Football notes: Sub-5A playoff pairing all squared away

It was either going to be the first or fourth seed for the La Feria Lions. With an important 30-9 victory over the Grulla Gators on Friday, the Lions assured themselves of two things: A share of the District 16-4A Division I title and the top seed headed in the 2017 postseason.

If the Lions would have lost, they would have had to settle for the fourth seed due to the team’s loss to Zapata earlier in the district season.

With the cards falling in the right places, the Lions got another stroke of luck as the team will not have to travel when they face Rockport-Fulton (4-5, 2-3) at home on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in their bi-district matchup.

2A PLAYOFF PICTURE: Santa Maria returns to the playoffs after a lengthy absence. After defeating Freer 50-19 on Friday, the Cougars secured their first postseason appearance in four years.

With the win, Santa Maria (5-5, 2-2) became the third seed and will play Shiner (7-2,4-1) on at 7 p.m. Thursday at Robstown.

The first-seed team was Three Rivers and the second-seed was the La Villa Cardinals (4-6, 3-1), who play Yorktown (6-4, 3-2) at Taft at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

4A PLAYOFF PAIRINGS: With a victory over Progreso, Rio Hondo won the District 16-4A Division II title outright and will now play Aransas Pass (4-5, 2-3) in the bi-district round at 7:30 p.m. on Friday Callallen.

Raymondville, meanwhile, secured the second seed out of their district after defeating Orange Grove 20-0. The Bearkats will play Sinton (7-2, 3-2) at Cabaniss Field in Corpus Christi on Thursday at 7 p.m.

3A PLAYOFF PAIRINGS: The Lyford Bulldogs defeated the San Diego Vaqueros 38-16 on Friday to take the top seed and the District 16-3A Division title. As the No. 1 seed, the Bulldogs (7-3, 5-0) will play Jourdanton (4-6, 2-3) at Jourdanton on Saturday at 2 p.m.

The Santa Rosa Warriors, meanwhile, made the playoffs as well. Despite losing their final regular season game, the Warriors (5-5, 2-3) clinched the fourth seed and will play Goliad (8-1, 5-0) at Buc Stadium in Corpus Christi on Friday at 7:30 p.m.