Bovina and Farwell have passed Step 1, making the Class 1A playoffs.

Step 2 promises to be a little tougher.

Both schools have top-10 opponents awaiting them tonight in the bi-district round.

Bovina (8-2) takes on second-ranked Wellington (9-0) in a 7 p.m. (CST) Division I clash at West Texas A&M’s Kimbrough Stadium in Canyon, while Farwell (5-5) takes on fifth-ranked New Deal (10-0) in a 7:30 p.m. (CST) Division II contest at Frenship High School in Wolfforth.

For Bovina coach Hector Guevara, it’s a chance for the Mustangs to break through the first round in a big way. Bovina lost in the opening round for three consecutive seasons beginning in 2005, then missed the playoffs last season.

“It’s going to be pretty challenging,” Guevara said. “They’re pretty physical; they pretty much have everything.”

Bovina is on a four-game winning streak since two losses in midseason, the latter a heartbreaking 43-42 verdict to Nazareth in the opening game of District 3-1A play.

“You have to take the good with the bad,” Guevara said. “The kids have responded (since the losses) quite well.

“Our kids are excited and ready to play. That was their attitude all year long.”

The Skyrockets’ top player, Guevara said, is senior quarterback-free safety Weston Williams. The defending Texas Class 1A state 300 hurdles champion, Williams leads a fairly balanced offense and isn’t afraid to call his own number.

“He’s hard to tackle in the open field,” Guevara said. “Every chance we get, we have to tackle him. Can’t afford to let him get loose.”