The Cooldown: Week 13
Happy Thanksgiving! There is plenty of good high school football to get out a go see this weekend and basketball has tipped-off around the state as well! The playoffs are starting to heat up for the small schools and we’ll preview some of the best playoff games in the area this weekend. We’re also in a crucial part of district play for the big schools with playoff pictures starting to take shape. Let’s take a look around the metroplex.
Lovejoy remains undefeated with win over Frisco
A battle of two undefeated teams went to Lovejoy 38-28 over a talented Frisco squad. Frisco led for the majority of the game before Lovejoy took over in a wild second half. R.W. Rucker finished with 313 total yards and three total touchdowns for Lovejoy in the win. Reid Westervelt and Luke Mayfield did the majority of the receiving. Frisco running back Syone Usma-Harper finished with 191 yards and three scores on the ground, but it wasn’t enough for the Raccoons, who dropped their first game of the season.
Denton Braswell upsets Prosper
Denton Braswell kept its playoff hopes alive with a win over Prosper last weekend. The Bengals lost an early lead but held Prosper to just three 2nd half points in a 41-24 win. Tristan McClary finished with 317 yards and four total touchdowns for the Bengals in the win. Cam Smith finished with 88 receiving yards and a score for Braswell. The Prosper offense really struggled in this game, especially in the 2nd half. The Eagles will need to make adjustments before a game with Allen this weekend.
Player of the Week
My player of the week is Arlington quarterback Kris Sims. Arlington defeated Lamar 31-21 in a game with massive playoff implications and Sims play is a big reason why. Sims finished with 179 yards on the ground and 178 yards through the air and accounted for all four Arlington touchdowns in the win. Arlington and Lamar are tied for fourth place in the district standing but the Colts hold the tiebreaker with the win.
Team of the Week
My team of the week is the Aledo Bearcats. There has been talk about Mansfield Timberview being the team to end Aledo’s district winning streak for several weeks now. The streak didn’t die on Friday night. Instead, Aledo went on the road and beat the Wolves 44-28. Demarco Roberts rushed for 193 yards and two touchdowns and JoJo Earle added 146 total yards and three total scores. Simeon Evans accounted for 344 yards and all four of Timberview’s touchdowns, but his effort wasn’t enough to ruin that legendary Aledo winning streak.
Games to Watch
Thanksgiving Day
Springtown @ Dumas
Football on Thanksgiving Day is a time-honored tradition in the state of Texas. The Dallas Cowboys play on Thanksgiving Day every year and Texas used to play Texas A&M on Thanksgiving Day as well. I would love for the Horns and Aggies to renew that tradition, but this year a high school game will take its place. Springtown will play Dumas in Big Spring on Thanksgiving. The winner of this one will get the winner of Decatur and Canyon in the next round. It just doesn’t get much better than football in Texas on Thanksgiving Day!
Friday, November 27
*Games in order of kickoff time.
Trinity @ Haltom
This one is for the district title! Both teams are undefeated in district play and will be in the playoffs. Trinity has steamrolled district opponents so far this season, but Haltom will be the toughest challenge for the Trojans. I have Trinity by a few touchdowns in this one- but I think the Haltom offense could hang around for a little bit. This one is a noon kickoff.
Keller @ Byron Nelson
This game has big playoff implications in District 4-6A. Byron Nelson is 2-2 and Keller is 1-3 in district play. If the Indians win, both teams will be 2-3 and Keller will hold the tiebreaker over Byron Nelson for the fourth playoff spot. Keller would also need Central to lose to Fossil Ridge this weekend or the Chargers enter a three-way tie for the last playoff spot. If Byron Nelson wins, the Bobcats playoff odds are looking good. If Central beats Fossil Ridge and Byron Nelson beats Keller, next weekend’s game between Byron Nelson and Central is for the last playoff spot. Clearly, there are many different ways this can go. This game is a noon kickoff.
Malakoff @ Grandview
This is a must-see playoff football game. It’s a rematch of the 2018 3A DI State Championship Game. These two teams faced off early in the season and Grandview won 31-24. Zebra quarterback Dane Jentsch has broken all kinds of state records- but there’s one he still has his eyes on. Jentsch is looking to become part of an elite fraternity of men who have quarterbacked three State Championship teams in the State of Texas. Malakoff is a really talented team and will give Grandview all it can handle this weekend. This game is a 1 p.m. kickoff at Waco ISD Stadium.
Flower Mound Marcus @ Lewisville
It’s the Battle of the Axe! Marcus takes on Lewisville in a battle for an axe and a battle for the top spot in District 6-6A. The offensive firepower in this game alone makes it one of the best games in the area. There will be plenty of highlights in this game and I can’t wait to see which team comes out on top. I am taking Marcus by two scores. This game is a 2 p.m. kickoff.
McKinney @ McKinney Boyd
More playoff implications! McKinney Boyd is 2-2 in district play and McKinney is 1-3 in district play. If McKinney can win this one, it would bring the Lions into a four-way tie for the third playoff spot in District 5-6A with Denton Braswell and Prosper, assuming they lose to Allen, at 2-3. Braswell has a bye week before having to play Allen. Prosper’s last game is against McKinney Boyd. There are many playoff scenarios in play if McKinney wins. The Lions need a win to keep their playoff hopes alive. McKinney is likely eliminated with a loss and McKinney Boyd is in good shape with a win. This game is a 2 p.m. kickoff.
Prosper @ Allen
We’ll keep it in District 5-6A! Allen is well on its way to another district championship. This game should go Allen’s way by a few touchdowns but Prosper has the playmakers to keep it close. Linebackers Aiden Siano and Mason Jolley will need to be effective in stopping the run against an Allen team that ran all over Denton Guyer a few weeks ago. A loss would drop Prosper’s district record to 2-3 and the Eagles would need to beat McKinney Boyd in order to guarantee a playoff spot the following week. This game is a 2 p.m. kickoff.
Hebron @ Plano West
Plano West is 3-2 in district play with games against Hebron and Plano left. Hebron is 2-1 in district play and hasn’t played a game since a Nov. 6 loss to Plano 42-38. The Hawks need a win to remain in playoff contention with Lewisville still left on the schedule. Both of these teams are in the playoff hunt and trying to fend off a 2-2 Coppell team that likely has two more district wins coming against Plano East and Flower Mound. The winner of this game will be in a much better position to make the playoffs. This game is a 2 p.m. kickoff.
Arlington Lamar @ South Grand Prairie
Arlington Lamar dropped to 2-3 in district play with a loss to Arlington last weekend. The Vikings need a win over 2-2 South Grand Prairie to get back in the playoff picture in District 8-6A. We know the top two teams will be Martin and Bowie, but South Grand Prairie, Arlington and Lamar are all in the hunt for the last two playoff spots. South Grand Prairie can just about eliminate Lamar’s chances at making the playoffs with a win. This game is a 2 p.m. kickoff.
Iowa Park @ Celina
The 4A DII playoffs roll on with Celina taking on Iowa Park this Friday. Celina’s season got off to a round start, but the Bobcats haven’t lost a game since the beginning of October and beat Sweetwater 37-22 last weekend. Iowa Park is 9-2 and beat Lubbock Estacado 42-21 last weekend. This game is a 6 p.m. kickoff at the University of North Texas.
Keller Central @ Keller Fossil Ridge
I talked about playoff scenarios in District 4-6A above but Byron Nelson, Central and Keller are all fighting for the last playoff spot with two weeks left to play. Southlake Carroll and Eaton have a stranglehold on the top two playoff spots and Keller Timber Creek sits in third place at 2-1 in district play. Timber Creek has yet to face Southlake Carroll or Eaton and is likely to finish 2-3 in district play. There is plenty of football left to be played, but every game is crucial at this stage. This game is a 7 p.m. kickoff.
DeSoto @ Duncanville
This is another candidate for game of the week. These are two of the most complete teams in the state. There aren’t really any big playoff implications in this one. If DeSoto wins, I believe it would create a three-way tie for first place in District 11-6A because Cedar Hill beat DeSoto and Duncanville beat Cedar Hill. Either way, this will be must see football. This game is a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Waco La Vega @ Argyle
This is the sixth game between the Pirates and the Eagles in the last three years. There is plenty of history here. Argyle won the regular season matchup- just like last year- but will this be the year Argyle finally defeats La Vega in the playoffs? We’ll find out on Friday night! This should be a great game, but I have Argyle winning and continuing its march back to a State Championship Game appearance. This game is a 7:30 p.m. kickoff in Joshua.