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Southlake Carroll and Euless Trinity, which have won a combined eight Class 5A state titles in the past 10 years, aren't used to losing at all and rarely drop a season opener.
Each is trying to rebound against quality opponents this week.
The two have already surpassed last season's loss total after finishing a combined 28-1.
The Dragons had lost just one season opener (35-14 to Copperas Cove in 2010) in the past eight years before last week's 24-0 rout by Allen and must pick up the pieces for their home opener Friday against Midland (1-0).
"We've always had the 24-hour rule around here, good or bad," Carroll coach Hal Wasson said. "Like I said before that game, if one game determines our season on a good or bad note then shame on us."
Wasson said that he fully expects the team to respond against a very tough Midland team and added that the 16 new starters now have a little seasoning.
The Trojans hadn't lost a season opener since 2004 (29-21 to DeSoto) before dropping a 31-24 overtime thriller to fellow national power Bellevue (Wash.) last week. Despite the loss, coach Steve Lineweaver feels good about the team but goes into Saturday's home opener against yet another nationally known program in Tulsa Union (1-0).
"First of all they need to look at the sanity of who made this schedule, with that being me," Lineweaver said. "Union is just so dadgum sound and I asked the coaches, 'They have a weakness, what is it?' There was just silence. We're just going to have to try and get a little here and a little there and not beat ourselves."
Red River Rivalry preview?
The Denton Guyer-Colleyville Heritage matchup Thursday at Dragon Stadium could be a glimpse into the Red River Rivalry's future.
Guyer junior quarterback Jerrod Heard, a Texas commit, and Heritage senior signal caller Cody Thomas, an Oklahoma commit, could play against one another again in the Big 12.
The two are very different in their approach.
Heard, 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, is a dual threat who threw for 119 yards and a touchdown and ran for another 72 and two scores last week in a 54-28 loss to Cedar Hill.
At 6-5, 220 pounds, Thomas is a prototypical pocket passer who threw for 237 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers' 20-2 win over Duncanville.
Get to know
Fort Worth Western Hills running back Aaron Stevenson put the team on his back and led the Cougars to a 27-26 win over Seagoville a week ago. The 6-foot, 185-pound senior rushed for 286 yards and scored all four Western Hills touchdowns. He averaged 12 yards on 23 carries.
"Aaron Stevenson is a really special kid and one of the most competitive players I have ever coached," Western Hills coach John Naylor said. "He has fantastic character, great work ethic, he's one of the leaders of the team and really the other kids follow what he does."
The Cougars will try and move to 2-0 against neighboring White Settlement Brewer (1-0), which has a top-flight runner of its own in C.J. Washington (113 yards, TD).
Private school game of the week
Fort Worth Country Day hosts Fort Worth Southwest Christian at 7:30 p.m. Friday after both teams won their season openers in impressive fashion.
The Country Day defense, which gave up just 37 rushing yards to Dallas Greenhill last week, goes against a Eagles ground attack that churned out 338 yards in a win over Trinity Valley. No doubt Country Day will be keying on Southwest Christian's Jerald Rogers, who rushed for 250 yards in the opener.
Jarret Johnson, 817-390-7760
Twitter: @JohnsonJarret
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