Top high school football state semifinal games to watch among Dallas-Fort Worth teams
Which Dallas-Fort Worth area team is going to continue playing, and which is going home?
There are a ton of heavyweight matchups to watch in the state semifinals of the 2019 playoffs.
Here are the top games for DFW teams:
1. Frisco Lone Star (14-0) vs. Denton Ryan (14-0)
2 p.m. Saturday, Allen HS
Ryan, No. 3 in the state in 5A Division I, is playing in the state semifinals for the fourth straight season, but the Raiders come in 0-3 with all three losses against state champ Highland Park.
No Highland Park this time, but instead they’ll get the top-ranked Rangers.
Lone Star defeated Lancaster to secure its first state semifinal game since 2015, when it reached the state final.
Oklahoma commit Marvin Mims set a national record for receiving yards in a single season. The Landry Award finalist is now over 2,500 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Ryan running back Emani Bailey rushed for a school record 275 yards in the Raiders’ win over Colleyville Heritage. He’s over 1,500 yards rushing on the season.
Another Landry Award finalist is Alabama commit Drew Sanders, who plays on both sides for the Raiders. Sanders has thrown for six TDs, rushed for 12 and also caught 12 for scores.
Sanders also starts at linebacker.
| Teams | Points Per Game | Points Allowed |
| Lone Star | 52.2 | 14.4 |
| Ryan | 52.4 | 10.4 |
2. Duncanville (14-0) vs. Rockwall (12-2)
2:30 p.m. Saturday, McKinney ISD Stadium
Duncanville, the top-ranked 6A team all season long, reaches the state semis in back-to-back years for the first time since 1997-98. The Panthers beat Southlake Carroll 49-35 to set up a date with the Rockwall Yellowjackets.
Texas commit Ja’Quinden Jackson, one of the top athletes in the nation, accounted for five TDs vs. Carroll, three rushing, and completed all eight pass attempts for over 180 yards.
Trysten Smith rushed for over 170 yards and two TDs. The Panthers rushed for over 300 yards.
Rockwall is enjoying its best run since 1987. The Yellowjackets beat Prosper 59-42.
Ohio State commit Jaxon Smith-Njigba has scored nearly 40 TDs this season and needs 62 yards to set the all-time record for career receiving yards in Texas.
He won the Landry Award on Monday.
| Teams | Points Per Game | Points Allowed |
| Duncanville | 45.9 | 8.0 |
| Rockwall | 48.4 | 30.9 |
3. Denton Guyer (13-1) vs. Spring Westfield (13-1)
1 p.m. Saturday, Sheldon ISD Stadium, Houston
Guyer returns to the semis since winning a state title in 2013. The Wildcats routed Amarillo Tascosa as Texas A&M commit Eli Stowers completed 8 of 11 passes for 233 yards with four TDs.
Running back Kaedric Cobbs added 118 yards on 10 carries with two TDs, and Air Force commit Seth Meador chipped in over 100 yards receiving and two TDs.
Westfield ended Dallas Jesuit’s magical run to advance to its first semifinal round since 2014. The Mustangs are looking for their first trip to the title game since 2004.
Kendal Taylor leads the way for Westfield with over 1,500 yards rushing and 20 TDs.
| Teams | Points Per Game | Points Allowed |
| Guyer | 46.8 | 21.5 |
| Westfield | 38.1 | 9.8 |
4. Aledo (13-1) vs. Lubbock-Cooper (13-1)
3 p.m. Saturday, Abilene Christian University
Aledo clinched a berth in the state semifinals for the seventh straight season after winning an overtime nail-biter, 43-36 over Ennis. The Bearcats are the top-ranked team in 5A Division II and looking to win their ninth UIL football state championship, which would be a UIL record.
Quarterback Jake Bishop accounted for over 350 yards and three TDs, including the game-winning 17-yard run.
Oklahoma commit Jase McClellan rushed for over 200 yards and three first-half TDs. JoJo Earle, who made the game-sealing stop on defense, had 131 yards on nine catches.
Lubbock-Cooper beat Wichita Falls Rider 38-17 to secure its first state semifinal appearance.
| Teams | Points Per Game | Points Allowed |
| Aledo | 53.0 | 18.3 |
| Lubbock-Cooper | 46.4 | 17.6 |
5. Springtown (13-1) vs. Waco La Vega (13-1)
7 p.m. Friday, Midlothian ISD Stadium
La Vega continues its title defense after taking down No. 1 Argyle last week. The Pirates, who have a record of 70-5 the past five seasons, are in the semis for the third straight year and the fourth in five seasons.
Springtown beat previously undefeated Dumas to reach the semis for the first time since 1995.
The Porcupines had won 14 games combined the past two seasons.
| Teams | Points Per Game | Points Allowed |
| Springtown | 49.9 | 16.5 |
| La Vega | 44.6 | 14.7 |
6. Brock (12-2) vs. Pottsboro (14-0)
7 p.m. Thursday, Ford Center, Frisco
Since starting up its program in 2014, all Brock has done is win games.
The 2015 UIL state champs have played for a regional final in all six years and now play in the semifinals for the fourth time after beating Pilot Point 31-21, which avenged a Week 5 loss.
A win would give Brock its third trip to the state final.
Cash Jones won this week’s offensive player of the week with 221 yards rushing and one TD.
Pottsboro is making the semifinals for the first time since 2008. The Cardinals captured a school record 14th win when they outlasted Gladewater 35-34 in double overtime.
Cy Shope is a 2,000-yard back with over 35 TDs.
| Teams | Points Per Game | Points Allowed |
| Brock | 30.9 | 11.4 |
| Pottsboro | 46.4 | 17.9 |
7. Grandview (13-1) vs. Columbus (12-2)
7:30 p.m. Friday, Reeves Stadium, Round Rock
Columbus has won nine straight games since losing 28-26 to Hallettsville. The Cardinals capped it off by avenging that loss last week by three scores, 48-25.
With the win, Columbus reaches the semis for the first time since 1993.
Next up is the defending 3A Division I state champs, the Grandview Zebras, who won their first title last season. Now they reach the semis in back-to-back years after taking down Troy 34-13.
| Teams | Points Per Game | Points Allowed |
| Grandview | 41.1 | 13.9 |
| Columbus | 37.2 | 17.7 |
This story was originally published December 11, 2019 at 2:34 PM.
