The biggest takeaways from Thursday night's high school action

Week 9 of the Texas high school football season might be won by the weather. Numerous games across the state are being moved due to expected thunderstorms, some flooding and possible lightning delays. Teams are moving up games in anticipation for this weekend, and some even tried to fit in games Thursday before the bad weather found its way into the main regions of Texas. Denton Guyer and Byron Nelson High School attempted to get in this week’s game, but it was eventually cancelled and is being held during the day on Friday. As of 11 a.m. this morning, most games in the DFW area were being moved up in order to finish earlier. Same for some Saturday games in Houston. Belton was able to keep its playoff chances alive with a 28-27 victory over Killeen Ellison. Bob Shipley’s team evened its district record to 2-2 with the win after starting district 0-2 with losses to Killeen Shoemaker and Copperas Cove. Belton still has Midway and Harker Heights to navigate before clinching a playoff berth, but the Tigers are one step closer with the one-point win. A few games in Austin helped shape district races. The Lake Travis/Westlake contest is dominating headlines within District 14-6A, but a win by Austin High last night puts the Maroons in good shape to compete for the fourth spot in the district behind Westlake, Lake Travis and Bowie. Austin High beat Del Valle in impressive fashion to get to .500 in district play. At 3-3 and losses to the top three teams in the district, Austin High is in control of its own destiny for the fourth and final playoff berth out of the district. Manvel continued to dominate district play with a 62-0 victory over Pasadena Rayburn. The Mavericks are now on a seven-game winning-streak since the season-opening loss to Westfield, which was only a three-point loss. Alief Hastings snuck passed Fort Bend Clements with a 13-12 victory and Katy Taylor beat Katy Mayde Creek, 21-17. Also in Class 6A, Spring knocked off Klein Forest to continue a march towards a playoff berth and The Woodlands College Park beat Humble Summer Creek, 30-27. The favorites in the lower classifications won Thursday night, but Gladewater was tested by Texarkana Pleasant Grove. Gladewater escaped with a touchdown-victory, while Texarkana Liberty-Eylau kept on cruising with a 48-7 victory over Quinlan Ford. In Class 3A, Arp rolled New Diana by a score of 62-0.