The high school football playoffs are here. Check out the preview for Fort Worth-area teams
It’s the best time of year ... THE TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS!
The action gets started on Thursday across the state and for the fans, that means five to six more week of football, capped off with the UIL state championships at AT&T Stadium in December.
It’s been a great season, a fast one at that, but we all can’t be there next month.
Top 5 games to watch in opening week
Byron Nelson (9-1) at Boswell (8-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday
Both teams wrapped up runner-up finishes in their respected district. Byron had its best start in program history going 8-0 before losing its only game to No. 4 Southlake Carroll.
Meanwhile, Boswell’s two losses have been by a combined seven points. The Pioneers began the season 5-0 before a four-point loss to No. 19 North Crowley. They also lost to Weatherford 31-28.
The Bobcats continue to be among the leading scorers in the state at 51 points per game.
Point differential: Boswell 357-168, Byron 512-150.
Both QBs have led the charge in Byron’s Jake Wilson and Boswell’s Sawyer Farr, but don’t get the running backs, two of the top ones in the Fort Worth-area in Byron’s Aaron Darden and Boswell’s Ezra Carter. Defensively, watch for Byron defensive back Ashton Williams and Boswell’s Jaedon Langley.
Don’t be surprised if Byron rolls in this one, but Boswell is tough at home. It’ll be close.
Give me Byron, 35-28.
Euless Trinity (4-6) at Keller (8-2)
7 p.m. Friday
It’s a rematch of last year’s bi-district opener as Trinity won 47-21.
It’s a different Trinity team, starting the season 0-5 before finishing strong at 4-1 and clinching a playoff berth for the 25th straight season following a 3-point overtime win against Bell in Week 11.
Ethan Williams and TJ Tupou lead a two-QB system, with the former doing most of his work on the ground while the latter can air it out. Gary Maddox is one the premier backs in the area and he’ll look for a chunk of his yards behind all-area full back Buddy Leota, who can be a threat in the receiving game.
Keller also started the season 5-0, but suffered back-to-back losses to No. 4 Carroll and No. 23 Byron. However, in its eight wins, only one game came down to fewer than 14 points, 35-28 against Eaton.
The offense is led by QB Tre Guerra and WR duo of Amari Henry and Tre’ Griffiths, plus big running back Jayden Hart.
This could be an absolute dog-fight, give me Keller 31-28.
Arlington (6-4) at Dallas Jesuit (8-2)
7 p.m. Friday
It’s round three as the Colts and Rangers meet in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight season. Jesuit put up 69 points last season while Arlington won 49-37 in 2020.
The Colts ended the season strong with a 34-0 win over Sam Houston.
Sam Semi and Drelon Burton are two of the more underrated players in the area, but the Colts D will have to step it up another notch. They’ve allowed 27 points per game while Jesuit is scoring 37 per game.
Jesuit has won four in a row to close out the regular season, but the last two have been by four and 10.
Still Jesuit is favored with the home-field. Give me the Rangers 38-35.
Lake Worth (8-2) vs. Alvardo (5-5)
7 p.m. Friday, Apogee Stadium, Denton
The Bullfrogs wrapped up the No. 1 playoff seed and their first district championship since 2009, and first in Class 4A. They ended the regular season with a rout over Eastern Hills.
Coach Tracy Welch’s defense has been on a roll, allowing 8.6 points per game. Their only losses have come by one and four points. Damion Moore is a 1,500 yard back and has scored 20 touchdowns.
After losing four straight games to the likes of Decatur, Burkburnett, China Spring and Waco La Vega, Alvarado finished strong with back-to-back wins to clinch a playoff berth.
The Indians put up 79 points in Week 11 against Waxahachie Life and upset No. 2 Stephenville. Cardea Collier and Jayden Bridgewater is one of the more dynamic backfield duos in the state. Collier was Class 4A player of the week after Stephenville.
Alvarado edges out Lake Worth, 35-34.
Lake Belton (8-2) vs. Burleson Centennial (9-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Burleson ISD Stadium
Centennial finished 9-1 for the fourth time since 2016. Its only loss came against Aledo. The Spartans are scoring 42 points per game while the D is allowing 17 a game. If you take out the Aledo game, the Spartans have allowed 96 points in nine games.
QB Phillip Hamilton and backs Elijah Zeh, Jahiem Ababio and Aidan Hicks lead their rushing attack.
Hicks and Chapman Lewis lead the defense.
Lake Belton finished tied for second in district, but the No. 3 playoff seed. Its only losses came against Midlothian 39-37 and Shoemaker 34-33. Micah Hudson and Connor Crews lead the offense.
This will be a good showdown. Give me Centennial 31-27.
Others: Birdville vs. Wakeland, Richland vs. Lone Star, Emerson vs. Colleyville Heritage. Independence vs. Arlington Heights, South Oak Cliff vs. Summit, Callisburg vs. Millsap, All Saints vs. Grapevine Faith, Fort Worth Christian vs. Bishop Dunne, Weatherford Christian vs. Muenster Sacred Heart, Azle Christian vs. Rockwall Heritage Christian
Players to watch
Here are 20 Fort Worth-area players to watch this week:
Jake Wilson, QB, Byron Nelson
Cardea Collier, QB/DB, Alvarado
De’Ago Benson, RB, Midlothian
Noah Normand, QB, Birdville
Bryce Morton, QB, Richland
Hauss Hejny, QB, Aledo
Ezra Carter, RB, Boswell
Jarion Basped, QB, Everman
Tyran Magee, LB, Northwest
Aidan Hicks, DB/RB, Burleson Centennial
Lior Mendji, QB, Timber Creek
Brian Furch, RB, Arlington Heights
Hogan Nelson, QB, Fort Worth Christian
Tre Guerra, QB, Keller
Deangelo Ponder, QB, Bowie
Landon Thigpen, RB, Godley
Kason English, WR/DB, Grandview
Weston Smith, QB, Colleyville Heritage
Kevin Dodard, QB/DB, Lake Country
Damion Moore, RB, Lake Worth
Road to state
Southlake Carroll (10-0)
The Dragons have been the top Class 6A Fort Worth-area team during the Riley Dodge era, with three trips to the regional final and one trip to the Class 6A D1 state championship game.
Carroll finished 10-0 for the second straight season and fourth time in five years.
But Carroll is in the 6A D2 playoffs. Region 1 continues to be loaded with the likes of Denton Guyer, Highland Park, Byron Nelson and Coppell. Guyer and Highland Park would meet in Round 2 while Carroll could see Coppell in the regional semifinals.
A match-up with Guyer/HP would be in the regional and DeSoto could await in the state semifinals.
Aledo (8-2)
The Bearcats are in Class 5A D1 for the first time. They have a UIL 11-man record 10 state titles.
Aledo starts with a very good Killeen Shoemaker program before going west for the second round. A potential match-up with an undefeated Midlothian team would be in the regional quarterfinals.
Denton Ryan, Red Oak, Centennial, Lake Belton and Amarillo Tascosa would be waiting in the wings for the regional final. Unbeaten Mansfield Timberview, Longview and Frisco Reedy will battle it out in Region 2. ]
Class 4A Division 1
Decatur has a shot for a long playoff run. New Decatur coach Steve Huff has a history of long playoff runs. He took College Station to the Class 5A D2 state title game last season.
Region 2 is one of the toughest in the state with defending 4A D2 champ China Spring, defending 4A D1 champ Stephenville, Celina and Waco La Vega.
Brock (6-4)
The Eagles have won six in a row after an 0-4 start. They were Class 3A D1 state runner-up last season.
Expect a Brock-Jim Ned and Whitesboro-Paradise match-up in the regional semifinal. Then that could set up a district rematch with a Brock win, against either Whitesboro and Paradise in the regional final.
Grandview and West could also meet in the regional final for Region 2.
Private schools
Argyle Liberty Christian (9-1, 11-man) and Fort Worth Covenant Classical (8-1, 6-man) are Fort Worth-area favorites for a trip to the state title game. Liberty is among the best turnarounds after winning two games last season. Covenant Classical won the state title last season.
