Spring Hill’s Levi Mackey makes a stop against Sabine earlier this season. The Panthers take on Pittsburg at home Friday with a spot in the playoffs up for grabs. (Longview News-Journal File Photo)

Spring Hill (2-7, 1-3) vs. Pittsburg (1-8, 1-3)

Time: 6 p.m. Friday

Stadium: Panther Stadium, 3101 Spring Hill Road, Longview, 75605

Coaches

Spring Hill: Brandon Joslin

Pittsburg: Triston Abron

WHEN SPRING HILL HAS THE BALL

Players to Watch

Spring Hill: Trevor Allen (1,215 rushing yards, 151 receiving yards, 15 rushing touchdowns, and one receiving touchdown) … Travis Allen (682 rushing yards, 465 passing yards, five rushing touchdowns, and four passing touchdowns) … Joseph Ventura (174 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns) … Jaxon Copeland (120 receiving yards, 87 rushing yards and one receiving touchdown) … Quinton Cutler (103 rushing yards) … Hudson Bartell (53 receiving yards) … Levi Mackey (21 receiving yards) … Noah Weber (nine rushing yards) … Karsyn Johnson (six receiving yards)

Pittsburg: Twan Thompson (62 tackles, 9 TFL, 3 sacks) … Itzael Falcon (40 tackles) … Toribio Willis (64 tackles) … Amari Grant (69 tackles) … Xzaydeon Doddy (76 tackles) … Jordan Vickers (76 tackles) … Jaime Villegas (77 tackles) … Elijah Mackey (3 sacks)

Keys: Spring Hill has been more consistent than Pittsburg in the scoring department this season, and needs that trend to continue this week to earn both a district finale win and a 2024 Class 4A Division II postseason ticket. The Panthers have scored 271 points through the first nine outings for an impressive 30.1 points per game average in 2024 compared to the Pirates’ 129 total points and 14.3 points per game average. Spring Hill’s offensive unit of Trevor Allen, Travis Allen, Coleman Stout, Joseph Ventura, Jaxon Copeland, Quinton Cutler, Hudson Bartell, Levi Mackey, Noah Weber and Karsyn Johnson will remain important forces because those players have already guided the team to wins in both non-district and district play this season, and kept the group competitive in three one-possession non-district contests. Pittsburg’s defensive crew will be a challenging matchup because it has limited fewer opponent points (355) than Spring Hill (363) this season. The Pirates expect more production from Jordan Vickers, Jaime Villegas, Xzaydeon Doddy, Twan Thompson, Toribio Willis, Amari Grant, J’Qayveon Veasley, Itzael Falcon, Tormarion Willis and William Strube this week.

WHEN PITTSBURG HAS THE BALL

Players to Watch

Pittsburg: Kord Johnson (31 of 79, 564 yards, 4 TD; 93 carries, 172 yards, 3 TD) … Twan Thompson (66 carries, 477 yards, 3 TD) … Dayde Jones (3 catches, 101 yards, 1 TD) … Nick Styles (16 catches, 204 yards, 1 TD) …

Spring Hill: Arsh Singh (92 tackles, five tackles for loss, and three sacks) … Levi Mackey (89 tackles, two sacks, and one interception) … Josh Otujor (84 tackles) … Noah Weber (74 tackles and three fumble recoveries) … Alejandro Jacquez (39 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles) … Jacolen Jackson (37 tackles) … Karsyn Johnson (30 tackles) … Talan Ferguson (25 tackles) … Trevor Allen (18 tackles and three fumble recoveries) … Brock Norris (four interceptions)

Keys: Pittsburg hasn’t scored in bunches in 2024, but it has found its most success in the run game this season. Expect the Pirates to emphasize the carries of Twan Thompson, Kord Johnson, Jordan Vickers, Braeden Lafayette, Marcus Moton and Jaime Villegas to move the ball down the field and control the time of possession in a critical district finale this week. When the team turns to the air game, Nick Styles, Camdyn Doddy and Dayle Jones are reliable receivers down field. Spring Hill will look to answer both fronts with defensive stops by Arsh Singh, Levi Mackey, Josh Otujor, Noah Weber, Alejandro Jacquez, Jacolen Jackson, Karsyn Johnson, Talan Ferguson, Trevor Allen and Brock Norris.

Did You Know: This will be the 12th football meeting between Pittsburg and Spring Hill since 2007 … The Pirates own a 7-4 series advantage during that time after victories in 2007, 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 and 2022 … The Panthers, meanwhile, prevailed in 2011, 2019, 2020 and 2023 … The winner of Friday’s matchup will earn the fourth and final playoff spot from District 7-4A Division II … It will face District 8-4A Division II champ Carthage in the Class 4A Division II bi-district playoff round next week … Pittsburg is aiming for its 32nd football playoff appearance since 1951, while Spring Hill is looking for its 21st since 1946.

Last Week: Gilmer 59, Spring Hill 28; Pleasant Grove 49, Pittsburg 3