather

It can't be more than 65 degrees here on the field at Wildcat Stadium. Great weather for football, which is set to kick off in less than 14 minutes.

Also, things have gotten under way in Arlington, with Rangers taking on the New York Yankees in the ALCS. My pick: Texas in 7

Let's play ball.
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Do or die time in Palestine

With a couple of big games on the outskirts of the Dogwood Circe this week, things are a little more desperate inside the Palestine city limits, where both teams are looking to avoid 0-2 district holes. It won't get easier for either, as Palestine welcomes in preseason district favorite Mexia, while Westwood and new head coach Roger Mays host undefeated and unchallenged Fairfield.

Speaking of the outskirts, the Dogwood Circle Game of the Week has to be in Frankston, where the Indians (4-2, 1-0) welcome in the No. 7-ranked West Rusk Raiders (6-0, 1-0). Odds are, this ones for the district title.

In Elkhart, playoff positioning may very well be on the line when the Elks take on Teague. With a win, Elkhart will own wins over both the Lions and Trinity, the two other teams who seem to be able to fight for that third spot. Unfortunately for everyone in that district not Malakoff or Crockett, it seems third place is all that there is left to fight for.

Now, on to the predictions:

Halftimes abound

Here in Groesbeck, a late touchdown pass from Caleb Cargill to Kenny Green from five yards out cut the Goat lead in half headed into the locker room with PHS trailing, 14-7.

In Palestine, Madisonville jumped o Westwood early and often to the tune of a 29-0 Mustang lead.

In Cayuga, the Wildcats lead Riesel by a smidge, 7-6.
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Time to push for the playoffs

After a week that saw only Oakwood hit the field for some Friday night action, all seven teams return to field tonight from the Dogwood Circle.

What makes tonight even more special is that for everyone except the Panthers of Oakwood, district play begins tonight. As I said in last Sunday's column, start winning now and no one will remember or care what happened in the first half of the season.

So, without further adieu, let's get to the games.

Palestine at Groesbeck
The Wildcats enter this game with a completely different look now that Caleb Cargill has taken over under center for Kenny Green. While Green did an admirable thing by offering to play quarterback for PHS when no one else stood out, his talent at both wide reciever and cornerback or better suited to help the Wildcats win. In Cargill, Palestine has a player who seems to be full of confidence and can throw the ball a mile. But, he's also a freshman. Luckily he got some solid reps in during the PHS loss to Athens before the bye week, meaning that his first snaps won't be on the road in a district game. Groesbeck comes in with a 3-2 mark and a high-powered passing game, but I think the QB move rejuvenates the Wildcats and kicks them into a new gear.
PHS 31, Groesbeck 24

Madisonville at Westwood
The Panthers desperately need a win to help instill some confidence in the team. While the players felt really good after the heartbreaking loss to Rusk, nothing feels quite like a win. Lucky for Westwood, the schedule makers did them a favor with Madisonville, a 1-4 team that can't seem to score very many points. If the Westwood defense, which has been shaky at times this year, can hold a time or two, the Panther's high-powered attack should be able to take over.
WHS 46, Madisonville 21

Elkhart at Trinity
While the Elks headed into the bye week with a loss AND face off against a 4-1 Trinity team this week, things aren't near as dire as they may seem for Elkhart fans. For instance, according to coach John Adair the Elks played well in the first half in the Mildred loss, only to see that play fade down the stretch. Second, Trinity doesn't really score, which plays into the Elkhart defense's hands. The strength of this EHS club, I look for them to make a difference tonight.
EHS 17, Trinity 10

Arp at Frankston
The tough road through a tough district begins tonight for Frankston, and expect a tired scoreboard operator when it's all said and done between the Indians and Arp. Both teams like to move the ball up and down the field, and I'm  not sure if either defense can consistently make stops. This one may come down to who gets the ball last, but I'll take my chances with the first of Allen, Allen and Coleman for the Indians.
FHS 45, Arp 38

Riesel at Cayuga
If you're reading this, not planning on attending a game yet for whatever reason, do two things for me. First, finish reading. Thanks. Then, get up, get ready and head on out to Cayuga to watch the Wildcats take on the Riesel Indians. Get there early and enjoy the Fox Sports Southwest Road Tour's interactive village, then watch an uber-important game for District 8-A. With four teams currently at 4-1 or better, and only three playoff spots, this could be the strongest district in the state.
Cayuga 28, Riesel 19

Grapeland at Shelbyville
The good news for the Sandies is that the bye week came at a perfect time, and let quarterback Cameron Boyd heal up in time for the district opener. Even without Boyd, the Sandies went the distance and then some against Buffalo, a 2A team with playoff aspirations. But, Shelbyville isn't an easy to place to go and play, and while Boyd has been great for the Sandies, it's the defense the last three or four weeks that worries me.
Shelbyville 27, Grapeland 14

Karnack at Oakwood
Last time Oakwood lost, they came out the next game and lambasted Bloomburg, 60-13. That spells trouble for the 0-4 Wildcats, who give up an average of 62 points per game this season. It's homecoming in Oakwood, and the crowd should see a good one, and perhaps go home early.
Oakwood 63, Karnack 12

Returning to the rivalry conversation between the two schools here in Palestine, blog reader D. Carter added his idea to reader C.X.'s "Holy City Rivalry." D. thinks we should go with the "Dogwood Circle Rivalry", or some form of that. I'm telling you, I could go for the "Dogwood Duel."

What do you guys think?

Remember, check out the scores at www.fridaynightcentral.com after the games, and check back here occasionally tonight to see how Palestine is fairing in Groesbeck.

OHS leads at half

On the strength of 127 yards rushing, the Oakwood Panthers lead Trinidad, 12-8, at the half.
The Oakwood defense has played a strong game, holding a high-powered Trojan offense to one score.

Also, they did find chain gang help.
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Time for six-man football

We're about to kickoff here in Trinidad, and you've got to love small town football. The weather's perfect, the turkey legs are cooking at the concession stand and the PA announcer just asked for chain gan volunteers.
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