Two district football showdowns for first place on tap Thursday night

There will be no “Friday-night lights” for local public high-school football teams this weekend.

Instead, contests will be played a night earlier on Thursday (Oct. 10) at the traditional 7 p.m. starting time, in order to accommodate the observance of Yom Kippur.

In two of those games, first place in different districts will be on the line.

In the Liberty District, the defending champion and undefeated Washington-Liberty Generals (6-0, 2-0) host the Marshall Statesmen (5-1, 2-0) in one clash. The winner will take over sole possession of first.

Washington-Liberty has won six straight district contests over two seasons, including a 52-26 road win over Marshall last fall. Marshall has won three straight league games over two seasons.

The Generals are averaging 36 points per game this season, Marshall 44.

In the Concorde District, the undefeated Madison Warhawks (6-0, 1-0) host the Westfield Bulldogs (4-1). The district contest will be the first this season for Westfield. Madison is the only team without a league loss in the early going of the campaign.

Madison, the four-time defending 6D North Region champion, averages 35 points per game and has two shutouts. Westfield is averaging 46, also with two shutouts. Madison’s non-district schedule has been tougher than Westfield’s.

Madison has defeated Westfield the last five times the teams have met, including a 31-7 win in last season’s region-championship game.

Once this Thursday’s games are complete, three weeks will remain in the regular season.