6A
Graphic by Stephen Peters
W8 South Grand Prairie (25-2) vs. W11 DeSoto (26-2)
4 p.m. @ Prosper High School
It's an early-season rematch between these two for the right to go to the State Championship next week in San Antonio. The first game being a 53-22 win for DeSoto in mid-November. South Grand Prairie - the state's No. 4-ranked 6A team - is on a 20-game win streak that includes a perfect district record. In the playoffs, SGP has won its playoff games by an average of 27 points, including a 67-point win in the first round over Lake Highlands. DeSoto is on a six-game win streak and probably would have been an 18-game win streak had it not been for a forfeit to Cedar Hill in early February. Still, No. 2-ranked DeSoto has been playing lights out in the playoffs, holding opponents to an average of just 29.4 points per game, including knocking off district-rival and the No. 3-ranked team in the state, Duncanville, 52-39 in the Regional Finals.
5A
Graphic by Stephen Peters
W4 Lubbock Cooper (28-3) vs. T9 Frisco Liberty (21-8)
4 p.m. Saturday @ St. Mary's University (San Antonio)
With the big target on its back to open the year, Frisco Liberty had a quasi-tough start to the year. Liberty started 2-4 in non-district play against some of the top schools in the state, and then started district play 3-3 before ending the regular season 9-1. It's been all about defense for Liberty during that 9-1 stretch plus the playoffs. Only one team has cracked 40 points against Liberty's defense, which was the overtime loss to Lone Star. In the playoffs, Liberty is giving up a stingy 28 points per game. Lubbock Cooper, the No. 8-ranked team in 5A, enters on a 15-game win streak and has won its playoff games by an average of 22.2 points per game.
4A
Graphic by Stephen Peters
W4 Canyon (28-1) vs. R12 Dallas Pinkston (27-5)
2:30 p.m. Saturday @ Angelo State (San Angelo)
In another state-ranked matchup, No. 23 Dallas Pinkston enters on fire having won eight straight including knocking off two consecutive state-ranked teams to get to the semifinals. Pinkston held off Brownsboro a week ago and then pulled away late to down Gilmer a few days later. Pinkston has played relatively close games throughout the playoffs from the Area Round, winning the last four games by 11, 9, 1 and 7 points, respectively. Canyon has only lost once this season, way back in mid-November to Lubbock Cooper, and has rattled off 26 straight since then. The No. 2-ranked team in 4A has used its stingy defense to get through the playoffs, holding opponents to 28 points per game.
3A
Graphic by Stephen Peters
W3 Brownfield (28-1) vs. W10 Ponder (29-3)
10 a.m. Saturday @ Angelo State (San Angelo)
Ponder is in the state tournament for the first time since 1998 after knocking on 9th-ranked Gunter last time out. Ponder is the state's 4th-ranked team and has won 14 straight after dropping its last non-district matchup of the season to Bridgeport. Ponder opened the playoffs with a 90-point and has won its last four playoff games by an average of 13 points per game - the closest being a 7-point win over Winnsboro a week ago in the Regional Semifinals. Brownfield, ranked No. 4 in the state, has rolled through its last 19 opponents. In the playoffs, Brownfield has knocked off three ranked teams in Idalou, Peaster and No. 1-ranked Shallowater - the last two being the last two rounds Brownfield has played.
Frisco senior wide receiver Lowery Asel (Air Force commit)Jim Redman (VYPE)
Lewisville senior athlete Devin Robinson (Sam Houston State commit)Jeff Rayome (VYPE)
