Friday area high school football capsules — Nov. 4

Clayton (0-8, 0-3) at Texico (3-0, 3-5)When: 7 p.m. in a District 5-3A game. Last week: Clayton lost to Santa Rosa 53-12. Texico won at Tucumcari 35-8. Last meeting: 2015, the Wolverines won at Clayton 20-6. Of note: The Wolverines, winless coming into district play, have already secured the district championship. At this point, they are likely to get a No. 5 seed and a first-round home game in the Class 3A playoffs. “I think we can compete with anybody right now,” Texico coach Ryan Autrey said. … The Yellowjackets have struggled mightily this season and come in having been outscored 283-69 for the season. They are yet to score more than 14 points in a game this season, and were shut out in three consecutive games at one point. … Texico is likely to play this game a bit differently than it might otherwise, Autrey acknowledged, with the district title already in hand. “We’re definitely not overlooking them,” he said of the Yellowjackets. “But we’ve got the district locked up, and we’ve definitely got to be healthy once the playoffs start.” … Among Clayton’s better players are senior RB/LB Brendan Thrasher and junior TE Matt Durbin.

Jal (3-7) at Fort Sumner (10-0)When: 7 p.m. in a Class 2A semifinal playoff game. Last week: The Panthers were drubbed at Lordsburg 58-6, while the top-ranked Foxes won a battle of unbeatens over No. 2 Escalante 45-26 at Fort Sumner. Last meeting: Oct. 7, Fort Sumner beat the Panthers 50-0 in a District 1-2A game at Jal. Of note: On paper, it would appear district rivals Fort Sumner and Escalante, ranked 1-2 in Class 2A, are headed for a rematch of last week’s game and a rematch of last year’s championship game (won by the Lobos at Escalante 28-20) in next week’s final. … Despite its record, the Panthers are averaging just over 20 ppg this season, and they did play Escalante to within four points in a regular-season matchup. … Fort Sumner is averaging just under 40 ppg this season, outscoring its opposition 399-128. … In the October matchup, called due to the 50-point mercy rule in the third quarter, sophomore QB Jude Segura threw for 323 yards and six touchdowns for the Foxes.

Farwell (8-1, 4-0) at Morton (1-8, 1-3)When: 7:30 p.m. (CDT) in a District 3-1A Division II game. Last week: The Steers outlasted Bovina 20-14 at Farwell. The Indians notched their first win of the season with a 27-13 decision at Smyer. Last meeting: 2013, Farwell blanked Morton 34-0 at Farwell. Of note: The Indians have struggled this season, and last week’s win may have qualified as an upset. Morton has been outscored 372-61 for the year. … Steers coach Danny Brittain has stressed to his players not to rest on their laurels this week. “Regardless of (Morton’s) record, we need to stay focused,” he said. “This isn’t an off-week; it’s a week to get better for the playoffs.” … Morton’s relatively thin roster does include 10 seniors. Top players for the Indians are freshman QB Malachi Villarreal, senior RB/LB Anthony Vejar and junior WR/OLB Kaleb Padilla. … Brittain noted that the Indians have a shot, albeit slim, of gaining the fourth spot in the district on a tiebreaker and a playoff berth, but in addition to upsetting the Steers they would need Smyer (1-8, 0-4) to upend Springlake-Earth (3-6, 1-3). “They do have something to play for,” Brittain said. “I told our kids that they’re not going to lay down for us.” … Brittain said the Steers’ opponent in next week’s bi-district round of the playoffs should be either Tahoka or Plains.

Sudan (6-3, 3-1) at Bovina (8-1, 3-1)When: 7:30 p.m. (CDT) in a District 3-1A Division II game. Last week: Bovina suffered its first loss of the season at Farwell 20-14. The Hornets scored a 46-27 win over Springlake-Earth at Sudan. Last meeting: 2015, Sudan posted a 30-12 victory at Bovina. Of note: Last week’s loss was a hard one for the Mustangs to swallow, but now they have to regroup against Sudan in what will be a battle for second place in the district. “We just have to do a better job of eliminating our mistakes,” coach Hector Guevara said, noting that the Mustangs committed the only three turnovers of last week’s matchup. … Sudan comes in on a bit of a role, having won five of six. The only loss was at home to Farwell 6-0 on Oct. 7. … The Hornets’ best players are senior fullback John Paredez and junior RB/DE Austin Conley. “They run the ball well, and they’re real aggressive on defense,” Guevara said. … Bovina is looking at facing either Seagraves, Hamlin or Roscoe in the bi-district round next week, Guevara said.

Muleshoe (5-4, 2-2) at Shallowater (2-7, 2-2)When: 7:30 p.m. (CDT) in a District 1-3A Division I game. Last week: The Mules lost at home in the closing seconds to Littlefield 41-35. The Mustangs posted a 48-27 victory at Friona. Last meeting: 2015, Shallowater handed Muleshoe a 35-21 setback in an area (second-round) Class 3A playoff contest. Of note: The Mules and Mustangs are playing for third place in the district. The winner is likely to meet Kermit in a bi-district playoff game next week, while the loser will probably get Wall. … Shallowater, which went 10-3 last season and lost in the third round of the playoffs, has won two of three since an 0-6 start and was edged at home by co-district leader Amarillo River Road 13-7 on Oct. 21. “They’re fast; we’ve just got to try to match their speed,” Muleshoe coach David Wood said. … Last week’s loss stung, but Wood said the Mules still have much to play for and are trying to move on. “We’ve just got to let the past be the past and just play football,” he said. “We’re disappointed, but it’s a matter of can we get over the disappointment.” … The Mustangs have a sophomore quarterback in Cutter Sparks, whom Wood called “impressive.” Another key player is junior RB Brody Hendrick.

— Compiled by Dave Wagner