Mustangs, Plowboys need wins to stay on track

It may be tempting today for Sweetwater and Roscoe football players to be thinking about next week’s early district showdowns.
But neither the Mustangs or Plowboys — the only two Nolan County teams to see action this week with both Highland and Blackwell enjoying an open date — can afford a slip-up.
Sweetwater, which is 2-0 in District 2-4A, Division II, goes to Fort Stockton (1-2) for a 7 p.m. matchup after getting its open date last week. Because they have one fewer game, the Mustangs trail Seminole (3-0) by a half game. Sweetwater hosts Seminole next Friday, the first of three consecutive games against 2016 district playoff teams to end the regular season.
The nearest thing to a close call for Sweetwater (6-0) came Week 5 at Pecos when it trailed the Eagles by three points, 23-20, at halftime until a 43-7 explosion carried it to a 63-30 win. Fort Stockton, after losing to Greenwood 38-0 and Pecos 41-6 in its first two district games, got its first win last Friday by defeating Lamesa 26-14 with a fourth-quarter rally.
With Sweetwater idle last week, Seminole took the outright lead with a 57-6 win over Pecos last Friday after earlier victories over Monahans and Greenwood.
If Sweetwater is able to defeat Seminole, it will still need to defeat Monahans — the defending 2-4A champion — and Greenwood to claim the outright title.
Roscoe hosts Plains today in District 4-2A DII to end a two-week homestand.
The Plowboys are 1-0 in district and 4-2 overall after beating Roby in its opener last week. Plains is 0-1 (2-3 overall) after a 21-14 loss to Hamlin in its opener.
After today’s game, Roscoe goes to Seagraves (1-0, 4-2), which along with Ros-coe and Hamlin is considered one of the top three teams in the district. Seagraves beat Tahoka 42-6 to begin district play.
Sweetwater, which has won 44 of its last 48 games, played against Seminole twice a year ago, beating the Indians 39-22 in distric play and 38-14 in the state quarterfinals.
Roscoe and Seagraves also played each other twice in 2016. Roscoe won 39-23 in district play, but Seagraves turned the tables by winning 29-21 in the regional semifinals.