GAMES
RANKINGS
Allen quarterback Ty Snell has guided the Eagles to an unbeaten record in his first season starting.
5 Things We Learned From Week 7 of UIL Football Around the Metroplex
There are only a few more weeks of the regular season for Texas high school football around the metroplex.
Let’s dive into five storylines that followed after games played in Week 7.
Still unbeaten
There were a few games bigger last weekend than North Crowley and Waxahachie. The Fort Worth school went to Waxahachie and picked up a dominating 42-17 win.
That means there will be a new No. 1 team in Class 6A in the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football/Associated Press poll. Heading into that game, three of the top four teams in the state were from the DFW area. Defending Class 6A Division I champion Galena Park North Shore was the only non-Dallas area team in that grouping.
Waxahachie will fall, but they have wins over two teams in the top-10 last week: No. 9 Coppell and No. 10 Denton Guyer.
Keller needed every point and almost every minute to rally for a win over Trophy Club Byron Nelson, 49-42. That win extends the Indians’ win streak to 6-0, the best record for the program since 1967.
Byron Nelson had a 42-28 lead before Blake Dyniewski’s TD run made it 47-42 and erased the 1-point deficit with less than 2 minutes left.
Speaking of unbeatens
Heading into Week 8, several teams secured wins last week, extending their winning streaks this season.
Of the UIL bunch, Anna and Celina are in the same district, so by virtue of that, there will be a team with a loss in that game — unlike the NFC East where ties happen. That matchup is on Oct. 30, assuming both keep winning.
There is also O.D. Wyatt and Fort Worth Arlington Heights are in the same district and also will play on Oct. 30. At the private school level, unbeaten Episcopal School of Dallas and Arlington Oakridge play this week, so at least one team from this list will have an L after Week 8.
Gone from the list is Prosper Walnut Grove, which lost 50-49 in overtime to Dallas Jesuit.
Here’s a glance at those without a loss so far:
UIL
- Arlington Martin
- Keller
- Allen
- Sachse
- North Crowley
- Fort Worth Arlington Heights
- Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt
- Frisco Lone Star
- Anna
- Celina
- Mansfield Timberview
- Mineral Wells
- Dallas Life Oak Cliff
- Collinsville
Private
- Dallas First Baptist
- Arlington Oakridge
- Episcopal School of Dallas
- Fort Worth Covenant Classical
- Irving Faustina Academy
* Asterisk* unbeaten
Lewisville improved to 3-3 on the year after a dominating 42-7 win against No. 10-ranked Denton Guyer.
The Fighting Farmers got two punt return scores from Deuce Mathis, who also threw a touchdown pass. The team is still unbeaten on the field and 0-3 in a boardroom decision.
The Dallas Morning News wrote that quarterback Laykon Brassfield’s family is looking for a court hearing to overrule the DEC decision to rule him ineligible. To flash back a bit, the Fighting Farmers were 3-0 when his residency issues led to Lewisville having to forfeit a 3-0 start.
Coach Michael Odle has guided his team through this rocky time with poise as they have won 40-7, 38-8 and 42-7 and are part of a 3-way tie for first place in District 5-6A. Denton Braswell and Hebron are tied with them at 2-0 in district play.
Hebron will play in Lewisville this week at Max Goldsmith Stadium in a key game.
Backup shines bright
North Richland Hills Richland and Birdville played on Friday, both coming off the 1st loss of the season.
In a battle to stay in second place in the district, the Royals rolled to a dominating win, 56-35. Quarterback Brett Kates accounted for 7 total touchdowns — 4 passing and 3 rushing.
However, one of the biggest storylines was the absence of Jayshon Gibson.
The UCLA pledge was hurt late against Dallas Highland Park and didn’t return in the team’s final drive of the game, an eventual loss.
The Royals turned to sophomore Isaiah White. He ran the ball 24 times for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns.
He’s a name to watch and he’s one some colleges already know.
He holds offers from Kansas State, Minnesota, Texas Tech, SMU, UTSA and UTEP, according to 247sports.com
Trey for 8
Frisco Lone Star standout quarterback Trey Wright threw for 7 touchdowns, breaking a school record in Week 6.
In Week 7, he did the same thing.
In a 69-7 win over Frisco Heritage, the USC pledge threw for 357 yards and 7 touchdowns. Five different receivers had touchdowns. Wright also had a TD run, giving him a hand in 8 of the touchdowns for the Rangers, now 6-0 overall and 3-0 in District 5-5A Division 1.
This week the Rangers face a 1-5 Frisco Centennial team that is coming off a 70-0 loss to Melissa.
Could Wright break the record again?
Bonus Nugget
Van Alstyne picked up an 83-26 win over Lake Worth. That is a new school record for points in a game, breaking the previous record. That previous mark was an 81-0 win over Cooper in 1931. To give context, UIL crowned only one football champion in the whole state back then.
North Richland Hill Richland running back Jayshon Gibson and the Royals will play Birdiville in a key District 6-5A Division I clash this week.
The Top 10 Games to Watch in Week 7 of DFW High School Football
Thursday, Oct. 8
Trophy Club Byron Nelson at Keller at Keller ISD Athletic Complex
Keller is one of the DFW area's surprise teams, with a 5-0 mark and 2-0 in District 4-6A play. The Indians were 5-6 last year and were only 5-5 in 2023. A win here for Carl Stralow’s bunch will secure a winning record. QB Matt McCroskey has thrown for 1,125 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first year starting. The Indians mix in a solid rushing game as well, with 1,379 yards this season. Blake Dyniewski has 11 touchdowns and has gained 873 yards on the ground.
Byron Nelson enters with a 3-2 record and a 1- 1 record in district play. The Bobcats were one of the teams that got a win that was a loss from the Lewisville eligibility issue, so technically saw a 3-game winning streak end last week vs. Keller Central. The Bobcats have won 6 in a row vs. Keller. The last win for Keller vs. Byron Nelson was in 2019. Sophomore Tre Green has 513 yards rushing and has scored 7 of the team’s 12 rushing scores.
Dallas Jesuit at Prosper Walnut Grove at Children’s Health Stadium
There are three teams undefeated in District 6-6A play and because of this game, there will be at most two after the clock hits zero.
Prosper Walnut Grove and Dallas Jesuit are 2-0 in district play, part of a three-way tie with Allen.
Walnut Grove enters with a 5-0 mark, while Jesuit is 3-2.
The undefeated Wildcats have not missed a beat at QB1 with Ashton Gosselin. He has moved into the role to replace now-Argyle quarterback Hayes Hackney and has thrown for 1,259 yards and 11 touchdowns in five games. Linebacker Jack Folkerts, who leads the team with 42 tackles, has picked up a lot of D-I offers lately. That list includes UCLA, Florida State, Texas Tech, Houston, North Texas, Michigan State and Toledo since Sept. 23.
Jesuit has won three in a row.
Friday, Oct. 9
Denton Guyer at Lewisville at Lewisville ISD Stadium
This is a battle of first-place teams in the District 4-6A teams, part of a four-way tie with Denton Braswell and Carrollton Hebron at 1-0 in district play. Lewisville has won 2 in a row and technically has not lost a game on the field this year with the 2-3 mark. The Fighting Farmers have scored 40 and 38 points, respectively, in their last two games and the defense has yielded 15 points in those two games. Devin Robinson and Javar Currington both average more than 10 tackles per game.
The Guyer Wildcats are 4-1 and have won two in a row since losing to No. 1-ranked Waxahachie on Sept. 10. Quarterback Carter Morgan has thrown for 1,355 yards this year, but the Wildcats have had more success in terms of touchdowns by running the ball.
DeSoto at Lancaster at Beverly D. Humphrey Tiger Stadium
The District 8-5A Division I standings have these two at the top of the standings with 2 wins in district play and the winner will be in a good spot to secure that No. 1 seed in the postseason. Lancaster enters with a 4-1 mark, while DeSoto is 3-2.
The Tigers had won four in a row since losing to defending Class 6A Division I champion Galena Park North Shore in Week 1.
DeSoto RB/QB SaRod Baker enters this game with 4,369 yards rushing and 64 touchdowns in his standout career. He had a season-high 4 touchdowns in the last game for the Eagles.
Birdville at North Richland Hills Richland at Birdville ISD Fine Art/Athletic Complex
A week ago, Birdville and Richland were undefeated and were part of a three-way tie for first in District 6-5A Division I. Now, they are both 5-1 and 1-1 in district, part of a four-way tie for second after both getting upset. No. 9-ranked Richland lost in a shootout with Dallas Highland Park, 45-42. RB Jayshon Gibson ran for 271 yards and had 5 total touchdowns in the loss for the Royals. Meanwhile, Birdville lost to Garland Naaman Forest.
The Hawks have a balanced offense with 1,200 yards passing and 1,037 yards rushing.
Mansfield at Duncanville at Panther Stadium
Since 2010, the two have played 10 times and it’s been evenly matched, with Duncanville holding a 6-4 lead. However, the Panthers have won the last four meetings. Both teams enter with 2-3 marks and each is 1-1 in District 11-6A. The key for Duncanville will be to limit Mansfield quarterback Brandon Ellis, who has thrown for 941 yards and 13 touchdowns and is also the team’s leading rusher with 480 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Duncanville has not lost three games since 2016 and hasn’t lost more than four games since 2015.
Flower Mound Marcus at Flower Mound at Neal E. Wilson Jaguar Stadium
An inner-city showdown will mean one team will get its first District 5-6A win. Flower Mound is 4-1, while Flower Mound Marcus is 2-3.
QB Baron Sampson has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in passing this year for the Jaguars. The Maurauders are 13-9 against the Jaguars, but Flower Mound has won the last four meetings. Marcus quarterback Cash Davis has thrown for 1,027 yards — while the rushing attack has picked up 559 yards.
North Crowley at Waxahachie at Lumpkins Stadium
This is the game of the week, something both teams have been a part of this year. The No. 1-ranked team will host the No. 3 team in probably the marquee battle in Class 6A and perhaps the entire state this week. Both teams are 5-0 overall and 2-0 in District 11-6A play and the winner will get a leg up on the hunt for a district title, but it is far from over. Duncanville still looms for Waxahachie late in the regular season. This game will feature plenty of Division I talent on both sides of the ball. The matchup we are looking forward to is this: Jerry Meyer III’s passing attack vs. the North Crowley secondary.
Meyer has thrown for 1,421 yards, 16 touchdowns and completed 70% of his passes for the Indians. The Panthers defense features a pair of Division I commitments in Jerry Outhouse (UCLA) and Elijajuan Houston (Arizona State) and sophomore Braylen Cunningham will be another one, since he has 21 offers.
Longview at Rockwall at Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium (7:30 pm.)
Longview, an East Texas powerhouse, will bring its potent running game to the metroplex. The Lobos have run for 1,220 yards and 20 touchdowns this year and the top four rushers, in terms of total yards, average 7 yards to 11.9 yards per carry. Jacaiden Davis’ 440 yards and 8 TDs pace that offense attack. Longview is 4-1 and the only loss came to Ruston, La., in Week 3. Rockwall is also 4-1 and, like Longview, is 2-0 in District 10-6A play.
The Yellowjackets have won 4 straight since losing to Prosper in the opener. Rockwall has run for 1,512 yards and has 1,222 yards passing this year.
Houston Kinkaid at St. Mark’s School of Texas at Norma & Lamar Hunt Family Stadium
Southwest Preparatory Conference Class 4A champion Houston Kinkaid comes to Dallas for a clash with St. Mark’s. Kinkaid is 3-3 overall, with a loss to Valor Christian from Colorado and in-state foes Houston St. Thomas Catholic and Dallas Parish Episcopal. Dating back to 2004, they have played 20 times, missing games in 2014 and 2020.
St. Mark’s is in the midst of a 15-game losing streak in the series, but won 5 straight from 2004 to 2008.