Texico (7-1) at Estancia (7-2)
When: 7 p.m. tonight in a District 2-2A game. Both teams are 1-1 in the district.
Last week: Texico won at Tucumcari 26-7, while the Bears lost at home to Santa Rosa 33-22.
Last meeting: 2008, Texico routed the Bears 41-0 at home.
What to watch for: Texico coach Ryan Autrey said the Bears’ team speed is a concern, especially with junior quarterback Destry Oberg’s pocket presence.
“We’ve got to contain the quarterback,” Autrey said of Oberg, whose primary target is senior Derek Georgia. “He’ll pick you apart if you let him.”
Of note: The defending Class 2A champion Wolverines could miss the playoffs for the first time in a long time with a loss. … On offense, Autrey said penalties are his biggest concern.
Quotable: “Offensively, I feel like we’ve been doing things well all year. We’ve just got to eliminate the mental mistakes that have gotten to us at the end of the year. With a team like Estancia ... they can score so quick, we’ll have to sustain long drive.” — Autrey

Mescalero (1-8) at Fort Sumner (6-3)
When: 7 p.m. tonight in a District 2-1A game. The Chiefs are 0-3 in district play; Fort Sumner is 2-1.
Last week: Mescalero lost to Carrizozo 32-19. Fort Sumner absorbed a 56-0 setback at Hagerman.
Of note: The Foxes, who have already qualified for  the Class 1A playoffs, are down five starters, coach Matt Moyer said. They hope to have three of them back either next week or perhaps the week after in the semifinals, he said. … “We played hard against Hagerman; they’re just good and so is Clayton,” Moyer said of the probable top two seeds in the playoffs.
About Mescalero: The Chiefs have struggled in recent years, but have been more competitive this season, Moyer said. Their top players, both sophomores, are RB Godfrey Cordova and QB Dillon Cochise. “They have decent size in the offensive and defensive lines,” Moyer said.
Quotable: “We’re making strides with the kids we have in there.” — Moyer, on trying to adjust to the circumstances.

Melrose (9-0) at Floyd (2-7)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday in an 8-man District 4 game. The defending 8-man champion Buffaloes have already clinched the district title at 2-0 while Floyd is 0-2.
Last week: Melrose won at Logan 62-6. Floyd lost at Clovis Christian 54-8.
Last meeting: 2008, the Buffs beat the Broncos 60-0 at Melrose.
Of note: The Buffs have won 22 games in a row dating to the start of last season. Meantime, the Broncos have lost five in a row. … Floyd coach Rafael Roybal said knows his team is up against it against the Buffs. “This is a game that we are hoping to survive and not get anybody hurt,” he said. … Melrose coach Dickie Roybal could not be reached for comment.

Logan (7-2) at Clovis Christian (6-2)
When: 7 p.m. today at Yucca complex in an 8-man District 4 game. Both teams are 1-1 in district play; the winner advances to the playoffs, the loser’s season ends.
Last week: Logan lost to Melrose 62-6, while CCS defeated Floyd 54-8.
Last meeting: 2008, CCS won at Logan 34-22.
Of note: The Eagles are looking for their second trip to the postseason since joining the NMAA several years ago. … CCS coach Jason Swann said he thinks his team could be a top-four seed in the playoffs — if they can get past the Longhorns.
Quotable: “We’re excited. “We’ve had a really good week of practice. We had some sickness on Monday, but today (Thursday) we had everybody back." — Swann.

Dora (3-4) at Elida (3-4)
When: 3 p.m. today
Last week: Elida lost to Hondo 68-20. Dora was idle.
Last meeting: Sept. 30, Dora won 41-32.
Players to watch: Quarterback Michael Puebla and receiver Ismail Machado.
Of note: Elida coach Ralph Gawehn said both teams have battled injuries this season. He noted the Coytes have good team speed.
“It will be interesting to see how it plays out,” Gawehn said. “I don’t know how many guys are going to suit up. We’ve been making changes on offense. We’ve been running plays and getting them comfortable with their position.”
Dora outlook: Coyotes coach Pablo Pena said his team hopes to spread things around on offense.
“We’re going to have to get to the outside on them,” he said. “We’re going to try to run away from their size and use whatever speed we’ve got to our advantage.”

Farwell (3-5) at Morton (1-7)
When: 7:30 p.m. (CDT) today in a District 5-1A game. Both teams are 1-2 in district play, but the Steers will pick up a forfeit win next week over Anton, which has disbanded its program for the season.
Last week: The Steers beat Smyer 35-6, while Morton got its first win of the season with a forfeit from Anton.
Last meeting: 2008, the Indians posted a 51-28 win at Farwell.
What to expect: The Indians are a spread team which throws the ball a lot. Farwell coach Shane Perkins said the Indians have a running back whom they try to get the ball to as often as possible. “Since the beginning of the football season, they’ve been getting injuries every week,” Perkins noted. “It’s one of those years you don’t want to go through as a coach.”
Of note: A win would all but clinch a playoff berth for Farwell, with next week’s forfeit coming up. The only way it wouldn’t would be if Smyer (2-1 in the district) can upset both Springlake Earth (3-0) and Sudan (2-1).
Quotable: “Any team wants to finish on a high note and qualify for the playoffs. We just have to come out and execute, and not turn the ball over.” — Perkins.

Vega (1-7) at Bovina (6-2)
When: 7:30 p.m. (CDT) today in a District 3-1A game. Vega is 1-2 in district play while the Mustangs are in a three-way tie for second at 2-1.
Last week: Vega lost to Boys Ranch 13-6, while Bovina cruised past winless Claude 63-0.
Last meeting: 2008, the Mustangs won at Vega 34-16.
What to look for: Bovina coach Hector Guevara said the Longhorns, led by running back Brady Harwell, have talent across the roster.
“Defensively, we’ve got to stop their running game,” Guevara said. “They’re running the option well. Hopefully we can control the ball, control the time, control the ground game.”
Win and they’re in: The Mustangs can clinch a playoff berth with a win in either of their next two games.

Dimmitt (1-7) at Muleshoe (8-0)
When: 6:30 p.m. (CDT) today in a District 2-2A game. Dimmitt is 1-2 in district play while the defending Class 2A Division I state champion Mules, winners of 23 in a row, are 3-0.
Last week: Dimmitt picked up its first win of the season in a forfeit from Tulia. The Mules struggled a bit, but won at Childress 34-26.
Last meeting: 2008, the Mules won at Dimmitt 55-0.
Of note: The Mules face a battle for the district title with Friona next week, but coach David Wood is trying to keep his team focused on Dimmitt. “You try not to look ahead,” he said. “We sure haven’t practiced for Friona this week.” … Wood said the Bobcats’ best athlete is their quarterback. He said they run some spread offense and some I-formation.
Quotable: “We had our opportunities to keep (Childress) at bat, but they got some first downs and kept some drives alive. We really hadn’t had a game like that, but they put us through a test.” — Wood, on the Mules’ relatively close win last week.