The Galveston County Daily News

A breakdown of today’s high school football matchups.

Ball High (5-4, 4-2) at Brazoswood (6-3, 4-2)

• Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Hopper Field

• Radio: 1540 AM KGBC

• Last year’s result: Brazoswood 24, Ball 10

• Key to the game: If Ball High turns the ball over, it usually loses. Playing in a hostile environment, the Tors need to focus on ball security in order to come away from Clute with the victory.

• Playoff picture: Ball needs a win or a Creek loss to clinch a playoff spot.

• Buckley’s prediction: Brazoswood 28, Ball 17

This isn’t a great matchup for Ball. Not only is Brazoswood a tough team to beat at home, it is probably playing the best football in all of the district right now. Ball’s defense will keep it close for a while, but the Bucs probably will pull away late.

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Clear Lake (2-7, 1-5) vs. Clear Creek (4-5, 3-3)

• Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium

• Last year’s result: Lake 21, Creek 10

• Key to the game: It’s becoming a broken record, but it continues to be true — the Creek defense needs to step up its play. For weeks, the Wildcats have been giving up a ridiculous amount of yards. Another performance like that, and the Wildcats’ season will be over.

• Playoff picture: Creek needs to win to clinch a playoff spot.

• Buckley’s prediction: Creek 35, Lake 28

Lake has appeared to roll over in recent weeks, but probably will show up to play in this one since Creek is a big rival. The Wildcats offense may be missing star receiver C.J. McElroy, which hurts. The rest of the offense needs to step up its game to avoid getting sent home.

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La Marque (4-5, 2-4) at Friendswood (6-3, 4-2)

• Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Henry Winston Stadium

• Radio: 957 HD 3 KIKK

• Internet: www.kikk.com

• Last year’s result: Friendswood 69, La Marque 48

• Key to the game: Can La Marque’s defense rise to the occasion against one of the most versatile offenses in the area? It’s been the Cougars’ problem all year, and it might be too late to correct it this season. Friendswood will be aggressive all night, looking to bury La Marque.

• Playoff picture: Friendswood is already in the playoffs. La Marque needs a win, a Manvel loss and a Santa Fe loss to clinch.

• Buckley’s prediction: Friendswood 38, La Marque 28

The Cougars still have a shot at the playoffs, so they have the most to play for in this contest. But Friendswood doesn’t get many chances to beat La Marque, so it won’t let this one slip away.

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Dawson (7-2, 4-2) at Santa Fe (6-3, 3-3)

• Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Joe Raitano Field

• Radio: 1480 AM KLVL

• Internet: KLVL1480.com

• Last year’s result: Dawson 51, Santa Fe 14

• Key to the game: The Indians’ running game has been stopped in recent weeks. If Santa Fe wants a shot at victory, it has to establish Joseph Walton and the ground game early.

• Playoff picture: Santa Fe clinches a playoff berth with a win. If it loses, it has to hope La Marque loses to have a spot.

• Buckley’s prediction: Santa Fe 28, Dawson 21

This is Santa Fe’s Super Bowl. Friendswood gave a blueprint on how to stop the Dawson offense. Expect a similar performance by the Indians’ defense, resulting in only the third playoff berth in school history.

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Brazosport (3-5, 1-5) at Texas City (3-6, 2-4)

• Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Stingaree Stadium

• Last year’s result: Brazosport 17, Texas City 13

• Key to the game: Texas City is the better team in this matchup. It needs to put some points on the board early, and let its run game take control of the contest in the second half.

• Playoff picture: There is only one scenario for the Stings to make the playoffs. They need to win and hope for a Santa Fe loss, La Marque loss and Manvel win. That would create a three-way tie with Texas City, Santa Fe and Manvel, with a coin flip being the deciding factor.

• Buckley’s prediction: Texas City 24, Brazosport 14

Brazosport is too beat up right now, and Texas City will take advantage. The Stings will close out the season on a strong note and hope some of the other results go their way.

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Hitchcock (3-4, 3-1) at Boling (4-5, 2-2)

• Kickoff: 7 p.m. at Boling

• Last year’s result: Hitchcock 38, Boling 27

• Playoff picture: Hitchcock has already clinched a playoff spot

• Buckley’s prediction: Hitchcock 35, Boling 26

The Bulldogs can’t improve their playoff standings with a win, but it would give them added momentum heading into the postseason. The Bulldogs should have a lot of success in the passing game again tonight.

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O’Connell (4-4, 2-1) at The Woodlands Christian

• Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.

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Brazosport Christian at Bay Area Christian (4-5, 3-1)

• Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.