The best Thursday night Texas high school football games for Week 9

Harker Heights (4-4) vs. Copperas Cove (3-4)   As it stands right now, Hewitt Midway, Killeen Ellison, Belton and Harker Heights are in position to grab the four playoff spots out of District 8-6A. But Copperas Cove trails Harker Heights by just one game in the standings, and a win would do wonders for the Bulldawgs postseason hopes. Cove has played the top teams in the district close, with a 49-45 loss to Midway in the district opener and a 34-23 loss to Ellison two weeks ago before a bye last week. The Bulldawgs will need to get WR Floyd Connell involved early to knock off the Knights, as the senior has 40 catches for 445 yards and 3 TDs so far this season. For Harker Heights, a win would give the team some breathing room before a bye and a game against Killeen in the season finale. The Knights stunned Ellison 34-28 in OT last week after trailing 14-0 at halftime and will look to extend their winning streak to three games. Harker Heights defeated Cove for the first time in more than 10 years last season. Hendrickson (4-3) vs. Stony Point (5-3) Cedar Ridge is the unquestioned leader atop District 13-6A, but Hendrickson and Stony Point are locked up in a battle for second place. Both teams’ only district loss came to the Raiders, and both have bounced back in commanding fashion since then. The Hawks have back-to-back wins over Round Rock Westwood and McNeil by a combined 71 points and are looking to avenge a 14-13 loss to Stony Point last season. The Tigers are coming off a 56-28 win over Westwood last week in a game where senior quarterback Donovan Rybachek accounted for seven touchdowns. Rybachek (1,037 total yards, 21 TDs) and Zach Rangel (1,191 yards, 8 TDs) will both see time at quarterback as Stony Point looks to move past Hendrickson for the second straight season. Rosenberg Terry (3-3) vs. Port Lavaca Calhoun (3-3) After suffering back-to-back losses to Victoria West and Richmond Foster, Port Lavaca Calhoun finds itself with a chance to stay in the playoff race if it can knock off Rosenberg Terry. Terry is in a tie with Victoria West for the fourth playoff spot in District 27-5A, and Calhoun is just a game behind the Rangers heading into Thursday night. Terry fell to Richmond Foster 48-20 last week, and will look to get its offense back on track behind the play of senior quarterback Paul Morales (438 yards, 4 TDs) and junior RB Damon Shavers (399 yards, 3 TDs). Calhoun will rely on its dominant running game, led by seniors Jesse Lopez (729 yards, 6 TDs) and Marshal Batts (707 yards, 10 TDs). Calhoun has won two of the last three games between the schools and will need to build on that mark to improve its positioning in district play.

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