LOCKNEY — Some people try to downplay football games in September, saying that they don’t mean as much as the ones in October. The biggest majority of the previous 98 meetings between the Floydada Whirlwinds and Lockney Longhorns have been in September since 1917 — and all of them have been important in the hearts of the players, students and fans. This Friday at 7 p.m., the second-oldest high school football series in the Texas Panhandle/South Plains (behind Amarillo vs. Lubbock) resumes at Mitchell-Zimmerman Field.
The Floydada-Lockney game does not count towards qualifying for the state playoffs, but the winner gets possession of the Floyd County Championship trophy for the next 12 months.
The Longhorns (0-1) and Whirlwinds (0-1) will both be trying to shake off the mistakes of their season openers from last Friday. Floyadada lost to the Tulia Hornets 32-0 primarily due to three costly breakdowns in their kicking game, and Lockney was beaten by the Ropes Eagles 31-7 that was hampered by double digit penalties.
Each team gave glimpses of hope in their season-opening setbacks. Lockney quarterback Austin Rodriguez, filling in for three-year starter Pablo Morales, passed for 92 yards and ran for 42 yards. Nathan Cineceros and Elias Alvarez combined for 121 yards to give the Longhorns a solid running game. There is a chance that Morales could be back in action on Friday after being sidelined with an ankle injury in the first scrimmage against Sanford-Fritch on August 13. The return of Morales would put Rodriguez back to his normal position as a running back.
The Whirlwinds were led by Trace Glasscock’s 101 yards passing against Tulia. Glasscock’s most dependable receiver was Aiden Trevino with six receptions, followed by Saul Reyes and Andres Mendoza with four each. Running backs Mendoza and Javier Santos provided the bulk of the ground game with 70 combined yards against the Hornets.
New coaches at each school, J.R. Compton in Floydada and Cory McCombs in Lockney, are both looking for more consistency in their execution in game two of the season.
Kickoff will be at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on KFLP 106.1 FM with Randell Sims and Nick Long and, video will be streamed on FloydCountyRecord.com.
Harris Rating picks of Lockney and Floydada opponents (in caps):
FLOYDADA over LOCKNEY by 5
SMYER favored against PLAINS by 11
Vega is a big favorite over BOYS RANCH – no line
ROOSEVELT a decisive pick against NEW HOME – no line
MEMPHIS over CROSBYTON by 9
Clarendon favored against RALLS by 11
Seagraves over TAHOKA by 35
HALE CENTER picked against Amarillo Highland Park by 11
Wellington tabbed to beat NEW DEAL by 8
SUNDOWN over Sudan by 24
Forsan edging POST by 2
Hawley favored over HAMLIN by 21
Stamford a solid favorite over ROSCOE by 31
ROPES to fly over ODESSA COMPASS by 41
TULIA over Brownfield by 14
