Area prep football capsules

Springer at Melrose
When: 7 p.m. today in the 8-man playoff quarterfinals
Records: Springer 2-8, Melrose 10-0
Last week: Springer beat Foothill; Melrose beat Floyd 60-0.
Last meeting: 2008, Melrose 64-8 on Sept. 26.
Of note: Melrose, ranked No. 1 and the top seed, has beaten six of the other seven teams in the playoffs by a combined score of 344-72, an average of 57-12. Springer is the eighth seed. … The only playoff team the Buffs haven’t played is third-seeded Animas, whom they wouldn’t meet before the finals.
Quotable: “Like I told our kids, ‘This is the reward you get as a No. 1 seed.’ We just have to try to do what we’ve been doing.” — Melrose coach Dickie Roybal.

Farwell at Anton
When: 6:30 p.m. today
Records: Farwell 4-5 (2-2 District 5-1A), Anton 0-9 (0-4).
Last week: Farwell lost to Morton 51-28; Anton lost to Sudan 39-8.
Last meeting: The teams used to play regularly, but haven’t faced each other since the 1990s.
Of note: Despite its loss to Morton, the Steers clinched a Class 1A Division II playoff berth last week. They own tiebreakers over Smyer and Sudan (both 1-3 in the district) by virtue of wins over both. … Farwell is slated to face New Deal (9-0) in a first-round Class 1A playoff game Thursday at Sundown. … The Steers have outscored their opponents 230-194 this season.
Quotable: “Watching them on film, they have some good (talent). Teams that can throw the ball have really hurt them.” — Farwell coach Mark Anglin, adding that the Steers hope to have receivers Bo Mitchell and Austin Wright back from injury this week.

White Deer at Bovina
When: 6:30 p.m. today
Records: White Deer 2-7 (1-3 District 3-1A), Bovina 5-4 (2-2).
Last week: White Deer lost to Boys Ranch 12-7; Bovina beat Vega 32-16.
Last meeting: The teams have never played each other.
Key to the game: Bovina coach Hector Guevara said the Mustangs want to stop the run and force the Bucks to go to the air.
Of note: The Mustangs pulled into a tie with Vega for the third spot in the district, but with the Longhorns playing at winless Claude this week Guevara figures his team needs a win to get a 1A Division II berth. … If they get in, it would be the Mustangs’ fourth consecutive playoff berth. They’ve been eliminated in the first round in each of the past three years. “Our goal is to get to the playoffs and win playoff games — not just one,” Guevara said.
Quotable: “They’re pretty physical up front. They’ve got some good-looking linemen.” — Guevara.

Friona at Muleshoe
When: 6:30 p.m. today
Records: Friona 5-4 (3-1 District 2-2A), Muleshoe 9-0 (4-0).
Last week: Friona lost to Childress 32-20; Muleshoe blanked Dimmitt 55-0.
Last meeting: 2007, the Mules beat Friona 41-6.
Key to the game: The Mules hope to contain the Chieftains’ option offense.
Of note: Muleshoe has outscored its district foes 202-7. … The Mules are averaging nearly 500 yards of offense per game and holding opponents under 250. … Senior QB Wes Wood has 48 touchdown passes and just six interceptions for the season. He’s thrown for more than 3,000 yards. … Mules coach David Wood said that his squad will face either River Road (4-5) or Bushland (9-0) next week in a first-round Class 2A Division I playoff game.
Quotable: “They’re just pretty consistent on offense. They have an effective running game, and they pass when they need to.” — David Wood, on Friona.

— Compiled by Dave Wagner