With less than a month left in the regular season, every district high school football game becomes more critical. Here are some of the important matchups across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex this week.
THURSDAY
Sachse (4-2, 4-0 District 9-6A) at Garland (5-2, 4-1), 7 p.m.
Sachse enters this week tied with Wylie for the district lead but behind in overall record. The Mustangs have won four straight since early losses to Prosper and Coppell and look to maintain their edge over third-place Garland.
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Duncanville (5-0, 3-0 District 11-6A) at Mansfield (5-1, 2-1), 7 p.m.Â
Duncanville continues to reign as the top 6A team in the state, but this district is crowded. The Panthers are currently tied with DeSoto at the top, while Mansfield sits close behind, just ahead of a slew of 1-2 teams.
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FRIDAY
Keller (5-1, 2-1 District 4-6A) at Trophy Club Byron Nelson (6-0, 3-0), 7 p.m.
Keller was blown out by Southlake Carroll last week but gets another shot to prove itself against Byron Nelson. Byron Nelson looks to join Carroll and separate itself from the pack by remaining undefeated with a late-season matchup with the Dragons looming.
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Allen (4-2, 3-0 District 5-6A) at McKinney (6-0, 3-0), 7 p.m.
Allen puts its four-game winning streak up against 13th-ranked McKinney in a battle of two teams tied for the District 5-6A lead. The Eagles have scorched teams the past four weeks, while the Lions opened the season with a critical victory over Longview and haven’t looked back. Which streak will continue come Friday?
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Plano East (4-2, 2-1 District 6-6A) at Coppell (5-0, 3-0), 7 p.m.
Coppell has made easy work of its opponents this season, but Plano East is trying to jump Lewisville in the district standings. Plano East has not been overly dominant this season, but scoring an upset here could provide a jolt for a final stretch that includes three games against potential playoff teams.
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North Forney (6-0, 2-0 10-6A) at Rockwall (6-1, 3-0), 7 p.m.Â
Here’s a battle for first place as both teams enter undefeated in district play. North Forney has only played one one-possession game this season, while Rockwall has shown it can score at will, even in its only loss.
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Frisco Emerson (7-0, 3-0 District 3-5A Division II) at Argyle (3-2, 2-0), 7 p.m.
Emerson is having a fantastic second season at the varsity level. The Mavericks finished their first varsity season with a 9-2 record and have improved with former Allen quarterback Michael Hawkins running the offense. A win on the road against an Argyle team that began the season as a ranked team would put Emerson squarely in the driver’s seat in the division.
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Dallas Jesuit (3-3, 2-2 District 7-6A) at Richardson Berkner (4-3, 4-1), 7 p.m.
This game is critical for two reasons. First, Berkner is coming off its first district loss and saw its quarterback leave with an injury. Second, Jesuit is trying to keep its playoff hopes alive, sitting fifth in the district. Both teams have plenty to play for, but who wants it more?
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Burleson Centennial (5-1, 3-1 District 3-5A Division I) at Aledo (7-0, 5-0), 7 p.m.
Defending state champ Aledo is in the middle of an impressive 21-game winning streak going back to last season. The Bearcats passed a big test with a three-point road win over Denton Guyer and have cruised past everyone else. Burleson Centennial sits in a three-way tie for second place in the district and looks to help itself with an upset. Will the streak continue?
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Crandall (4-2, 2-1 District 7-5A Division II) at Lovejoy (5-1, 3-0), 7:30 p.m.
Lastly, Crandall and Lovejoy try to keep up with Melissa in 7-5A Division II. Crandall lost to Melissa this season but is trying to earn a head-to-head tiebreaker over Lovejoy. Meanwhile, Lovejoy is tied with Melissa at the top and hopes to continue its run until a November 2 showdown with the Cardinals.
