GAMES
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RANKINGS
Arlington The Oakridge School running back Isaac Bly carries the ball during the 3A Southwest Preparatory Conference semifinal game in Arlington.
The Oakridge School returns to SPC 3A title game
The Southwest Preparatory Conference 3A championship will be a showdown of Dallas area schools.
Episcopal School of Dallas won the first semifinal game on Saturday and then The Oakridge School punched a return ticket to the finals with a 44-14 win over Fort Worth Country Day School at Frank Field.
That game was a rematch of last year’s 3A championship game, also won by Oakridge.
Now the Owls will have a chance to defend the title when it plays ESD – the only school they have lost to this year.
The championship game will be played on Nov. 14. A time and place was still in the works as of Saturday night, according to Oakridge coach Jeromy Flowers.
ESD beat Oakridge, 32-20, on Oct. 16.
“Title game is everything, man,” Flowers said. “You get a rare chance in life to get second chances, you know? So we get a second chance; we get another opportunity. It's not about redemption for us. … it's about going out there and just playing the best game that we could possibly play and be 2-time state champs.”
Does the coach think the Owls are underdogs against the undefeated Eagles?
“You know, whatever they want to call us,” he said. “We just want to go play and see what happens.”
Episcopal School of Dallas (10-0) beat Austin St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, 42-29, in the other semifinal game Saturday.
Oakridge never trailed against Country Day, scoring on the first two drives to build a 16-0 lead.
The Falcons (6-5) pulled within 16-14 in the second quarter on two touchdown passes from Hayes Casey to Owen Bloemendahl.
Country Day didn’t score again.
Oakridge scored twice in the final 8 minutes of the second quarter. Arlington Seguin transfer Isaac Bly had a 68-yard touchdown run following the second Country Day score.
The Owls’ defense got a stop, forced a punt and took over with 57 seconds left.
The offense needed only two plays to score. Quarterback Hunter Squires hit Kingston James on back-to-back pass routes - a 37-yard gain and a 6-yard touchdown pass.
Squires added a touchdown run in the third quarter and Joshua Dees threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Will Lemonds in the fourth quarter to account for the scoring in the fourth.“It's awesome as a quarterback to be able to just not have to worry about certain things and have 2 great wide receivers out there, a great tight end, an awesome running back who just does spectacular every game,” said Squires, a newcomer for the Owls from Arlington James Martin. “I'm forever grateful to be able to have these guys with me and they make me look good.”
9-time state champion Celina faces a big game this week against Anna.
10 Games to Watch in Week 10 of DFW High School Football
Thursday, Oct. 29
Sachse at Wylie East at Wylie ISD Stadium
This is one of the premier games in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Week 10. Sachse is 8-0, while Wylie East is 7-1 overall. Both are 5-0 in District 9-6A play, making this a de facto district title game. The Sachse Mustangs have a familiar name nationally at QB in Christian McCaffrey. The senior has thrown for 1,594 yards, with 23 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. The Raiders have won 5 in a row. The series started in 2022 and the teams are 2-2 against each other.
Melissa at McKinney North at McKinney ISD Stadium
This game is a battle of second-place teams in District 5-5A Division I, with both entering with a 4-1 mark in district play. McKinney North is 7-1, while Melissa is 5-3. The Bulldogs have won straight since a 3-point loss to Frisco Reedy, their only setback. Melissa enters on a 4-game winning streak. Jeremiah “Bear” Tabor has run for 1,132 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Frisco at Frisco Panther Creek at Ford Center at the Star
This game has big playoff implications as far as seedings go coming out of District 4-5A Division I. Anna is in first, but Frisco and Celina both have one loss in district. Frisco is 7-2 overall with a loss to Anna. Panther Creek is 6-2 and is 4-2, with losses to Celina and Anna. A loss here would not be good, with Frisco Emerson sitting at 3-3 in district.Friday, Oct. 30
Allen at McKinney Boyd at McKinney ISD Stadium
The No. 2-ranked Eagles will play their penultimate game of the year against McKinney Boyd. The Eagles are 8-0 overall and at 5-0 in District 6-6A, they have a chance to have another undefeated regular season. McKinney Boyd is 2-6 overall and at 1-4; they are tied for next to last in the district standings. Allen is coming off scoring a season-high 77 last week against Dallas Jesuit.
Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt at Fort Worth Arlington Heights at Farrington Field
The District 4-5A Division I title will likely be wrapped up at the end of this game. Both squads enter with identical 8-0 records overall and 5-0 in district play. Wyatt is having its best season in decades behind QB Kentrell Steward, who has thrown for 901 yards and 15 scores. On the ground, the senior has 1,228 yards and 11 TDs. Arlington Heights, dating back to 2004, is 17-3 in this series.
Denton Braswell at Lewisville at Max Goldsmith Stadium
Lewisville kept its win streak alive last week, while Braswell lost by a field goal against then-last-place Frisco Wakeland. This game doesn’t have the same appeal since the Bengals are 3-2 in District 5-6A play, but they are 6-2 overall. Taelyn Mayo’s pick-6 and Laykon Brassfield’s late touchdown run helped the Fighting Farmers rally to stay undefeated in district play, 5-0. Now, Lewisville is 5-3 overall and winners of 5 in a row on paper and 8 in a row based on games.
Anna at Celina at Bobcat Stadium
This is a longtime rivalry, albeit one that isn’t played every year. But the first game between these two came in 1935. Anna has won the past two meetings and is 8-0 heading into this game and ranked No. 6 in the state. Celina was previously ranked, but after losing to Frisco, they fell out of the state rankings. The Bobcats, led by freshman quarterback Zane LaCrue, are 7-1 and, with only one loss in district play, could force a logjam at the top with a win.
Grapevine at Colleyville Heritage at Panther-Mustang Stadium
For the past few years, this game hasn’t had big district implications. However, it is still a rivalry game with something to play for — the Red Rail, a piece of railroad track that goes to the winner. The Panthers have dominated the series overall, 16-6, since 2004. During the last 7 meetings, the Panthers (4-4, 2-2 in District 3-5A Division II) are 6-1. Grapevine (3-5 and 1-3) could get in the playoff mix with a win. Heritage’s Lane Vargas may be one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the metroplex.
Prosper at Prosper Walnut Grove at Children’s Health Stadium
Both teams enter with 7-1 records and this will probably settle who gets 2nd place in the district behind Allen — barely any upsets the last two weeks of the regular season. Walnut Grove WR Landon Dean was nearly unstoppable last week, with 13 catches for 174 yards and 3 touchdowns vs. Princeton. Given the success of Tyler Alberts at QB for Prosper — 1,581 yards and 21 TDs — this game could see 80 or more passes and 1,000 yards of total offense.
Austin St. Stephen's Episcopal at Episcopal School of Dallas at Gene & Jerry Jones Family Stadium
This Southwest Prep Conference clash features one of the best in Episcopal Dallas, which enters with a 9-0 record. QB Miles Link has thrown for 1,239 yard and 13 TDs. Five different receivers have hauled in touchdowns this year. St. Stephens is 0-8 overall and has been outscored 402-104 this season. Don’t think the points allowed will hit 500 after this game, but it could be a lopsided outcome.