Week 9 is in the books, and playoff races continue to heat up. Our experts opined on some of last week’s key games. How’d we do?

Rebels Continue Their Roll Through Little SWC

What our Greg Tepper thought: Midland Lee was the favorite

What our Matt Stepp thought: Midland Lee was a 4-point favorite

What our computer thought: Midland Lee was a 14-point favorite

What happened: 6A No. 19 Midland Lee 55, Amarillo Tascosa 36

Undefeated and gaining momentum as fast as a West Texas tumbleweed, Midland Lee continues its roll with a larger-than-expected win at Amarillo Tascosa, though the game was closer than the final score indicates. Midway through the third quarter, Tascosa drew even at 28. Lee closed the game with a 27-8 run that included Mikey Serrano converted a key fourth-and-15 with a pass to Loic Fouonji. The Rebels are now two big wins away from the school’s first perfect regular season since 1999. Lee finishes the regular season with rivalry games against Midland and Odessa Permian.

Summit’s Rally Stuns Unbeaten DeSoto

What our Greg Tepper thought: DeSoto was the favorite

What our Matt Stepp thought: DeSoto was a 14-point favorite

What our computer thought: DeSoto was a 21-point favorite

What happened: Mansfield Summit 27, 6A No. 10 DeSoto 26

Weather can be the great equalizer, and none of our experts – human or otherwise – counted on the Thursday night storm that delayed the game three times. In the end, Xavier Tolliver’s 5-yard touchdown run with two minutes left proved the difference for a fourth-quarter comeback made possible by a quartet of DeSoto turnovers. DeSoto’s loss puts Cedar Hill in the driver’s seat ahead of a Nov. 7 showdown to close the regular season.

Healthier North Shore Rolls in District 21-6A Showdown of 2018 State Qualifiers

What our Greg Tepper thought: North Shore was the favorite

What our Matt Stepp thought: North Shore was a 21-point favorite

What our computer thought: North Shore was a 12-point favorite

What happened: 6A No. 5 Galena Park North Shore 54, No. 8 Beaumont West Brook 25

Our experts see the improvement West Brook has made from last year’s 6A D2 state finalist, but it just wasn’t enough to slow the momentum that the surging  6A D1 champs are building. North Shore sprinted out to a 31-7 lead behind a pair of touchdown runs from Damatrius Davis and the first of two long scoring runs by Zach Evans, who needed just six carries to gain 180 yards. Any chink in the Mustangs’ armor? West Brook did roll up 500 yards of offense, including 273 yards rushing.

San Antonio Roosevelt Stops Johnson in Overtime For 4th Straight Win

What our Greg Tepper thought: Roosevelt was the favorite

What our Matt Stepp thought: Roosevelt was a 6-point favorite

What our computer thought: Roosevelt was a 3-point favorite

What happened: Roosevelt 35, Johnson 34

Our experts saw Roosevelt winning, but Johnson didn’t go without a fight. Trailing 28-21, Roosevelt got a tying touchdown from Robert Meadows with 3 minutes left. In overtime, Brandon Armelin caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Dewayne Coleman to give Roosevelt a 35-28 lead. Johnson responded on Blair Blount’s 11-yard touchdown run. Johnson coach Ron Rittimann opted to go for the two-point conversion and the win, but the Rough Riders stopped Ty Reasoner short of the goal line.

Tigers Keep Wolves Caged in District 6-5A-1 Battle

What our Greg Tepper thought: Lancaster was the favorite

What our Matt Stepp thought: Lancaster was an 8-point favorite

What our computer thought: Lancaster was a 4-point favorite

What happened: 5A D1 No. 7 Lancaster 33, Mansfield Timberview 10

Timberview had won five straight following an 0-2 start, but Lancaster proved too talk a task to tackle. The Tigers tuned up for next week’s district showdown with Highland Park by holding Timberview to just three points following an opening drive that saw Jaden Hullaby score. Tre Bradford scored three of Lancaster’s touchdowns, but it was coach Chris Gilbert’s defense that served notice, allowing Timberview just 186 yards of offense on a rainy night.

Big First Quarter Carries Dumas Past Canyon

What our Greg Tepper thought: Dumas was the favorite

What our Matt Stepp thought: Dumas was a 4-point favorite

What our computer thought: Dumas was a 2-point favorite

What happened: 4A D1 No. 5 Dumas 21, Canyon 14

For a quarter, it looked like Dumas would make our experts only half-right. The Demons hit Canyon with three long scoring plays – Jacob Mares’ 56 yard touchdown run, Louis Ortiz’s 77-yard touchdown catch and Kyle Stroebel’s 83-yard touchdown catch. The Eagles chipped away and had chances in the fourth quarter, but 5th-ranked Dumas lived up to its ranking.

Greenwood Flexes Its Considerable Muscle in Handling Fort Stockton

What our Greg Tepper thought: Midland Greenwood was the favorite

What our Matt Stepp thought: Midland Greenwood was a 16-point favorite

What our computer thought: Midland Greenwood was a 26-point favorite

What happened: 4A D2 No. 4 Midland Greenwood 54, Fort Stockton 17

Fort Stockton rode into Midland looking to spring the upset and jumped out to a 10-0 lead. Sometimes a fast start buoys an underdog. Sometimes it just wakes the bear. The Panthers returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a score and added a field goal but couldn’t hold Greenwood down for long. Trey Cross exploded for four touchdowns and 234 yards on the ground as the Rangers remained perfect and wrapped up the District 1-4A-2 title.

Wall Survives Challenge from Eastland to Remain Unbeaten, Stake Claim to District Title

What our Greg Tepper thought: Wall was the favorite

What our Matt Stepp thought: Wall was an 8-point favorite

What our computer thought: Wall was a 15-point favorite

What happened: 3A D1 No. 2 Wall 28, 3A D1 No. 7 Eastland 14

Our experts had this top 10 battle of 3A, D1 unbeatens pegged. Wall took its biggest step toward a 10th straight district title by keeping Eastland’s high-scoring offense on the sideline. The Hawks proved that the best defense is a ball-control offense and a defense that attacked when it had to. Wall sacked Texas Tech commit Behren Morton twice, intercepted him once and pressured him 15 times on the night.

San Antonio Southside knocks Alice from Unbeaten Ranks

What our Greg Tepper thought: Alice was the favorite

What our Matt Stepp thought: Southside was a 3-point favorite

What our computer thought: Too close to call

What happened: San Antonio Southside 28, Alice 18

Alice’s unbeaten run (granted one loss was reversed by forfeit due to an ineligible player) finally ends at the hands of San Antonio Southside and Alejandro Escamilla, who threw a pair of touchdown passes. The thing Tepper was most disappointed with: the mustaches grown by Alice’s coaching staff can now be shaved off. As a compromise between school policy and athletic department policy, which prohibits athletes from wearing facial hair, the coaches vowed to grow facial hair until the team lost.

Miller’s Overtime Comeback Clinches Playoff Berth, Preserves Perfect Record

What our Greg Tepper thought: Miller was the favorite

What our Matt Stepp thought: NA

What our computer thought: Miller was a 2-point favorite

What happened: Miller 50, Veterans Memorial 43 (2 overtimes)

On his picks last Thursday, Tepper gave Miller the nod in a close gave with Veteran’s Memorial, saying, “I’m a believer.” The Buccaneers dug themselves a huge hole, falling behind 23-0, and then rallied. Miller’s Joshua Cantu returned a fumble 84 yards for a score to start the rally. Miller actually led 36-29, and Veteran’s Memorial forced overtime on Matthew Krall’s touchdown catch with just 40 seconds left in regulation. Andrew Body found Zeke Moya to put Miller ahead in the second overtime, and the Bucs wrapped up the win by knocking away the Patriots’ pass on fourth down. The last time Miller (8-0) won eight games in a season was 2001.

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