Check out the preview for Fort Worth-area teams during the second round of the playoffs
The high school football playoffs continue this week with Round 2. Fort Worth-area teams are one step closer from a state championship.
Here’s a look at top games and players to watch this week.
Top 5 games to watch
Lewisville (10-1) vs. Arlington Martin (10-1)
7 p.m. Friday, SMU
The Farmers and Warriors meet in the second round of the playoffs for the third consecutive season. Martin won in 2020 by a rout 68-0 but Lewisville got it back with a 35-18 win in 2021.
Lewisville is coming off a big win over Allen, sending the Eagles packing in the first round for the first time since 2007.
Martin took care of Berkner.
Martin is averaging nearly 55 points per game and has given up 170 points in 11 contests. Lewisville is outscoring teams 341-159.
The Warriors win this time, give me Martin 35-28.
Burleson Centennial (10-1) vs. Amarillo Tascosa (10-1)
2:30 p.m. Friday, Memorial Stadium, Wichita Falls
It’s an early kickoff for Centennial and Tascosa in what should be a stellar 5A D1 area round showdown in Wichita Falls.
Centennial was won four straight including a 56-28 victory in the playoff opener against Lake Belton. Elijah Zeh rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns.
Jahiem Ababio added 149 yards and three TDs and Phillip Hamilton chipped in 137 and two scores.
Tascosa’s only loss this season came 13-12 against Odessa Permian. But the Rebels have reeled off eight straight wins. They beat El Paso Ysleta 70-7 in the bi-district round.
This might be a quick game as both teams love the run. Tascosa has rushed for over 2,900 yards in 11 games.
Give me Centennial 28-27.
Midlothian Heritage (10-1) vs. Crandall (9-2)
7 p.m. Friday, Grand Prairie HS
Crandall won a classic and down to the wire, 48-47 over Marshall and will face the Jaguars in the 5A D2 area round.
Heritage defeated Dallas Kimball 42-14 to capture the school’s first 5A football bi-district championship. South Dakota State commit Kaden Brown was an efficient 12 of 14 passing for 213 yards and three touchdowns.
He also ran for a score. Xavier Moten caught two TD passes from Brown.
Crandall will be in another thriller, but give me Heritage 38-35
Argyle Liberty Christian (10-1) vs. FW All Saints (5-5)
7 p.m. Friday, Birdville FA/AC
Liberty Christian continues to be one of the best turnaround stories of the season in Jason Witten’s second year. The Warriors dominated Flower Mound Coram Deo in the playoff opener.
QB Jacob Vaughan as thrown for more than 30 TDs.
All Saints has won its last two games, over two Top 10 teams in the area, Fort Worth Christian and Grapevine Faith.
Should be a battle Friday night, give me Liberty 38-31.
Lake Worth (9-2) vs. Dallas Carter (9-2)
7 p.m. Friday, Apogee Stadium, Denton
Lake Worth was on the ropes in the opener against Alvarado, but the Bullfrogs forced a turnover late in regulation before winning 23-20 in double overtime.
That game was also at UNT so make it two weeks in a row Lake Worth will have a playoff game in Denton.
Lake Worth’s D is no joke as the Frogs have allowed just 106 points in 11 games.
Meanwhile, Carter won a good one 37-33 over Sulphur Springs to start the 4A D1 postseason. The Cowboys have won three straight games, but the last two have come by a single score.
This will also be a single score game, in favor of Lake Worth 24-21.
Others: Keller vs. Midland Legacy, Aledo vs. Lubbock-Cooper, Canutillo vs. Arlington Heights, Fort Worth Christian vs. Midland Christian, Kennedale vs. Celina
Players to watch
Here are 20 Fort Worth-area players to watch this week:
Jake Wilson, QB, Byron Nelson: 448 yards, 6 TDs vs Boswell
Jacob Jordan, WR, Southlake Carroll: 11 catches, 222 yards, 2 TDs vs Crowley
Luke Ullrich, UTIL, Colleyville Heritage: 6 catches, 79 yards, 3 TDs vs Emerson
Poasa Utu, DE, Kennedale: 15 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack vs La Vega
De’Ago Benson, RB, Midlothian: 16 carries, 174 yards, 3 TDs vs Northwest
John Gailey, QB, Argyle: 8 of 10 for 152 yards and 4 TDs vs Wyatt
Ryan Ventura, DB, Keller: 16 tackles, 8 solo vs Trinity
Kayden Brooks, RB, Everman: 10 carries, 193 yard, 2 TDs vs Seagoville
Parker Polk, RB, Grapevine: 23 touches, 193 yards, TD vs Lake Dallas
Elijah Zeh, RB, Burleson Centennial: 184 yards rushing, 3 TDs vs Lake Belton
Brian Furch, RB, Arlington Heights: 33 carries, 154 yards, 5 TDs vs Independence
Owen Flores, DB, Byron Nelson: 9 tackles, 3 PBU, 35-yard INT return for TD vs Boswell
Tyler Moody, QB, Brock: 3 TD passes vs Iowa Park
Jacob Vaughan, QB, Liberty Christian: 15 of 17 for 272 yards and 4 TDs vs Coram Deo
Jacob Trimble, WR, Fort Worth Christian: 83 yards receiving, TD, 80-yard kickoff return for TD vs Bishop Dunne
Parker Phillips, DB, Argyle: 6 tackles, 5 solo, 2 INTs vs Wyatt
Dejuan Lacy, RB, North Crowley: 25 carries, 241 yards, 4 TDs vs Timber Creek
Konye Frazier, RB, Martin: 10 carries, 130 yards, 2 TDs vs Berkner
Garrett Finley, DE, Colleyville Heritage: 8 tackles, 7 for loss, 2 sacks vs Emerson
Hudson White, QB, Glen Rose: 273 total yards, 4 TDs vs Graham
Road to state
Southlake Carroll (11-0)
QB Graham Knowles and WR Jacob Jordan had huge games in their 52-13 win over Crowley. Next up for the Dragons is an area round match-up with Wolfforth Frenship.
Two of the top teams in the state will battle it out in Denton Guyer and Highland Park this week and the winner of that will likely face Byron Nelson in the third round.
If Carroll wins this week, it’ll face the McKinney-Jesuit winner during Thanksgiving week.
DeSoto could still be waiting in the state semifinals.
North Crowley and Arlington Martin are the Fort Worth-area teams still in 6A D1. Those two could meet in two weeks for the regional final. North Crowley gets Pebble Hills in area while Martin gets a very good Lewisville squad that just knocked off Allen. Keller is playing Midland Legacy and Prosper faces SGP.
Aledo (9-2)
The Bearcats took a step forward to an 11th state title after beating Killeen Shoemaker 37-0.
Aledo will face Lubbock-Cooper this week with an undefeated Midlothian squad in the third round. Midlothian plays Amarillo in the area round. A pair of 10-1 teams play this week with Burleson Centennial and Amarillo Tascosa.
Mansfield Timberview, Lancaster, Frisco Reedy and Longview are still in the Region 2 bracket.
Argyle (11-0)
The Eagles are the favorites to win the 5A D2 state championship. But after this week, we could see four Fort Worth-area teams in the third round during Thanksgiving week.
Cinderella Arlington Heights plays Canutillo this week, Colleyville Heritage has Abilene Wylie, Argyle plays Rider and Grapevine has Abilene Cooper. If all four teams win, it will set up a rematch from earlier this season between Heights and Heritage, and Argyle and Grapevine.
But you can’t forget Region 2 with the likes of Midlothian Heritage, Melissa, Lovejoy, Everman and defending 5A D2 state champ South Oak Cliff.
Class 4A Division 1
Decatur is the remaining DFW team in Region 1 after the Eagles beat Pampa. The Eagles will face Andrews in the area round with the Randall-Estacado winner waiting in the wings.
Region 2 is one of the toughest in the state with defending 4A D2 champ China Spring, defending 4A D1 champ Stephenville and Celina. Kennedale knocked off Waco La Vega and will face Celina next.
Lake Worth and Dallas Carter meet on Friday at UNT.
Brock (7-4)
The Eagles have won seven in a row after an 0-4 start. They beat Iowa Park 48-0 in bi-district.
We still could see a Brock-Jim Ned and Whitesboro-Paradise match-up in the regional semifinal. The Eagles get Muleshoe in the area. Jim Ned gets 10-1 Bushland while Paradise plays 10-1 Shallowater.
Grandview and West could still meet in the regional final for Region 2. The Zebras will have to get through Mineola this week and then the winner of Whitney and Pottsboro in the third round.
Tolar (11-0)
The Rattlers are coming off their first 10-0 regular season in their 11-man history and a bi-district win over Whitewright, 61-0. Next up is Marlin. Tolar should get by the next two opponents with a undefeated match-up with Crawford waiting in the regional final.
Tolar is outscoring teams by a whopping 540-70 this season.
Private schools
Argyle Liberty Christian (10-1, 11-man) and Fort Worth Covenant Classical (9-1, 6-man) are Fort Worth-area favorites for a trip to the state title game. The Warriors beat Flower Mound Coram Deo 50-6 in the first round while Covenant shut out Wylie Prep 52-0. The Cavs get Plano Coram Deo on Friday night at Fort Worth Christian.
