After a Week 6 that featured many top high school teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on bye weeks, many return to the gridiron facing crucial matchups. Here are some of the most significant games in the metroplex this weekend.
THURSDAY
Southlake Carroll (5-0, 2-0 District 4-6A) at Keller (5-0, 2-0), 7 p.m.
This game features two of the top teams in District 4-6A. Southlake Carroll has been a powerhouse in DFW for years and has a top-notch team again. Yet Keller has an opportunity to prove it’s for real after a 5-0 start to the season that has featured several blowouts. Both schools enter the week tied with Trophy Club Byron Nelson atop the district.
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Mansfield Summit (3-2, 2-0 District 5-5A Division II) at Midlothian Heritage (5-0, 2-0), 7 p.m.
Midlothian Heritage appears to be the top team in the district, but Mansfield Summit and Ennis are also 2-0. Heritage has manhandled its opponents so far and enters the game ranked fourth in the state’s 5A Division II rankings. Summit has dominated its first two district games and has its eyes on an upset.
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FRIDAY
Colleyville Covenant (5-1, 0-0 TAPPS 1-III) at Lubbock Trinity Christian (4-1, 0-0), 6 p.m.
Colleyville Covenant lost a close 23-20 game to the Covenant School yet has otherwise won the rest of its games decisively. The Cougars will open district play this week against a Lubbock Trinity Christian team that has won four in a row.
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Richardson Berkner (4-2, 4-0 District 7-6A) at Highland Park (4-1, 2-1), 7 p.m.
Highland Park put itself back in the district race with an impressive win over Jesuit last week, holding a high-flying Rangers offense to just 13 points. The Scots were upset by Lake Highlands earlier this season and now face district leader Berkner, who has surprised everyone with a 4-0 start to district play.
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Duncanville (4-0, 2-0 District 11-6A) at Waxahachie (4-1, 1-1), 7 p.m.
Duncanville is the consensus No.1 6A team in the state and could very well cruise through the season unscathed. However, the district race is tight, and both these teams have a chance. If Waxahachie can pull out a win, things will get very interesting down the stretch.
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Coppell (4-0, 2-0 District 6-6A) at Flower Mound Marcus (2-3, 2-0), 7 p.m.
Coppell has continued to assert itself as one of the best 6A teams in the area all season, while Marcus has found its footing after three consecutive losses to start the season. The teams are tied at the top of District 6-6A, and the winner of Friday’s game will take control.
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Longview (4-1, 2-0 District 7-5A Division I) at Forney (5-0, 2-0), 7 p.m.
Longview and Forney are also tied atop their district, with Longview’s only loss coming in its season opener against McKinney, the No.13 team in 6A. Longview, last year’s state runner-up, beat Forney 46-7 last season and comes into this one as the No.2 team in 5A. Forney is now the No.10 team and looks to avenge the loss by taking control of the district.
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Burleson Centennial (5-0, 3-0 District 3-5A Division I) at Denton Ryan (4-1, 2-1), 7 p.m.
A win in this one goes a long way for both teams. Centennial is tied with defending state champion Aledo in first place and will likely need to win this game to keep pace. Denton Ryan is just a game behind them and can leapfrog Centennial with a win.
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Argyle (2-2, 1-0 District 3-5A Division II) at Lake Dallas (6-0, 2-0), 7 p.m.
Argyle began the season as a ranked 5A squad but suffered two forgettable losses, giving up 50 points in both games. Since then, the Eagles have had two convincing victories and hope to keep the ball rolling against undefeated district leader Lake Dallas. Lake Dallas has breezed through its schedule but was put to the test against Frisco Memorial last week. With Frisco Emerson continuing on a similar pace, the Falcons could use a win to keep up.
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Lake Worth (4-1, 2-0 District 6-4A Division I) at Kennedale (2-3, 2-0), 7 p.m.
This matchup determines who stays among the leaders in 6-4A Division I, as both teams enter the game in a three-way tie with Fort Worth Dunbar. Kennedale started 0-3 and has won two in a row, but Lake Worth has performed better all season.
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Frisco Panther Creek (5-1, 2-0 District 7-4A Division I) at Dallas Carter (4-1, 1-0), 7 p.m.
These two teams are vying to keep up with No.3 Celina in 7-4A. Frisco Panther Creek has only allowed two opponents to score at least 21 points, while Carter has made easy work of Dallas area schools, with the only blemish coming in a 22-14 loss to Sunnyvale.
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Fort Worth Christian (4-2, 0-0 TAPPS 1-II) at Argyle Liberty Christian (5-0, 0-0), 7 p.m.
Fort Worth Christian and Argyle Liberty Christian face off in a loaded district. None of the teams have played a district game yet, but four of the five enter district play with at least four wins. Fort Worth Christian can score points but has had trouble stopping opponents and comes off a 58-16 loss to Dallas Christian. On the other hand, Liberty Christian is 5-0 under former Dallas Cowboy Jason Witten, ruining Frisco Legacy Christian’s unbeaten season with a 52-0 win last week.
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Kimball (4-1, 1-0 District 6-5A Division II) at South Oak Cliff (4-2, 2-0), 7:30 p.m., Kincaide Stadium
South Oak Cliff leads the district, while Kimball is in second place because it has played one less district opponent. Kimball has won three in a row since a loss to Dallas Carter, and South Oak Cliff has looked dominant against 5A foes.
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Covenant School (3-1, 0-0 TAPPS 2-III) at Dallas Christian (5-1, 0-0), 7:30 p.m.
The Covenant School is off to a great start, losing only to unbeaten First Baptist. Its next test is back-to-back defending state champion Dallas Christian, which still has not lost to a Texas-based team this season. Dallas Christian lost by three points to Monroe, Louisiana’s Ouachita Christian, in early September and has been on a tear ever since.