Football: Thursday's preview playoff capsules

CRANE GOLDEN CRANES VS. COMFORT BOBCATS

Class 2A Division II Bi-District Playoff

>> Time, Date, Place: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, San Angelo Stadium.

>> Head coaches: Crane, Naldo Esparza; Comfort, Lee Wiginton.

>> Districts: Crane, 7-2A; Comfort, 8-2A.

>> 2007 Records: Crane, 9-1; Comfort, 7-3.

>> Last Week: Crane 43, Van Horn 0; Comfort 28, Sonora 24.

>> Playoff Appearances: Crane 25, Comfort 16.

>> Deepest Advancement: Crane, semifinals (1999, Commerce 30-0); Comfort, semifinals (1999, Mart 35-6; 2003, San Augustine 21-14; 2005, Newton, 63-34).

>> Previous Playoff Meetings: None.

>> Crane Leaders: Quarterback Lloyd Chisum, 82-147-7—1,384 yards and 12 touchdowns; running back Cody Black, 91 carries for 604 yards and eight touchdowns; wide receiver Justin Carrasco, 34 receptions for 597 yards and seven touchdowns; linebacker J.D. Tankersley 98 tackles.

>> Comfort Leaders: Quarterback Travis Chrisman; Wide receiver Scotty Richter; Fullback J. Frank Derby.

>> Radio: KPTX 98.3-FM (Pecos) and www.98xfm.com.

>> Notes: The Golden Cranes have won eight consecutive games since losing to Class 3A Greenwood. ... Crane dominated its opponents throughout district, winning by an average of 26.6 points. ... The Golden Cranes have relied on being more physical than their opponents this season and they will get their biggest test against Comfort tonight. ... One of the host of running backs will have to make a statement early to take pressure off of quarterback Lloyd Chisum. ... Senior wide receiver Tyler Esparza came on strong at the end of the season. For Crane to be successful in the playoffs, he will have to find a way to stay involved in the games. ... Crane rested most of its starters in the season finale against Van Horn. ... Head coach Naldo Esparza will be coaching his first playoff game as a head coach tonight and many of the players will be making playoff debuts, so the first quarter will be key for the Golden Cranes. ... Comfort lost just one District 8-2A game, falling 49-36 to district champ Blanco. ... The Bobcats are a spread team, featuring a big quarterback in 6-foot-2, 215 pound Chrisman, who throws the ball well and can run. ... The Bobcats run similar offenses to Reagan County and Alpine, two teams that lost by a combined score of 66-22 to Crane. ... Comfort has had playoff success recently, advancing to the state semifinals in 2005 and defeating Alpine 44-20 last season.

GRANDFALLS-ROYALTY COWBOYS VS. LORAINE BULLDOGS

Six-Man Region I Division II Bi-District playoff

>> Time, Date, Place: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Tunnell Field, Grady.

>> Head coaches: Grandfalls-Royalty, Arturo Rodriguez; Loraine, Steve Komppa.

>> Districts: Grandfalls-Royalty, Six-Man District 3 Division II; Loraine, Six-Man District 4 Division II.

>> 2007 Records: Grandfalls-Royalty, 9-1; Loraine, 4-6.

>> Last Week: Grandfalls-Royalty 73, Loop 24; Loraine 46, Hermleigh 36.

>> Playoff Appearances: Grandfalls-Royalty 20, Loraine 7.

>> Deepest Advancement: Grandfalls-Royalty, quarterfinals (1979, Wheeler 31-6; 1996, Chillicothe 30-28; 1999, Rule 52-49; 2000, Whitharral 42-30; 2005, Turkey Valley 48-42); Loraine, regional (1993, Dell City 52-6).

>> Previous Playoff Meetings: None.

>> Grandfalls-Royalty Leaders: Quarterback B.J. Santiago; Running back/linebacker John Ramirez.

>> Loraine Leaders: Quarterback Jacob Sanchez; Running back/linebacker Stefan Limones; Running back/linebacker Kenny Esquivel.

>> Radio: None.

>> Notes: The Cowboys are hoping to make it past the bi-district round for the first time since 2005. ... Under first-year head coach Arturo Rodriguez, 23-years-old, the Cowboys have dominated the competition this season. ... For the Cowboys to win tonight, they will have to utilize their team speed and have quarterback B.J. Santiago have a big game. ... Loraine is making its first trip to the playoffs since 1994. ... The Bulldogs have just one playoff win in the history of the program. ... The tiny town is located 7 miles east of Colorado City on I-20. ... Loraine is better than its record suggests and plays in a stout district with Jayton and Borden County. ... The Bulldogs are primarily a running-oriented team and will have a size advantage on the Cowboys tonight. Head coach Steve Komppa, in his first year at the helm, said his team must play ball-control offense to keep the Cowboys’ playmakers on the sidelines. ... Stefan Limones has three kick return touchdowns in the last three games, picking up one in each contest.