McKinney Chupacabras FC

McKinney controls its own destiny.

The Chupacabras can clinch the Ranger Division title by winning their final two matches, both against Texoma FC on July 4 and July 11, regardless of any other results. That would see McKinney finish the regular season with a 9-1-2 record and 29 points.

If McKinney earns a win and a draw, it would finish 8-1-3 with 27 points. Denton would then need to drop points in at least one of its remaining matches to prevent the title race from coming down to goal differential.

A loss and a draw would leave McKinney on 24 points, opening the door for both Denton and Texoma. If the Chupacabras finish level on points with Denton, goal differential could become decisive. McKinney currently holds the advantage in that category, 11-7.

Denton Diablos

Denton enters the final stretch at 7-2-1 with 22 points, trailing McKinney by just one point after a 3-2 comeback win over West Texas on Wednesday.

The Diablos scored three unanswered goals after halftime to claim all three points, increasing the pressure on McKinney to win out and secure the Ranger Division crown. Denton’s remaining matches are against Texoma FC on July 7 and Fort Worth Vaqueros FC on July 11.

Denton still controls part of its own fate, but the Diablos need help from Texoma. If McKinney drops points in either of its matches against Texoma, Denton can capitalize by winning its final two games.

If Denton wins out and Texoma defeats McKinney once, the Diablos would take the title. A win and a draw in Denton’s final two matches could potentially leave the Diablos level on points with McKinney, making goal differential a major factor.

Texoma FC

Texoma faces the toughest road to the title.

The club enters the final stretch at 6-3-0 with 18 points and closes the season with three consecutive matches against the other two contenders: two against McKinney and one against Denton.

Texoma must win all three matches to guarantee the Ranger Division championship. That would take the club to 27 points, while also preventing McKinney and Denton from reaching their maximum totals.

A win and a draw against McKinney, plus a win over Denton, would take Texoma to 25 points. In that scenario, McKinney would finish on 24 points, while Denton could also reach 25 points by beating Fort Worth in its final match. That would send the race to goal differential, where Texoma currently holds the best mark in the division at plus-12.

Texoma’s closing schedule is considerably more difficult than Denton’s. While the Diablos close the season against Texoma and last-place Fort Worth, Texoma must face the league-leading Chupacabras twice, with a meeting against Denton sandwiched in between.

Golden Tire Cup Race

The inaugural Golden Tire Cup also remains undecided entering the final week.

McKinney leads the North Texas rivalry standings with a 5-1-0 record. Denton sits at 3-2-0, while Texoma is 3-2-0 with three rivalry matches remaining. Fort Worth is 0-6-0.

With Texoma still having three North Texas matches to play, and Denton and McKinney both having two, all three contenders remain mathematically alive in the Golden Tire Cup race.

The Ranger Division title race and the Golden Tire Cup race are closely connected, but they are not identical. McKinney, Denton and Texoma are still chasing both — and the final week will decide everything.

Written by Grayson Pitts

Edited by Elliott Stockdale