Tucumcari senior quaterback Dalton Wood battles for a short gain in Friday night's action at Texico Field of Dreams.

Tucumcari running back Angel Montano escapes the tackle of Texico's Donovan Johnson in Friday's game at Texico.

The Longhorns will host Menaul to decide the district 1 8-man champion while the Rattlers travel to Santa Rosa to force a tie in district 2-2A football.

Logan: 5-3 (2-0)

“A win means a district championship and playoffs,” said Longhorns head coach Billy Burns. “A loss and we’re still playoff bound, but at a lower seed.”

Burns said this will be the first time they step onto the field with the sizable and speedy 4-4 (2-0) Panthers. He said the two teams will match up well on the field.

“They like to run the football,” Burns said. “The guys need to close the gaps, cut off the running lanes and wrap up on tackles.”

Burns said the team is anxious and ready for the game.

Game time: 7 p.m. at Logan

Tucumcari: 5-4 (1-1)

The Rattlers know Friday night’s opponents all too well, longtime rival the 5-4 (2-0) Santa Rosa Lions.

“If we are going to get up for a game, this is the one,” said Rattlers head coach Daniel Hutchins. “This is for all the marbles.”

On the road for the last regular season game, the Rattlers will enter the Lions Den in an effort to force a tie in the 2-2A football district.

“We know they are going to be ready to play,” Hutchins said. “We just need to take care of the little things.”

Hutchins said penalties hurt the Rattlers on key plays during Friday night’s 22-21 loss to Texico. He said a facemask penalty negated a 4th and 8 defensive stop, giving the Wolverines a fresh set of downs.

“The kids are believing in what we are doing,” Hutchins said. “We are going to keep practicing on the little things and be ready to go.”

Situated 60 miles apart on Interstate 40, the rivalry between the Rattlers and Lions has often been called “The battle of I-40.”

“We are making this a big deal,” Hutchins said. “We win this game by seven points and we are the district 2-2A championships.”

A seven point win will tie the Rattlers with the Lions, but the head-to-head victory would give them the championship.

Game time: 7 p.m. at Santa Rosa

If the Lions win, they win the district title. A Tucumcari victory could create a three-way tie if Texico also beats Clayton this week. All three teams would finish 2-1 in their district, with a point differential determining the district champion who gets an automatic state playoff bid.