From the moment the UIL gave the go-ahead this summer to first begin preseason workouts and then start the regular season, both under the veil of a coronavirus pandemic, coaches and players knew they might be on borrowed time.
With positive tests still prevalent, and games being postponed or canceled seemingly daily, the sense of urgency has never been more palpable.
It’s a perfect segue for this weekend, where district play gets underway for Class 6A and 5A teams, only two or three weeks into their seasons.
Here’s a rundown of what to look for:

Spotlight game
Comfort at Llano, 7:30 p.m. Friday: A week after topping Hondo in a showdown of unbeaten teams, Comfort hits the road for another battle of unblemished squads. The Bobcats (5-0) open District 13-3A I action vs. Llano (5-0), ranked No. 9 in Texas Football magazine’s Class 3A statewide poll. Both clubs are led by prolific offenses and stingy defenses. Comfort is averaging 40 points and allowing 11.1 points per game, while Llano is scoring 41.4 points and yielding 11.0 points.

Notable games
Madison vs. Roosevelt, 7 p.m. Saturday at Comalander Stadium: The Mavericks’ pursuit of a third straight undefeated District 28-6A championship will begin with a stout challenge. Madison (0-1) enters on a 14-game district winning streak. Roosevelt (1-0) finished second in district a year ago, its lone setback coming vs. Madison.

Somerset at Southside, 7:30 p.m. Friday: It wasn’t too long ago that this matchup was developing into an intense district rivalry. When the teams meet this week, it will be in non-district play. The Cardinals won their season opener last week, clipping Rockport-Fulton 14-7. Somerset snapped a three-game losing streak a week ago, edging Tuloso-Midway 30-26. Bulldogs junior quarterback Koal Detmer passed for 286 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winner with 36 seconds left.

Tale of the tape
Wagner RB L.J. Butler vs. Smithson Valley defense: Butler has been perhaps the area’s most prolific running back the past two seasons, accounting for nearly 4,400 rushing yards and 62 touchdowns as the Thunderbirds advanced to the Class 5A Division I state semifinals each of the past two seasons.
During those two campaigns in 5A, Wagner averaged 53.3 points and 355.3 rushing yards per game and won 26 of 28 games.
The Thunderbirds this season make the jump back to Class 6A, with their season opener being a District 27-6A opener vs. Smithson Valley. The Rangers (2-0) haven’t allowed much running room in wins vs. Killeen Harker Heights and Madison, yielding only 208 total yards.

By the numbers
60.4: Points per game that Poth is averaging heading into its District 15-3A-II game vs. George West (3-2 overall, 1-1 in league competition). The Pirates (5-0, 3-0) have scored at least 50 points in all five games this season and six of their last seven regular-season contests dating back to the 2019 season. Poth scored 47 points in the only game it failed to reach the 50-point mark.