Buffs set to host rival Foxes

MELROSE — Melrose and Fort Sumner know each other pretty well when the teams meet in football.

The longtime rivals collide on Friday night in an 8-man semifinal playoff game, with kickoff set for 6 p.m. Top-seeded Tatum (8-1) hosts No. 4 Logan (7-3) in the other matchup.

It’s an all-District 2 field remaining after Logan knocked out District 1’s lone rep, Magdalena, 24-18 last week. Fort Sumner (7-2) beat district foe Mesilla Valley 54-14 in the other first-round tilt.

“This is going to be one of those games where we both know each other,” Melrose coach Caleb King said of his team’s matchup. “It should be a pretty tight game.”

The Buffaloes (6-1) and Foxes (8-2) met in Melrose on Sept. 24, with Melrose pulling out a 58-50 victory. Fort Sumner’s only other loss was at Tatum in the final week of the regular season, relegating the Foxes to third place in the district, but they also own a 52-50 non-district win over the Coyotes at home.

Melrose won the last state championship game played in 8-man in 2019, beating Tatum in the finals. King said if the Buffs win Friday, they would travel to either Tatum or Logan in next week’s championship game.

Also on Friday, Texico begins the Class 2A playoffs with a 7 p.m. matchup at home against Capitan. The Wolverines (4-4) are seeded fourth in the eight-team field, while the Tigers (7-2) were given the No. 5 seed.

“They’re a pretty good football team,” Texico coach Bob Gilbreath said. “They’re not a slouch, by any means.”

Gilbreath said he thought his team earned the higher seed and homefield advantage because of strength of schedule. The Wolverines lost competitive road tilts against top seed Jal and third-seeded Eunice, while their other setbacks came against Texas schools Farwell and Olton.

Texico comes in on a three-game winning streak, outscoring those foes 133-13. Its defense has allowed only one touchdown in that stretch.

“I anticipate it’ll be a good matchup,” Gilbreath said. “I think we’re ready for the playoffs. Our kids are playing with confidence.”

Texas teams wrap up regular season — Farwell, Bovina and Muleshoe are already securely in the postseason on the Texas side, and will finish second in their respective districts.

Farwell (7-2, 3-1 District 1-2A Division I) hosts Olton (6-3, 2-2) on Friday, while Muleshoe (4-5, 2-1 District 2-3A Division I) plays at rival Littlefield (3-6, 0-3) in the “War on 84.” Meantime, Bovina (4-6, 3-1 District 2-2A Division II) has a bye.

Both the Steers and Mustangs lost last week in battles for the top spot in their districts, but will not go below second in the upcoming seedings regardless of Friday’s outcomes.

Muleshoe is in a similar position in its district, behind Bushland (7-3, 4-0) but with head-to-head wins over Amarillo River Road (5-4, 1-2) and, last week, Dalhart (2-7, 1-2) in a 61-16 romp at Muleshoe.