Tucumcari (5-3, 1-0 District 2-2A)

at Texico (3-4, 0-1)

• When: 7 p.m. today

• Last meeting: 2009, the Wolverines scored a 26-7 win at Tucumcari.

• Last week: The Rattlers opened district play with a 36-13 victory over Clayton. The Wolverines were handed a 47-7 drubbing at Santa Rosa.

• Of note: Tucumcari comes in on a three-game winning streak. … Texico coach Ryan Autrey said his team will have to deal with the Rattlers’ speed. “They’ve got quite a few threats,” he said. “We’re really going to have to play well.” … Top players for Tucumcari are senior QB-CB Dalton Wood, junior WR-DE Cameron Montano, junior RB-FS Angelo Montano and senior WR-SS Jakus Martinez. The best lineman is 6-foot-5, 360-pound senior David Pacheco. … The Wolverines haven’t missed the postseason in more than 10 years. A win against the Rattlers should put them in good shape to extend that streak. “Right now,” Autrey said, “we just need to win football games.”

Fort Sumner (7-1, 0-1 District 2-1A)

at Cloudcroft (1-6, 0-1)

• When: 7 p.m. today

• Last meeting: 2007, the Foxes blanked Cloudcroft 19-0 at Fort Sumner.

• Last week: Fort Sumner lost to Hagerman 26-18 at home in a battle of unbeatens. The Bears were handed a 42-0 loss at Jal.

• Of note: After last week’s matchup of No. 1 (Hagerman) vs. No. 2 (Fort Sumner), the Foxes face a struggling Cloudcroft team which has been shut out five times in seven games. “They have a couple of kids who are pretty good, but they haven’t been able to put it together,” Foxes coach Matt Moyer said. … The Bears’ lone win was over Magdalena 20-12 on Sept. 25. … Moyer said the Foxes may be affected by the high altitude at Cloudcroft. “We want to play well,” he said. “We definitely don’t want to go out there and struggle.”

Melrose (6-2, 1-0 8-man District 3)

at Gateway Christian (6-2, 1-0)

• When: 7 p.m. today

• Last meeting: 2009, Melrose crushed the Warriors 72-0 at Melrose.

• Last week: The Buffaloes earned a forfeit win over Floyd. Gateway Christian defeated Tatum 30-8.

• Of note: At the least, the two-time defending state champion Buffs expect a much tougher test from Gateway than last year. “They’re a lot better and we’re not as good,” Melrose coach Dickie Roybal quipped. … The Warriors’ best player is junior QB Mason Miller. “We’re about equal, speed-wise and size-wise,” Roybal said, adding that turnovers may be the key. … The teams met for the 2003 8-man state title in Roswell, with the Warriors winning. … Both teams are almost guaranteed of making the playoffs; Roybal said the result could determine a seed. “If we beat (Gateway) and Tatum (next week), we should end the year as a (No.) 2 seed,” he said. … The Buffs, injury-plagued much of the season, are as close to full strength as they’ve been in a long time, Roybal said.

Clovis Christian (7-0, 3-0 6-man District 1)

at Roy (7-0, 3-0)

• When: 7 p.m. today

• Last meeting: The teams have never played each other.

• Last week: CCS rolled to a 56-0 lead at San Jon in a game called at halftime on the 45-point lead rule. Roy won at home over New Mexico School for the Deaf.

• Of note: The game matches probably the top two teams in 6-man; the winner is likely to be the top seed in the upcoming playoffs, the loser the second seed. Thus, both should have first-round byes next week. … All of Clovis Christian’s games and all but one of Roy’s contests have ended early on the 45-point lead rule. … Although the team is based in Roy, it also includes players from Mosquero and Wagon Mound. … “They’ve got some good kids,” CCS coach Jason Swann said. “They’ve got good speed, and not just in some positions.” … Senior QB/LB Sampson Baca, last year’s 6-man player of the year, leads the Roy squad. “He’s as good a runner as he is a thrower, and he’s a pretty good thrower,” Swann said. … Senior RB/S Shane Baca and soplhomore RB Corey Muniz are Roy’s other top players. The Bacas are the sons of head coach Matthew Baca, although they are not twins.

Farwell (7-1, 2-0 District 3-1A

Division II) at Nazareth (0-7, 0-1)

• When: 7:30 p.m. (CDT) today

• Last meeting: 2005, Nazareth defeated the Steers 50-0 at Farwell.

• Last week: Farwell shut out Sudan 34-0 at home. The Swifts had an open date.

• Of note: Nazareth, normally a competitive program, is going through a dreadful down season. The Swifts have scored 10 points all season and were beaten 48-0 by Sudan, which came in with only one win. … Steers coach Mike Prokop wants his team to simply handle its business. “Like I told the kids, ‘We can control only what we can control,’” Prokop said. “They just don’t have the athletic kids right now, and they’re going through some injuries.” … Top players for the Swifts are junior QB Riley Huseman and senior WR Evan Murray. … Farwell has a bye next week, then hosts third-ranked and unbeaten Springlake-Earth on Nov. 5 in what should determine the district title.

Muleshoe (6-1, 3-1 District 1-2A

Division I) at Littlefield (6-1, 4-0)

• When: 7:30 p.m. (CDT) today

• Last meeting: 2008, the Mules beat Littlefield 28-10 in a second-round Class 2A Division I playoff game at Wolfforth en route to the 2A state championship.

• Last week: Muleshoe cruised past rival Friona 54-19, while the Wildcats handed Bushland its first district loss 28-14.

• Of note: Muleshoe is ranked ninth in this week’s Texas Associated Press Class 2A rankings; Littlefield is 10th. … Mules coach David Wood said it isn’t hard to prepare for the Wildcats; it’s a matter of execution. “They haven’t changed anything in 30 years,” Wood said. “You know exactly what they’re going to do. If they never had to pass the ball one time, they would be perfectly happy.” … Defensively, Littlefield doesn’t change much, either, Wood said. “We’ll try to take what they give us,” Wood said.

Elida 4-4 (2-2 6-man District 2)

at Dora 2-6 (1-3)

• When: 3 p.m. today

• Last meeting: 2009; Elida defeated Dora 65-18.

• Last week: Dora lost to Valley Christian 50-14. Elida lost to Hondo 70-22.

• Coach’s comments: “They are much like us with a new coach and a new system in place. They usually run the spread or a veer-type of option play. We will looking to contain quarterback Michael Puebla.” — Elida Clay Ferguson.

• Of note: Heading into the last regular-season game of the season, Elida has an outside chance of finishing in a three-way tie for second with a win. If Hondo beats district-leader Lake Arthur, those teams will tie for first. A Hondo loss would likely create a three-way tie between Hondo, Elida and Valley Christian in the six-team district.

The two district champions earn automatic bids to the six-team state playoffs. The remaining four teams will be selected by an NMAA committee. Elida, ranked seventh in this week’s high school coaches’ poll, is seeking its first state playoff bid.

— Freedom New Mexico