Which local school has the best chance at knocking off an undefeated state-ranked team?
Arlington Lamar, Burleson Centennial, Justin Northwest and Mansfield Timberview haven’t been talked about much this season, yet the four teams enter the third round of the playoffs with a combined record of 39-9.
It seems like the Vikings, Spartans, Texans and Wolves all love playing under the radar and they’ll do so again in the regional round this week when all four face undefeated, state-ranked opponents.
Euless Trinity (10-1) also faces one in Southlake Carroll (12-0), No. 6 in 6A.
Hard to be an underdog at 11-1, but that’s the case for Lamar against 6A No. 5 Duncanville (11-0) and Centennial against 5A No. 9 Frisco Reedy (12-0).
Northwest (10-2) faces 5A No. 7 Lubbock Cooper (12-0). Timberview (7-5) battles 5A No. 2 Highland Park (12-0).
THE SETTING
Lubbock-Cooper (12-0) vs. Justin Northwest (10-2), 4 p.m. Friday, Wildcat Stadium, Abilene
Euless Trinity (10-1) vs. Southlake Carroll (12-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Apogee Stadium, Denton
Frisco Reedy (12-0) vs. Burleson Centennial (11-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Dragon Stadium, Southlake
Arlington Lamar (11-1) vs. Duncanville (11-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Newsom Stadium, Mansfield
Mansfield Timberview (7-5) vs. Highland Park (12-0), 1 p.m. Saturday, Ford Center, Frisco
FUN FACTS
The easy choice of picking who has the best chance this week is Trinity only because of its history and it always seems to be a close game whenever the Trojans and Dragons meet up; Trinity won 21-20 last year and 37-35 in 2015.
Duncanville has been one of the best defenses this season, allowing 4.4 points per game with six shutouts, but Lamar has a potent offense led by QB Jack Dawson (2,535 yards, 37 TDs).
The numbers are nearly identical in Reedy and Centennial’s matchup. The Lions are outscoring opponents 40-15 while the Spartans and their triple option are right behind at 38-17.
Northwest has won nine-straight and in the regional round for the first time in program history. The Texans can also score points at 48.3 per game while Cooper’s margin of victory is 42-13.
Timberview, which last played in the regional round in 2011, might be a close second behind Trinity at winning only because the Wolves have faced Highland Park this season when the two district foes met three weeks ago in Week 11.