GAMES
RANKINGS
Desoto knocks off Duncanville last week. Up next Burleson Centennial
BIG TICKET: 10 Can't-Miss DFW Games
Week 4 brings a loaded slate across North Texas, with several heavyweight matchups, district openers and unbeaten teams colliding.
Here are the 10 games you need to have on your radar this week.
Allen at Prosper
Thursday, Sept. 17 | Children’s Health Stadium
The battle of the 3-0 Eagles vs. the 3-0 Eagles.
Allen has already navigated a daunting schedule, picking up wins over Duncanville, DeSoto and Southlake Carroll. Prosper has been just as impressive, dispatching Rockwall, North Forney and Austin Westlake — the latter in a wild 49-40 win last week.
Allen exploded for 701 yards of offense last week, led by highly touted quarterback Ty Snell, who threw for 305 yards. Something has to give in this battle of unbeaten powers.
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Southlake Carroll vs. Keller Central
Thursday, Sept. 17 | Keller ISD Athletic Complex
For the first time in 26 years, Southlake Carroll sits at 1-2.
The Dragons now have what appears to be a favorable matchup on paper — or computer screen — against a Keller Central team they have dominated historically. Carroll is 14-0 against the Chargers since 2006.
But this isn't the same Keller Central team. The Chargers enter district play 3-0, and if there was ever a year to challenge Carroll, this could be it.
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Lucas Lovejoy vs. Fort Worth All Saints Episcopal
Thursday, Sept. 17 | McNair Stadium
Two legendary coaches with state championship resumes go head-to-head as Todd Dodge brings Lucas Lovejoy to Fort Worth to face Aaron Beck and All Saints.
Lovejoy is 3-0, while All Saints enters at 3-1 and is loaded with Division I talent. Leading the way is sophomore Noah Tarrant, the No. 1 tight end in the Class of 2029 and a nationally ranked prospect.
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DeSoto at Burleson Centennial
Friday, Sept. 18 | Burleson ISD Stadium
The defending Class 6A Division II state champion Eagles finally have a win under their belt.
DeSoto knocked off Duncanville 21-20 on Saturday and now opens District 8-5A Division I play against a Burleson Centennial team sitting at 3-0.
The Spartans are coming off a 4-7 season in 2025 but have made impressive progress early this year. DeSoto is turning to SaRod Baker at quarterback, hoping the move can spark a team that enters district play at 1-2.
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Highland Park at Argyle
Friday, Sept. 18 | Argyle ISD Stadium
Argyle is settling into its new home.
The Eagles picked up their second win at the new $27 million stadium last week, dispatching Somerset Academy from North Las Vegas, Nevada.
Highland Park enters at 1-2 after earning its first win of the season. The Scots also have plenty of momentum behind quarterback Buck Randall, who recently passed Matthew Stafford's all-time passing record at Highland Park.
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Mansfield Lake Ridge at Waxahachie
Friday, Sept. 18 | Lumpkins Stadium
The No. 1-ranked Waxahachie Indians survived a thriller against Denton Guyer last week, pulling away for a 44-30 victory.
The game looked destined for a 37-37 tie before a scoop-and-score in the final minute turned it into a two-score win.
Now the Indians welcome a Lake Ridge team that has been putting points on the board. The Eagles have scored 47 and 44 points in their last two games — and won both.
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North Crowley at Duncanville
Friday, Sept. 18
Two of the premier Class 6A Division I programs in Texas meet again.
Duncanville won the state championship in 2023, North Crowley captured the crown in 2024 and Duncanville returned to the state final last season, falling by three points.
Duncanville owns a 3-1 record against North Crowley, but the Panthers won the most recent meeting in the 2024 state semifinals.
Duncanville dropped to 1-2 after a blocked field goal ended its comeback bid against DeSoto on Saturday. North Crowley, meanwhile, remains perfect at 3-0 following a win over Humble Summer Creek.
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Plano John Paul II vs. Dallas Parish Episcopal
Friday, Sept. 18 | Gloria H. Snyder Stadium
The TAPPS Division I District 1 matchup features two teams looking to bounce back.
Parish Episcopal enters at 2-2 after a loss to San Antonio Cornerstone last week. Panthers quarterback Logan Lucero has thrown for 812 yards through four games and could surpass the 1,000-yard mark in this one.
John Paul II has dropped two straight and is 0-1 in district play following a loss to Dallas Bishop Lynch.
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Garland Naaman Forest at Denton
Friday, Sept. 18 | C.H. Collins Athletic Complex
An intriguing District 6-5A Division I matchup pits 3-0 Denton against 2-1 Naaman Forest.
The Rangers were a Class 6A playoff team last season before falling to Forney in the first round. Denton went 4-6 in 2025 and has made just one playoff appearance in the past eight years.
A win here would give the Broncos an impressive early-season statement.
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Mesquite Horn at Rockwall
Friday, Sept. 18 | Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium
Rockwall opens District 10-6A play with a chance to make it three straight wins.
After dropping its opener to Prosper, Rockwall has responded with back-to-back victories, including a shootout win over No. 7 Melissa last week. Melissa reached the Class 5A Division II semifinals last season.
Rockwall is now 2-1 and already halfway to its 2025 win total.
Mesquite Horn enters at 0-3 for the first time since 2021. Interestingly, the last time the Jaguars started 0-4, they went on to reach the regional semifinals and finished 5-8.
Week 4 is loaded. Buckle up.
DFW Weekend Preview: Three Can't Miss Heavyweight Showdowns
Three games. Three heavyweight matchups. And enough Division I talent to fill a college roster.
The Metroplex is loaded with big-time football this weekend, and several of the area's top programs will square off in games that could have major implications down the road.
Could we see a No. 1 team go down?
Can Southlake Carroll avoid its first 1-2 start in 26 years?
And what happens when two of the area's longtime rivals collide on Saturday?
Let's break it down.
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THURSDAY: Waxahachie at Denton Guyer
Talk about a Thursday night appetizer.
Waxahachie travels to Denton Guyer in a matchup featuring two of the most talented rosters in the Metroplex.
Guyer brings a loaded group of Division I prospects, including Oregon commit Rowe, Texas Tech commit Haywood, TCU defensive tackle Darrneil Neal and UNT defensive back Paxton Williams.
Waxahachie isn't exactly short on star power.
The Indians feature Texas A&M safety Ty Snell, Kansas State defensive end Sedrick Marsh, South Carolina quarteback Meyer, Louisiana Tech offensive guard Malik Dismue, UNT offensive tackle Grant Gonzales, Colorado State wide receiver Kentorian King and UTSA running back Jordan Smith.
That's a lot of future college football players on one field. Waxahachie is coming off a dramatic win over Coppell, scoring with less than two minutes remaining to escape with the victory.
Now comes the big question: Could we see No. 1 go down?
Guyer will have something to say about that. The last meeting between these two programs came all the way back in 2010, when Guyer rolled to a 45-7 victory on Oct. 28.
This one should be a completely different story.
Thursday night. Two loaded rosters. One heavyweight showdown.
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FRIDAY: Allen at Southlake Carroll
Friday night brings another monster matchup as Allen travels to Southlake Carroll and for the Dragons, the stakes are already getting serious.
If Southlake Carroll loses, the Dragons would start 1-2 for the first time since 2000. That's a long time in Dragon Country.
Southlake has already faced plenty of adversity early in the season, and now Allen comes to town with one of the most talented teams in the Metroplex.
Allen's Division I talent includes Wisconsin safety James Roberson, Colorado center Jayin Talib and UNT defensive end Jacobie Wilkerson.
Talib adds another layer to the storyline. He's a transfer from Richardson Berkner and is the nephew of former NFL star Aqib Talib, a former first-round pick and five-time Pro Bowler.
Southlake counters with plenty of firepower of its own.
The Dragons feature Illinois wide receiver Brody Knowles, Cal wide receiver Blake Gunter, Missouri offensive lineman Tristan Dare and Oklahoma offensive lineman Luke Wilson and there is plenty of family history on the Southlake sideline.
The Dragons have sons of four former professional athletes:
Dez Bryant Jr. — football
DeMarcus Ware Jr. — football
Jason Maxiell II — basketball
Brody Knowles — tennis
Brody's father, Mark Knowles, won four Grand Slam titles in men's tennis and a Wimbledon mixed-doubles championship. His older brother, Graham, is also a quarterback at Georgia Tech.
That's quite the family résumé.
The all-time series since 2004 is as close as it gets, with Southlake Carroll holding a 4-3 edge. The Dragons won in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2021, while Allen took victories in 2006, 2009 and 2012.
History will be made again Friday night.
For Southlake, it's simple: Win and keep the season rolling. Lose, and the Dragons face their first 1-2 start in a quarter-century.
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SATURDAY: DeSoto vs. Duncanville
Saturday brings one of the Metroplex's biggest rivalry games.
DeSoto vs. Duncanville.
These two longtime 11-6A rivals know each other extremely well, and there is no shortage of storylines heading into this one. One of the biggest names from last year's matchup was Maximus The Great Denson.
Yes — that's really his name and last year, he certainly played like it.
Denson threw seven touchdown passes to lead Duncanville past DeSoto, 48-28.
Now, he's no longer the Panthers' quarterback, creating plenty of intrigue surrounding Duncanville heading into this season.
Meanwhile, DeSoto brings six known Division I players into the rivalry, including Texas Tech running back SaRod Baker, Texas Tech defensive tackle K'Adrian Redmon and Penn State cornerback Dhillon McGee.
Duncanville counters with Purdue wide receiver Trenton Yancey, Texas State offensive guard Aiden Williams and UCF defensive back Jonathan Barnes.
Talent? Check. History? Check. Rivalry? Absolutely and after what happened last year, neither side needs extra motivation.
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SATURDAY: North Shore vs. South Oak Cliff
Another Texas heavyweight matchup arrives Saturday when North Shore takes on South Oak Cliff.
This one comes with plenty of recent history. South Oak Cliff won last year's meeting, 41-31, while North Shore dominated the 2024 matchup, 38-0.
Now they meet again with two talented rosters ready to settle the score. North Shore enters the game with momentum after rallying to defeat John Curtis Christian in Lafayette, Louisiana, last week.
John Curtis led 17-14 heading into the fourth quarter before the Mustangs stormed back.
North Shore has a pair of known Division I players in Maryland offensive guard Abdus Kone and FAU cornerback Tony Guillory.
South Oak Cliff counters with a loaded group that includes Texas offensive guard Brian Swanson, SMU defensive back Isaiah Udom, Cal defensive tackle Jaderian Jones, Texas State defensive back Jyrion Hampton, Lamar center Zion Ragster and Stephen F. Austin quarterback Jayden Williams.
That's another eight Division I players between the two rosters.
North Shore will also be adjusting after losing wide receiver Aubrey Johnson, who recently transferred to C.E. King.
But if there's one thing we know about the Mustangs, it's this:
They reload.
THE BOTTOM LINE
This is one of those weekends where you circle the schedule and make plans around football.
Waxahachie at Guyer.
Allen at Southlake Carroll.
DeSoto vs. Duncanville.
North Shore vs. South Oak Cliff.
Four games. Plenty of Division I talent. Rivalries, history and a few serious questions that need answering.
Could a No. 1 team fall?
Will Southlake Carroll avoid a 1-2 start?
Can Waxahachie keep its momentum rolling?
Who owns the next chapter of these Metroplex rivalries?
Friday night lights are about to get very interesting.