The must-see Friday night Week 8 games around the state

[caption id="attachment_24871" align="alignright" width="350"]Calallen head coach Phil Danaher (Photo by Mary Scott McNabb) Calallen head coach Phil Danaher (Photo by Mary Scott McNabb)[/caption] Week 8 offers plenty of excitement around the state as district titles and playoff spots are up for grabs in nearly every marquee matchup. These are the games I’d attend if I wasn’t in a press box. Class 6A: Denton Guyer at Allen The District 6-6A championship is decided tonight. It won’t matter once playoffs come around, however, as Allen will be Division I while Guyer becomes one of the favorites in Division II once the Class 6A playoffs begin. Allen is undefeated, cruising to a 6-0 record. The Eagles and head coach Terry Gambill are ranked third in the state heading into this game and have won all five of their in-state games by at least 22 points. Guyer is 5-1 with its lone loss coming to top-ranked DeSoto in Week 2. Guyer can stake its claim as the Region I favorite in Division II with an inspired performance against Allen. Class 5A: Corpus Christi Ray at Corpus Christi Calallen Ray wasn’t expected to compete for a playoff spot, yet the Texans sit at 6-0 on the season and 2-0 inside District 30-5A. The district crown is likely decided in this game, as Calallen enters as the overwhelming favorite despite off-the-field drama that resulted in two forfeited games that are currently under appeal. Calallen has hopes of winning a Region IV title and that march begins tonight. Ray has all the momentum and Calallen wouldn’t be faulted for being somewhat distracted entering the game. Class 4A: Waco La Vega at China Spring On paper, this might be the most intriguing matchup of the week. Waco La Vega is the defending state champion. The Pirates began district play last week with a double-digit win over Liberty Hill, which was the program they beat in overtime to claim Region IV in 2015. These two teams aren’t strangers. La Vega was the only program to beat China Spring last season and La Vega did it twice – once in a nail-biter to win district and again in the playoffs. China Spring is out for revenge and a district championship. The Cougars are 6-0 while outscoring opponents 342-79. Class 3A: Cisco at Coleman Another district championship is mostly secured tonight, this time in Coleman in a battle between the favorites of District 4-3A Division II. State-ranked Cisco lost by one point to Wall in non-district play to prevent an unblemished record. A blowout victory over Comanche to end the non-district schedule combined with a 67-point effort against Dublin to start district play gives Cisco plenty of momentum. Coleman‘s lone loss was to Clyde, but the Bluecats began district play last week with a win over Bangs. Class 2A: Electra at Munday Undefeated Electra visits Munday to help decide the District 7-2A DII championship. Both teams are ranked in our top six of Class 2A Division II entering the game. Munday is ranked seventh and enters as the slight underdog despite being at home and holding the historic advantage in the series. Munday’s lone loss of the season came to Hawley in Week 1 by two points. Electra is ranked sixth in the state and the preseason favorite to win district. It has all the makings of a fascinating clash.

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