Farwell senior running back Colby Read fights through a Seagraves defender during last Friday’s game at Farwell.

Farwell and Bovina heat up their Parmer County rivalry tonight in Bovina, with both looking to get a quick jump in the District 3-1A Division I race.

The Steers bring a 5-1 mark into the 7:30 p.m. (CDT) contest, bouncing back last week to beat Seagraves 30-7 after being knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten the week before by state-ranked New Deal.

Meantime, Bovina (3-3) is mired in a three-game losing streak, although the last two were to strong programs in Sundown (62-13) and Iraan (33-7).

“They’ve played some very good competition the last two games,” first-year Steers coach Mike Prokop said of the Mustangs.

With Nazareth (0-6) and Sudan (1-5) having uncharacteristically down seasons, the Steers and Mustangs figure to be in position to gain two of the three playoff berths from the five-team district regardless of tonight’s outcome.

Still, it would be a big boost for either team.

Prokop said that despite Bovina’s recent struggles, the Mustangs present a difficult challenge led by junior running back Desmond Fox.

“We want to win our district opener, but we know it’ll be a tough challenge,” Prokop said. “We’re going to have to do what we can to keep the ball out of Desmond’s hands.”

Bovina coach Hector Guevara said his team has been battling injuries — in addition to facing some top-notch opposition.

Guevara noted many of the Steers’ top players are seniors and have been around a while.

“They’re strong everywhere,” he said. “They have good athletes everywhere. What we’ve got to do is take what they give us, and go from there.

“Offensively, they (Steers) can do it all. We’re trying to get healthier every week. We just have to learn from (the recent losses.”

Springlake-Earth (6-0), ranked third this week in Class 1A, figures to be the team to beat in the district. Bovina plays at Springlake-Earth next week, while Farwell hosts the Wolverines in the regular-season finale on Nov. 5.