Steers face two-time defending champ

FARWELL — The Farwell Steers have drawn a tough first-round opponent in the Texas Class 2A Division I playoffs — the two-time defending state runnerup Post Antelopes.

Perhaps fortunately, though, Post was hit by graduation and isn’t quite the same squad this season. The Antelopes bring a 4-6 record and the No. 3 seed from District 2 into Friday’s 7 p.m. (CST) matchup at Levelland.

Still, Steers coach Darren Kelley said his squad figures to have its work cut out.

“We’ll have to play well,” he said. “They’re big, and they’ve got a couple of good athletes. The tight end (senior Zach Courtney) is 6-6 and 240 pounds, and he also plays defensive end.”

The teams have just one common opponent this season. Farwell (7-2) dropped a 9-7, six-overtime decision at Sundown in late September, while the Roughnecks handed Post a 7-0 loss on Oct. 8.

“They run the ball a lot,” Kelley said. “They throw it less than we do.”

In other area Texas bi-district games, Muleshoe (5-5) opens Class 3A Division I play on Thursday against Brownfield (3-7) at Levelland, and Bovina (4-6) takes on Seagraves (7-3) in the Class 2A Division II lidlifter on Friday at Sudan. Both are set for 7 p.m. kickoffs as well.

After a heartbreaking 36-35 loss at Panhandle on Oct. 29 in a battle for the district title, the Steers preserved their No. 2 status by beating Olton 28-20 on Friday.

“Last week was a good win for us,” Kelley said. “We had a lot of stuff going on.”

Junior quarterback Alec Actkinson broke a bone in his foot at Panhandle and remains questionable this week, Kelley said. Junior Adrian Nunez filled in against Olton.

Kelley said the Steers should regain the services of senior tight end/defensive end Wyatt Shearer, who missed the Olton tilt due to illness.

The winner of Friday’s bi-district clash will take on either Coleman or Anson in next week’s area round.

Muleshoe vs. Brownfield — The Mules played their way into the No. 2 seed in District 2-3A Division I with three wins to end the regular season, including pulsating road triumphs over Amarillo River Road (42-38) and Littlefield (38-36 in three overtimes).

They drew an athletic, if inconsistent, opening foe in the Cubs.

“They’re probably the most athletic squad we’ve seen,” Muleshoe coach Jason Richards said. “They’re deep at receiver, have good size on defense and run well.”

The Cubs top players may be senior wide receiver/defensive back Jeremiah Tealer and junior wide receiver/linebacker Kaydyn Moore.

Receiver is a position of strength, Richards said. “They’ve got about three receivers that are really good,” he said.

The teams have three common opponents — Muleshoe beat Tulia 35-31 while the Cubs lost 38-13, and Tulia beat Lamesa 41-22 while the Mules lost 24-20. Both teams were beaten soundly by Friona.

The winner gets either second-ranked Jim Ned or Peaster in the area round.

Bovina vs. Seagraves — The Mustangs, coming off a bye week, are looking at a what coach Coby Emery called a “power” Wishbone attack when they meet the Eagles. Seagraves’ top player is 6-4, 180-pound senior running back Zharion Smith.

“They’re probably 90 percent run on offense,” Emery said. “Size-wise, I think we’re pretty much even. I think it’s a pretty even matchup overall.”

The Mustangs settled for the second seed out of District 2 when they lost their regular-season finale to New Home 23-14 on Oct. 29. The Leopards rallied from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit to take the district crown.

“We didn’t quite close the deal against New Home,” Emery said.

The teams’ lone common opponent was Bovina district foe Smyer. Both teams were victorious against the Bobcats.