GAMES
RANKINGS
DFW Football: Week 10/Week 6 Thursday Quick Looks
This week's slate of games started in earnest this week and they continue on Thursday night with a bevy of area games. We'll take a look at five interesting matchups and the big question concerning each.
Frisco Reedy (3-1, 2-0) vs. #9 Frisco Lone Star (1-2, 1-0)
Reedy's only loss this week was to 5A DII state-ranked Frisco back in Week 2. Since, it has mowed down Heritage and Independence in district play and now faces a ranked Lone Star team, which hasn't played since October 8, which was a 52-point win over Heritage. Lone Star opened the season with close losses to North Forney and Aledo, so questions began to come up as to how good the team really was this year.
Big question: Is Reedy back to being the contender is was in 2018 or will Lone Star prove it is still a cut above the rest in 5-5A DI?
Sachse (2-1, 2-0) vs. Rowlett (1-0, 1-0)
Sachse proved it is still a team to be reckoned with when it comes to 9-6A after a 22-point win over upstart Garland last week. Rowlett, on the other hand, played its first game of the year - five weeks into the season - and won soundly against North Garland. With this rivarly, records are thrown out as two of the last three meetings have been decided by one score.
Big question: Will Rowlett be able to get its first win in this series since 2015 or will Sachse continue its recent strong play?
Abilene Cooper (3-1, 2-0) vs. FW Arlington Heights (2-0, 0-0)
Coming off an 11-win season a year ago, Abilene Cooper is off to a strong start once again, having won three straight - including a 62-point win over Granbury last week. This is Arlington Heights' first district game of the season after two wins over other Fort Worth ISD schools in early October. In those wins, Heights scored 87 points and have only allowed two touchdowns. The two wins also matched the win total from a season ago.
Big question: Can Arlington Heights slow down the buzzsaw that is Abilene Cooper?
FW Southwest (2-2, 1-0) vs. Carrollton Creekview (0-3, 0-1)
In all of the change in realignment this year, one of the oddest changes was the inclusion of Grapevine and Carrollton Creekview in with Fort Worth ISD teams in 4-5A DII. That lends itself to this matchup of two teams trending in opposite directions. Southwest, after a 3-8 season last year, is already looking to equal that win total after a 34-point win last week over Trimble Tech. Creekview has not been in the playoffs since 2015 and has only mustered 10 points in three games this year.
Big question: Can Creekview get in the win column or will Southwest stay atop the district standings?
Dallas Pinkston (2-2, 1-2) vs. Dallas Carter (1-3, 1-2)
Dallas Carter got over the hump last week with a win over rival Wilmer-Hutchins - also picking up its first win of the year in the process. Pinkston has alternated between wins and losses this year, but has double the win total from a season ago.
Big question: Can Carter ride the momentum from last week or can Pinkston snap a 12-game losing streak against Carter?
Veteran-Laden Teams Lead a Stacked 3-5A
District 3-5A DI
Azle
Fort Worth Boswell
Crowley
Fort Worth Arlington Heights
Fort Worth Brewer
Granbury
Fort Worth South Hills
Saginaw
Fort Worth Chisholm Trail
Veteran-Laden Teams Lead a Stacked 3-5A
In 3-5A Division I, it's hard to argue against the same outcome happening in 2019 that occurred in 2018, as far as playoff berths go. Last year, Azle, Crowley, Fort Worth Boswell and Fort Worth Brewer represented the district. With an average of 13 starters returning to each team, it's very likely the same four could make it back.
Azle, which enters the season ranked 8th in our 5A Top 10 rankings, brings back 13 starters from a year ago, including senior quarterback Drey Owen and senior running back Billy Copeland, the two of whom provided quite a dynamic duo last year. They combined for more than 1,900 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. On the other side, the defensive front seven will be key to helping a young secondary find its footing in 2019.
Fort Worth Boswell, despite having its starting quarterback missing for a number of games last year, finished 6-2 in district and brings back 15 starters from a year ago. With Brayden Thomas hopefully back at quarterback all season, Boswell should challenge Azle for the district title this year. The swing game could once again come down to the matchup with Crowley, which was won by the Eagles 41-35 at home.
Speaking of Crowley, they also challenge Azle for the district crown after also going 6-2 in district last year and bringing back 17 starters from a year ago. Despite losing only five starters from last year, the defense will be without a couple graduated players that have gone on to FBS schools. Still, Crowley has talent at all three levels on defense and brings back 30 lettermen from last year.
Sliding of Fort Worth Arlington Heights into the fourth and final playoff spot isn't much of a jump, considering the team made the playoffs five straight years from 2013-17 and would have made it six straight had it not loss to Fort Worth Brewer by four to open district play. Arlington Heights brings back 13 starters and 30 lettermen from last year, including a trio of linebackers ready to improve upon last year. Bryce Long is back at running back after a 2018 campaign where he racked up more than 1,200 yards on the ground.
As mentioned at the top, all four teams could return to the playoffs from a year ago, but our forecast has Fort Worth Brewer just missing it because of the amount of talent returning to the teams above. Brewer only has 15 lettermen back with only seven starters remaining from the 2018 team. With a lot of turnover on both sides of the ball, it could take a while for those units to gel.
VYPE Preseason Awards
MVP: LB Ricky Firman, Azle
Offensive MVP: QB Drey Owen, Azle
Defensive MVP: LB Gannon Slovacek, Fort Worth Boswell
Breakout Player of the Year: QB Kevin Miller, Crowley
Sleeper Team: Granbury
































