High school football season in the DFW area enters its final week of the regular season with plenty of playoff situations on the line. Here are some of the critical matchups this weekend.
THURSDAY
Denton Ryan (6-2, 5-2 District 3-5A Division I) at Justin Northwest (8-1, 6-1), 7 p.m.
Both these teams will make the playoffs, but this game will help determine seeding. The winner gets the No.2 seed in the district, while the loser will be No.3.
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Prosper (8-1, 6-0 District 5-6A) at McKinney (8-1, 5-1), 7 p.m.
The four playoff teams for this district have already been determined, but the winner of this game earns the district title. Prosper has won six in a row since losing to Rockwall in early September, while McKinney’s potentially undefeated season was derailed by a 31-7 loss to Allen three weeks ago.
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Midlothian (8-1, 7-0 District 4-5A Division I) at Red Oak (9-0, 7-0), 7 p.m.
This is another district championship game, with the loser getting the No.2 seed in the district during the playoffs. Midlothian lost its season opener to Arlington Seguin and has had no trouble since then, while Red Oak has breezed through its schedule with just two close calls.
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Celina (9-0, 5-0 District 7-4A Division I) at Frisco Panther Creek (8-1, 5-0), 7 p.m.
No.2 Celina plays Panther Creek for the district title. The Bobcats seized control of 4A Division I throughout DFW with a thrilling win over No.3 Anna earlier this season and look poised for a deep run. Panther Creek is attempting to win its first district title in just its second season as a varsity program.
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Seagoville (7-2, 4-1 District 6-5A Division II) at South Oak Cliff (7-2, 5-0), 7 p.m.
South Oak Cliff enters this game as the district’s No.1 seed, but Seagoville can make a run with the upset. Last week’s loss to Kimball prevents Seagoville from winning the district, but it could force a four-way tie with some help. Meanwhile, South Oak Cliff looks primed to make a run at a third consecutive state title, with its only losses coming to the two defending 6A champs.
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Lovejoy (8-1, 6-0 District 7-5A Division II) at Melissa (9-0, 6-0), 7:30 p.m.
No.7 Lovejoy and No.1 Melissa duel for the district title. Lovejoy has won six in a row, while Melissa has won every game this season by at least 30 points.
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Kennedale (6-3, 6-0 District 6-4A Division I) at Fort Worth Dunbar (7-2, 6-0), 8 p.m.
This game is another district title game. Kennedale started the season with three straight losses but has won all six of its district games, while Dunbar has also won six in a row after a 1-2 start.
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FRIDAY
Lake Highlands (7-2, 6-1 District 7-6A) at Irving (0-9, 0-7), 7 p.m.
While Irving can only hope to play spoiler, Lake Highlands would clinch first place in 7-6A with a win. The Wildcats enter the week tied with Highland Park and beat the Scots earlier this season.
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Richardson Pearce (6-3, 4-3 District 7-6A) at Highland Park (8-1, 6-1), 7 p.m.
The same stakes are being played for here. Highland Park keeps its hopes of a first-place finish alive with a win, while Pearce tries to play spoiler and finish in a tie for third place. Dallas Jesuit and Richardson Berkner both hold the tiebreakers against Pearce, so Pearce cannot make the playoffs.
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Frisco Wakeland (7-2, 5-2 District 6-5A Division I) at Frisco (6-3, 5-2), Toyota Stadium, 7 p.m.
Both teams are heading to the playoffs, but this game will determine who gets the better seed. Both squads enter with 5-2 records in district play. The loser will be the No.4 seed, and the winner will be No.3. Wakeland has won four straight, while Frisco is in the midst of a two-game losing streak.
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Prestonwood Christian (6-2, 3-0 TAPPS 1-I) at Parish Episcopal (6-3, 3-0), 7 p.m.
Prestonwood and Parish battle for first place in TAPPS 1-I on Friday night. Prestonwood has won five in a row while allowing no more than 22 points in a single game during that span, and Parish has made easy work of its district, with its only losses of the season coming to defending state champions Aledo and South Oak Cliff and Bellaire Episcopal of the Houston area.
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Rockwall-Heath (7-2, 4-1 District 10-6A) at North Forney (8-1, 4-1), 7 p.m.
Heath and North Forney are battling for second place after each lost to first-place Rockwall earlier in the season. Heath has won six in a row since its loss, while North Forney has beaten everyone it has faced except Rockwall this season.
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