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If you haven’t been out to a high school football game this year this is the week to catch one.

Five games this week have a lot on the line as Valley football enters Week 9 — the penultimate week for regular season games. Theoretically, a few district championships could be won this weekend to save the area fans from any suspense in Week 10.

Here it goes:

HARLINGEN HIGH AT PSJA NORTH: This is where the big boys come to play. PSJA Stadium will no doubt be jumping with excitement as No. 1 Harlingen High battles with No. 3 PSJA North this weekend. It’s a game where the Cardinals are likely thinking revenge (though they may not officially say so) against a Raiders team that tarnished Harlingen’s unblemished district mark and ruined a sure 31-5A title for the Big Red machine in 2008. Both teams rank 1 and 2, respectively, in the standings, total offense and total defense. Those rankings are likely to hold after a hard-fought Friday night. HARLINGEN 27, PSJA NORTH 20

BROWNSVILLE HANNA AT LOS FRESNOS: Don’t look now, but that’s a Brownsville team near the top of the Top 10 poll. The No. 4 Golden Eagles are one of two Tip O’ Texas teams (Pace) keeping the usual Brownsville football jokes at bay. The Golden Eagles have been on a 7-game tear and now face the No. 7 Los Fresnos. The Falcons have done well this year, though not as good as in previous seasons. That’s still no reason to disrespect one of the best programs in the Valley in recent years. So, no disrespect Falcons, but … HANNA 26, Los Fresnos 20

WESLACO EAST AT MISSION HIGH: Welcome back Eagles to the top of the class. Mission is looking to at least take part in a district championship for the first time since 1993 — when Bill Clinton was president — with a victory over the East Wildcats. With a win over the No. 9 Wildcats, the No. 6 team in the Valley can lay claim to at least a share of the 32-4A crown (save an upset of Mercedes this week). The Wildcats are coming off their first loss of the year last week (28-24 to Mercedes) and no doubt are looking to fight back to the front of the heap. But I think the Eagles will get it done this week. MISSION HIGH 21, Weslaco East 17

SAN BENITO AT BROWNSVILLE PACE: The No. 10 San Benito Greyhounds sure made me notice them a few weeks back when they manhandled the Los Fresnos Falcons. The ‘Hounds proved they were for real and not just some Johnny-come-lately squad with a new head coach. But can they continue to impress with a win over a Pace team that has been bringing it this year? Oh yeah. SAN BENITO 21, Pace 20

RIO HONDO AT LYFORD: Looking at Rio Hondo’s overall record makes the Bobcats look like milquetoast. It’s as vanilla as it gets at 4-4. But look deeper into what they’ve done this district season and the Bobcats could challenge for the 32-3A title. To do that, they’ll need to knock off a No. 5 Lyford squad that has yet to taste the bitterness of defeat. The Bulldogs are the cream of the crop in this district and, while they’ll take this challenge seriously, shouldn’t lose. LYFORD 38, Rio Hondo 16

Oscar Gonzalez Jr. is Mr. Pregame for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at oscar@themonitor.com

>> All of Mr. Pregame's winners are in bold:

McAllen High at La Joya Palmview

Rio Grande City at McAllen Rowe

PSJA High at Edinburg Economedes

Weslaco High at Brownsville Rivera

Sharyland at McAllen Memorial

Donna at La Joya High

Edinburg High at Harlingen South

PSJA Memorial at Edinburg North

Harlingen High at PSJA North

Brownsville Hanna at Los Fresnos

Brownsville Lopez vs. Brownsville Porter

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at Edcouch-Elsa

Roma at Mission Veterans

Valley View at Mercedes

Weslaco East at Mission High

Rio Hondo at Lyford

Hidalgo at La Feria

Raymondville at Port Isabel

Progreso at Zapata

Santa Rosa at Bishop

La Villa at Bruni

San Benito at Brownsville Pace

St. Anthony at Brownsville St. Joseph

Tamaulipas at MMA