This is a key game in District 5-4A Division I play as both are 1-0 in district. They are also two of the four teams in the district that are 3-1, along with Kennedale and Fort Worth Carter-Riverside. The Benbrook Bobcats quarterback Lucas Davis went over the 1,000-yard mark last week and has thrown for 1,036 yards with 11 touchdowns compared to only three interceptions. The Highlanders have a more balanced approach with running back Chris Johnson averaging 150 yards per game. He’s scored 13 touchdowns in four games for Eastern Hills, which won a playoff game last year for the first time since 1999.
Melissa at Frisco Heritage at Ford Center at The Star
Melissa is in a tough spot coming into the game on a 3-game losing streak. Granted, the losses have come to a Class 6A-ranked team in Denton Guyer and 5-point losses to Rockwall and Frisco Lone Star. Expectations are high at Melissa, but a win here evens the Cardinals' district record at 1-1 in District 5-5A Division I play. Jeremiah “Bear” Tabor has run for 429 yards and 6 touchdowns for Melissa. The Coyotes are also 1-3 and 0-1 and coming off a loss to McKinney North. Zalyn Providence is averaging 12.7 tackles per game for Heritage.
Friday, Oct. 2
Argyle at Eagle Mountain at Knight Stadium
Argyle is one of the hottest 1-loss teams in DFW. The Eagles are 4-1 with four wins in a row since dropping the opener against Oak Ridge (California). Quarterback Hayes Hackney has already put up monster numbers — 94-for-128 for 1,542 yards with 19 touchdowns. Eagle Mountain is 1-4 overall and dropped its opener in District 3-5A Division II to Nevada Community and now faces No. 4 Argyle.
Denton Guyer at Denton Braswell at Carrico Stadium
This is a solid matchup in District 5-6A with Denton Guyer coming in ranked No. 10 in the Associated Press/Dave Campbell’s Texas Football poll and ranked No. 7 in the VYPE DFW rankings. Denton Braswell is 4-0 and, like Guyer, is 1-0 in district play. Sophomore running back Chris Lark ran for 163 yards and 2 scores for the Bengals last week against Flower Mound. If history is any indicator, the Guyer Wildcats should be the favorite. Since the series started in 2020, Guyer has won all 6 meetings vs. Braswell.
Frisco Legacy Christian at Dallas Parish Episcopal at Fleeger Field at Gloria H. Snyder Stadium
Harrison Phillips had two touchdown catches to help Dallas Parish Episcopal escape with a 20-17 win over Dallas Bishop Lynch last week. The Panthers are 4-2 heading into this TAPPS Division I District 1 game. Frisco Legacy Christian is coming off a big win, 43-39, against Plano Prestonwood Christian. It was the Eagles’ first win against one of the DFW TAPPS powerhouse programs, but is 0-3 vs. Parish. Wide receiver Braden Harbour is averaging 133 yards per game and has 9 touchdowns in five games.
Dallas Highland Park at North Richland Hills Richland at Birdville ISD Fine Arts/Athletic Complex
Class 5A Division I No. 9th ranked Richland hosts Dallas Highland Park in a big District 6-5A Division I matchup. Both squads won district openers last week and the winner of this one will have a leg up in the race for a district title. Birdville will have a say in the matter as well with a 5-0 and 1-0 mark. Ged Kates’ Richland Royals are also 5-0 and have one of the best backfields in the area with quarterback Brett Kates (949 yards passing, 10 touchdowns passing, 5 rushing touchdowns) and running back Jayshon Gibson (739 yards rushing, 14 touchdowns). Highland Park is 2-3, and in both wins the Scots have scored 38 points. QB Buck Randall is an SMU pledge who broke Matthew Stafford’s passing records for yards and touchdowns.
Lewisville at Frisco Wakeland at Toyota Stadium
Lewisville will look to continue its winning ways—a win in every game this season, but only 1-3 in the eyes of UIL. Last week, Aiden Evans ran for three touchdowns in a win against Flower Mound Marcus. The new QB1 for the Fighting Farmers will get a good test against a Wakeland team that was 11-2 last year. The Wolverines lost 35-7 to Denton Guyer last week in District 5-6A play. In both losses, the Wolverines scored only 7 points.