Larned (4-3 overall, 0-1 district) at Hugoton (2-5, 0-1)
After a 40-7 beating at the hands of the Holcomb High School football last week, Larned faces a must-win game tonight on the road.
Really it’s a must-win game for both teams if they want a shot at the postseason.
Both teams are sitting at minus-21 in the points system, so a win will go a long way to making up ground in the points system.
Hugoton is coming off a 28-7 loss against Pratt.
 
Hoisington (6-1, 1-0) at Sterling (0-7, 0-1)
Hoisington seems to be on a collision course with the postseason, riding a six-game win streak.
The Cardinals look to continue that success against Sterling in a 3A District 15 game.
The Black Bears are coming off a 34-22 loss against Lyons.
Sterling averages 14 points per game, and the 22 points in the loss was the most scored this season.
Hoisington averages 28.1 points per game, and the 60 points scored in the 60-6 victory over Ellsworth last week is the most scored this season.
The Cardinals’ defense remains a large part of their success, allowing 8.4 points per game. They have allowed only 6.3 points per game during the win streak.
 
Solomon (4-3, 3-0) at Central Plains (7-0, 3-0)
Solomon is likely the only team sitting between Central Plains and an Eight-Man Division-I District 5 championship.
The two teams have the only undefeated district marks.
Central Plains sits on top of the points system at 58. Solomon has 46 points.
The Oilers sit 32 points ahead of third-place Little River, a team Central Plains has already beat 22-6.
That means a win guarantees Central Plains a postseason opportunity.
 
Ellinwood (3-4, 1-2) at Little River (4-3, 2-1)
Ellinwood hasn’t been eliminated from the postseason just yet.
But tonight’s game on the road against Little River is a must-win if the Eagles want to extent its season past Week 9.
The Eagles have averaged 26.9 points per game this season, allowing 36 per game.
They will have their hands full against Little River as the Redskins average 34 points per game and allow 20.7 per game.
 St. John Hudson (1-6, 1-2)
at Kiowa County (2-5, 1-2)
St. John has not been eliminated from postseason contention.
The Tigers have to win on the road against Kiowa County to remain that way.
St. John avoided elimination last week by getting its first win of the season, a 46-0 win over Stafford County rival Macksville.
Kiowa County sits just ahead of St. John in the Eight-Man D-I District 6 standings.
The Mavericks have minus-6 points. St. John has minus-12 points.
 
South Central (4-3, 2-1) at Macksville (0-7, 0-3)
For Macksville, this is just another chance to end the season with at least one win, or at least a chance to improve.
For South Central, it’s a chance to stay in the runner-up position in Eight-Man D-I’s sixth district.
The Mustangs have room for improvement.
They have only scored 12 points this season, and they haven’t scored a point since a Week 4 loss against Ellinwood 56-6.
 
Northern Valley (5-2, 1-2) at Otis-Bison (4-3, 1-2)
Both of these teams are victims of being in an Eight-Man D-II district with three of the Top 5 ranked teams in the state — Victoria, Beloit St. John’s-Tipton and Thunder Ridge.
Victoria has already locked in a district championship, meaning there is only one postseason spot left for the rest of the teams.
Of the six teams in this district, five have a winning regular-season mark.
For both Northen Valley and Otis-Bison, this is a must-win game to keep the hopes of a postseason berth alive.
 
Stafford (7-0, 3-0) at Bucklin (1-6, 1-2)
Stafford is second in points, but is the only undefeated team in the Eight-Man D-II District 5.
Minneola sits ahead of the Trojans in the points system, also at 3-0 in the district by 6-1 overall.
Minneola has 63 points. Stafford has 44 points.
Stafford is coming off a 78-52 victory over Fairfield.
Bucklin is facing elimination against Stafford.
Another loss will put Bucklin out of contention.
The Trojans average 48.9 points per game. Bucklin averages only 12.3 points per game.
Bucklin is coming off its best game of the season, beating Cunningham 56-6.