Top Match Ups of 2012: Week 3

The Abilene High Eagles make their debut in Top Match Ups in Week 3. The Eagles continue District 2-5A play against the Odessa Permian Panthers at Shotwell Stadium. The Eagles enter the year as the favorite to win or share the district title for the 5th straight year. Head coach Steve Warren has 18 positions filled with starters from his state quarterfinalist team from 2011. Permian enters the season as the 3rd place pick in the district. The Panthers struggled to a 1 and 4 mark in 2011, and they haven't beaten Abilene High since 1997.

The Wylie Bulldogs are back in the Top Match Ups for the 2nd of 3 straight weeks thanks to head coach Hugh Sandifer's habit of scheduling tough game for his team. Former district rival Brownwood is the opponent in this one. Number 18 Wylie is the highest ranked team Brownwood will face in the season. The Lions are a rival the Bulldogs like to beat. The teams have split 6 meetings, but Wylie has won 3 of the 4 games since Brownwood dropped to Class 3A.

The Snyder / Lubbock Estacado game is another great match up in Week 3. This game is the toughest challenge for the Tigers in the post-Chad Rogers, post Keenan Ward era. The Tigers game with the Matadors will be their 4th running the new spread offense new head coach Aubrey Sims plans to install. Estacado has become a power in the Panhandle of the state, and will be a tough team to beat Snyder. The Tigers went to the regional semifinals in 2011. The Matadors lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs in 2011.

Honorable mention, you can not accuse the Stamford Bulldogs of ducking anybody. The host Colorado City in a good Class 2A vs. Class A match up. Winters and Hamlin are both expected to go to the playoffs. Their game is set for Pipers Stadium in Week 3.