After a month and a half of chaotic regular season action, the Big Country’s best high school football teams have battled in back-and-forth shootouts and secured statement wins during the first six weeks of the 2025 Texas high school football season.
Now it’s time to turn the page to Week 8, as teams throughout the Lone Star State will ramp up their schedules with district play beginning for most teams and while non-district slates wrap up for others Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 16-18.
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The Abilene Reporter-News will offer weekly picks and projections for every 11-man and six-man high school football game featuring Big Country teams throughout the 2025 Texas high school football season.
Here’s how we see contests playing out for teams throughout the Big Country and Abilene area during Week 8 of the Texas high school football season:
ARN’s Week 1 Big Country Football Picks = 31-23 (57.41%)
ARN’s Week 2 Big Country Football Picks = 51-11 (82.26%)
ARN’s Week 3 Big Country Football Picks = 47-14 (77.05%)
ARN’s Week 4 Big Country Football Picks = 49-11 (81.67%)
ARN’s Week 5 Big Country Football Picks = 46-11 (80.70%)
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ARN’s Week 6 Big Country Football Picks = 32-6 (84.21%)
ARN’s Week 7 Big Country Football Picks = 40-6 (86.96%)
Overall 2025 Season Picks = 296-82 (78.31%)
Abilene Reporter-News’ Big Country High School Football Picks – Week 8 (Oct. 16-18)
Thursday, Oct. 16th:
SIX-MAN
NON-DISTRICT
Richland Springs Coyotes vs. Leander Founders Classical Academy Archers, 7:30 p.m. in Leander
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Our Pick: Richland Springs
DISTRICT 13-1A DI
Gordon Longhorns vs. Ranger Bulldogs, 6 p.m. at O.C. Warden Stadium in Ranger
DISTRICT 8-1A DII
Lueders-Avoca Raiders vs. Aspermont Hornets, 7 p.m. at Hornet Stadium in Aspermont
Rule Bobcats vs. Jayton Jaybirds, 7 p.m. at Jaybird Stadium in Jayton
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DISTRICT 11-1A DII
Iredell Dragons vs. Bluff Dale Bobcats, 7 p.m. at Bluff Dale Bobcat Field in Bluff Dale
More: Vote for Reporter-News Athlete of the Week for Oct. 6-11, sponsored by City National Bank
More: Week 8 Texas high school football rankings by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
More: Vote: Who should be ARN Readers’ Choice 2025 Big Country Football Midseason Offensive MVP?
More: Battle of the Bands: Who has the best high school marching band in the Big Country?
Friday, Oct. 17th:
DISTRICT 2-5A DI
Lubbock High Westerners vs. Abilene High Eagles, 7 p.m. at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene
DISTRICT 2-5A DII
Abilene Cooper Cougars vs. Plainview Bulldogs, 7 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium in Plainview
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Wichita Falls Memorial Mavericks vs. Abilene Wylie Bulldogs, 7 p.m. at Hugh Sandifer Stadium in Abilene
DISTRICT 4-4A DI
Stephenville Yellow Jackets vs. Marble Falls Mustangs, 7:30 p.m. at Mustang Stadium in Marble Falls
DISTRICT 1-4A DII
Snyder Tiger vs. Fort Stockton Panthers, 7 p.m. at Panther Stadium in Fort Stockton
DISTRICT 3-3A DI
Clyde Bulldogs vs. San Angelo TLCA Eagles, 7 p.m. at Lake View Stadium in San Angelo
Comanche Indians vs. Sweetwater Mustangs, 7 p.m. at The Mustang Bowl in Sweetwater
Tuscola Jim Ned Indians vs. Breckenridge Buckaroos, 7 p.m. at Buckaroo Stadium in Breckenridge
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Our Pick: Tuscola Jim Ned
DISTRICT 4-3A DII
Wall Hawks vs. Coahoma Bulldogs, 7 p.m. at Bill Easterling Memorial Stadium in Coahoma
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DISTRICT 5-3A DII
Early Longhorns vs. Clifton Cubs, 7 p.m. at Cub Stadium in Clifton
Eastland Mavericks vs. Brady Bulldogs, 7 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium in Brady
Tolar Rattlers vs. Dublin Lions, 7 p.m. at Bob and Norma Cervetto Stadium in Dublin
DISTRICT 4-2A DI
Abilene TLCA Eagles vs. Cisco Loboes, 7 p.m. at Chesley Stadium in Cisco
Anson Tigers vs. Stamford Bulldogs, 7 p.m. at Bill Anderson Stadium in Stamford
Hawley Bearcats vs. Olney Cubs, 7 p.m. at Cub Stadium in Olney
DISTRICT 5-2A DI
Ballinger Bearcats vs. Hamilton Bulldogs, 7 p.m. at Kooken Field in Hamilton
Bangs Dragons vs. Hico Tigers, 7 p.m. at Tiger Stadium in Hico
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Coleman Bluecats vs. De Leon Bearcats, 7 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium in De Leon
DISTRICT 6-2A DII
Haskell Indians vs. Archer City Wildcats, 7 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium in Archer City
Electra Tigers vs. Munday Moguls, 7 p.m. at Scruggs Field in Munday
DISTRICT 7-2A DII
Cross Plains Buffaloes vs. Miles Bulldogs, 7 p.m. at Gary Krejci Memorial Stadium in Miles
Hamlin Pied Pipers vs. Roscoe Plowboys, 7 p.m. at Plowboy Field in Roscoe
Winters Blizzards vs. Albany Lions, 7 p.m. at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium in Albany
DISTRICT 10-2A DII
Bremond Tigers vs. Goldthwaite Eagles, 7 p.m. at Eagle Field in Goldthwaite
Frost Polar Bears vs. Chilton Pirates, 7 p.m. at Featherston Field in Chilton
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SIX-MAN
NON-DISTRICT
DISTRICT 11-1A DII
Throckmorton Greyhounds vs. Forestburg Longhorns, 7 p.m. at Longhorn Field in Forestburg
Calvert Trojans vs. Oakwood Panthers, 7:30 p.m. at Panther Field in Oakwood
Strawn Greyhounds vs. Azle Christian School Crusaders, 7:30 p.m. at Azle Christian Field in Azle
DISTRICT 7-1A DI
Roby Lions vs. Roscoe Highland Hornets, 7 p.m. at Hornet Field in Roscoe
Rotan Yellowhammers vs. Hermleigh Cardinals, 7 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium in Hermleigh
Westbrook Wildcats vs. Ira Bulldogs, 7:30 p.m. at Ira ISD Sports Complex in Ira
DISTRICT 13-1A DI
Lingleville Cardinals vs. Baird Bears, 7:30 p.m. at The Bears Den in Baird
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DISTRICT 6-1A DII
Blackwell Hornets vs. Lorraine Bulldogs, 7:30 p.m. at Johnson Field in Loraine
Olfen Mustangs vs. Trent Gorillas, 7:30 p.m. at Gorilla Stadium in Trent
DISTRICT 7-1A DII
Chillicothe Eagles vs. Guthrie Jaguars, 7:30 p.m. at Jack Huey Field in Guthrie
DISTRICT 11-1A DII
Kopperl Eagles vs. Three Way Braves, 7 p.m. at Brave Field in Stephenville
DISTRICT 13-1A DII
Blanket Tigers vs. Rising Star Wildcats, 7:30 p.m. at Wildcat Stadium in Rising Star
Sidney Eagles vs. Gustine Tigers, 7:30 p.m. at Roger Oliver Stadium in Gustine
DISTRICT 15-1A DII
Rochelle Hornets vs. Lohn Eagles, 7:30 p.m. at Eagle Field in Lohn
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Valera Panther Creek Panthers vs. Brookesmith Mustangs, 7:30 p.m. at Dillingham Field in Brookesmith
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Our Pick: Valera Panther Creek
TAPPS SIX-MAN DIVISION II DISTRICT 1
Crowley Nazarene Christian Academy Lions vs. Abilene Christian Panthers, 7 p.m. at Panther Stadium in Abilene
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Our Pick: Abilene Christian
Week 8 byes: Brownwood; Big Spring; Merkel; Gorman; May; Santa Anna; Bronte; Benjamin; Haskell Paint Creek; Moran; Woodson; Zephyr.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: ARN’s Week 8 Big Country high school football picks (Oct. 16-18)
