Farwell finds opponent for homecoming game

FARWELL — The Farwell football team was looking at the possibility of three open dates in a four-week stretch. Not good.

The Steers, though, managed to find a game last week, and they learned that their first Class 2A Division I District 1 opponent, Boys Ranch, will field a team this week for Farwell’s 7 p.m. homecoming game on Friday.

The Roughriders (0-4), who dropped a 48-7 decision last week to Booker, Texas, had been considering canceling the remainder of their season due to some concerns over coronavirus before deciding to forge ahead.

“They’ve got a good wide receiver and a good quarterback,” Steers coach Darren Kelley said of Boys Ranch. “They’re just not very big overall.”

Farwell improved to 4-1 for the season with a 21-14 victory over Italy in a neutral-site game played on Friday at Munday, Texas. The Gladiators (3-1), also a 2A Division I team, had been looking for a game after having a couple of cancellations on their schedule.

“Instead of having two or three open weeks, it worked out nicely for us,” Kelley said. “Italy was a good football team. We played really well on defense.”

Senior quarterback Leefe Actkinson, who had missed the Steers’ previous two games with a broken left hand, threw a couple of touchdown passes to senior Jose Rodriguez. Guerrero Olmos broke a 14-14 tie in the fourth quarter with a 31-yard TD run.

Meantime, junior Carlitos Castillo compiled 13 tackles (seven solos) while freshman defensive back Corey Stancell was in on 11 total stops.

Kelley said Panhandle and West Texas figure to provide the stiffest challenges for Farwell in district play. The Steers will play both teams at home on back-to-back Fridays in late October.

Sudan at Bovina — The Mustangs are off to a 1-4 start, but coach Coby Emery thinks his squad is primed for a good in Class 2A Division II District 2.

“I think we have a lot of potential to win the district, but we have to play a lot better on defense than we did (in the previous game, a 63-13 loss to Vega on Sept. 25),” he said. “I think both teams think the winner of this one could be district champions. I know it’s early, but I feel like we’re probably the two strongest programs.”

Emery’s son, Cole, returned at quarterback against Vega after missing the team’s previous three games with a hamstring injury.

“Offensively, we had pretty good game stats against Vega,” the coach said. “We just have to show up defensively.”

The Hornets (3-3), coming off a 46-14 thrashing of Plains last week, are in a bit of a rebuilding year but making strides as the season goes, coach Emery added.

“They graduated a bunch of good seniors from last year,” he said. “They have a lot of young kids playing, but you can tell they’re feeling pretty comfortable with the offensive and defensive schemes. We’ll have a tough test on Friday.”

The key will be limiting the productivity of senior quarterback Bode Box.

“He’s quick and a pretty good athlete,” coach Emery said. “Their running backs are OK, but the quarterback is who makes them go.”

Muleshoe at Bushland — Coming off a 1-19 record over the previous two seasons, the Mules (2-3) are looking to earn a spot in the postseason as they begin play in Class 3A Division I District 2.

They start out with the team Muleshoe coach Jason Richards considers the big dog, not only in the district but in the area.

“They’re the standard for sure in 3A Division I in west Texas,” he said. “They’re probably a little like Seminole (the Mules’ most recent opponent on Sept. 25). They’re very sound in what they do.”

Asked what strengths the Falcons (3-2) have, Richards replied: “A better question is ‘What are their weaknesses?’ They’ve got a really good quarterback (in senior Junell Coleman) to go with a good corps of wide receivers. On defense, they have a very good secondary.”

Richards said last week’s bye came at a good time for his squad.

“I think we had a good week of practice,” he said. “We got more kids back healthy, and we got some rest.”

How the Mules’ defense performs will be key to their chances.

“We’ve got to get some stops defensively and we’ve got to make some big plays,” Richards said. “We’ve got to stay ahead of the chains; we can’t get to second-and-12 or third-and-15.”

Dalhart (4-2), which has a bye this week, is probably the second-best team in the district, Richards said, adding that the Mules, Amarillo River Road and Littlefield will likely fight it out for the two remaining playoff spots.