PREGAME: Some nice, some not-so-nice games this week

After one week of high school football playoffs we still have a few teams staying alive, but for how much longer?

Ten Valley teams are still in the playoff hunt, and we're guaranteed that at least two will be moving on to the third round.

I'm betting that we'll have six teams left over from this week's elimination round, but we'll have to see if they show up this week. 

Here we go:

LA FERIA VS. BANDERA: Bandera is a balanced offense, to say the least. Two-thirds of the Bulldogs' scoring machine comes on the ground, but they've been known to put the ball in the air, too. Cole Hubble is a monster (but in a good way, not an ogre kind of way). He's accounted for almost 3,500 yards passing and rushing. BANDERA 45, LA FERIA 20

EDCOUCH-ELSA VS. PORT LAVACA CALHOUN: The ‘Jackets really put a stomping on Tuloso-Midway last week, as did Calhoun to Floresville. Both teams have been ranked in the 4A top 10 this year, while E-E is still sitting there at No. 10. In just one football playoff, these two teams have generated a rivalry. But I don't think keeping the ball on the ground 90 percent of the time will work out for Calhoun this week. If they can't pass against E-E, they're getting steamed alive. EDCOUCH-ELSA 31, CALHOUN 24

RIO HONDO VS. DEVINE: This is the Bobcats first test of the postseason, and Devine will do just that. Both teams match up athletically, and both teams have an equal opportunity to win this game. I think the Valley schools will have a good push to the third round this week. RIO HONDO 28, DEVINE 24

PSJA HIGH VS. SHARYLAND: I know that PSJA High has really turned on the jets in the past few weeks. I know the Bears knocked off District 31-5A co-champ PSJA North, I do. But I've got to give Sharyland a lot of confidence in the way they've played all year. The Rattlers get a scare, but are able to snag this one. SHARYLAND 20, PSJA HIGH 13

HARLINGEN HIGH VS. LAREDO UNITED: The Valley killers (at least Laredo's version) will go up against a Harlingen squad that is good. Very good. The Cardinals will clamp down on defense, and bruise their way through the Longhorn defensive squad to push through to the next round. HARLINGEN HIGH 34, LAREDO UNITED 24

PSJA NORTH VS. S.A. SOUTHWEST: Harris Ratings have S.A. winning this one by 20. That's a negative Ghost rider. I don't think the Raiders are giving this Southwest squad clearance for a fly-by. I think the Raiders do what McAllen High should have done last week and send Southwest packing. PSJA NORTH 24, S.A. SOUTHWEST 21

McALLEN MEMORIAL VS. LOS FRESNOS: While I like what the Mustangs have done, and vowed to one fan that I wouldn't pick against Memorial again, I have to break that promise. I think the Falcons are playing great football and should continue to do so this week. This Falcons squad could be looking for a long playoff run. LOS FRESNOS 45, McALLEN MEMORIAL 20

LA VILLA VS. JUNCTION: There's little known about the city of Junction other than the ESPN made-for-TV movie "Junction Boys" and the book by the same name. But we know a bit more about their football team. We know Junction comes from a tough District 29-A race, where the Eagles finished fourth. And that fourth-place finish still makes them good enough to be ranked higher that the Cardinals on some state polls. JUNCTION 23, LA VILLA 20

Oscar Gonzalez Jr. is the Presentation Editor for The Monitor. You can read his column every Thursday throughout the football season. He can be reached at (956) 683-4443 or via e-mail at oscar@themonitor.com.