Texas Football

By Travis Stewart/Texas Football -- Eight games that embody the weekend of football in Class 4A.

Can't get enough 4A action tonight? Make sure you know where you're headed tonight and tomorrow by checking out our 4A Games to Watch segment. Our 5A piece was published this morning, and 3A-1A hits the web at 11:30. Make sure to catch all three before you book your travel schedule.

Big Spring at Wolfforth Frenship, 7:30 PM
Notes: Despite a scary moment last week, when Frenship LB Xavier Salas had to be carted off the field and taken to an ambulance after temporarily losing feeling in his extremities following a collision, Frenship rallied for a victory with a second-half offensive surge and a stingy defensive effort. Big Spring will need to cloud up Frenship's strong offensive line and RB Bobby Huey, who rushed for more than 130 yards last week. But Frenship's home crowd may be too much to overcome this time around.
DCTF's pick: Frenship 31, Big Spring 22
Jerry Forrest's pick: Frenship by 21

Red Oak at Lake Dallas, 7:30 PM
Notes: Red Oak's defense laid the lumber on North Garland last week, shutting out the opposition while also scoring on a long-fumble return to all but put the game away in the third quarter. Lake Dallas likely won't stand for a shutout, not with dual-threat QB Dalyn Williams, who rushed for 155 yards and two scores last week, under center. But if Red Oak can set the pace and keep Williams in check, they'll improve to 2-0.
DCTF's pick: Red Oak 24, Lake Dallas 17
Jerry Forrest's pick: Red Oak by 7

Sherman at Little Elm, 7:00 PM
Notes: Little Elm found itself in a tit-for-tat shootout last week against Greenvlle until the defense finally settled down — Elm scored the final 21 points of the game, 14 of which came in a shutout second-half effort that killed the game's drama rather quickly out of the halftime tunnel. Like Lake Dallas in the previous game, Sherman, which rang up 50 points last week, is a stiffer test. Expect the latter to win this one with offense again.
DCTF's pick: Sherman 37, Little Elm 29
Jerry Forrest's pick: Sherman by 7

Wylie at West Mesquite, 7:30 PM
Notes: Trevone Boykin, West Mesquite's star dual-threat quarterback, was even better than advertised last week, rushing for 212 yards and three touchdowns while adding another 165 yards and a score through the air. So Wylie, which just tow years ago graced a 5A state title game, has some work to do. There's good news and bad news — Wylie held Sachse to just 21 points last week, but gave up way too much yardage on the ground. Boykin could have a field day in such conditions.
DCTF's pick: West Mesquite 38, Wylie 29
Jerry Forrest's pick: West Mesquite 3

Lancaster at Dallas Lincoln, 7:30 PM
Notes: There's going to be a lot of athleticism on this field tonight, as both teams offer a variety of college-bound talents on offense and defense. But getting a cohesive product on the field is the hardest thing — has Lancaster hit the perfect balance? Lancaster shutout Carter last week, 20-0, behind a dominant defensive effort that opened the scoring for the night and then kept the Cowboys running game on ice. Lincoln's strong running game, led by Trevante Ebron, will have to do better to get a win.
DCTF's pick: Lancaster 24, Lincoln 16
Jerry Forrest's pick: Dallas Lincoln by 6

Crosby at Port Neches-Groves, 7:30 PM
Notes: The Indians' crushing loss last week to Gregory-Portland, which went from a blown lead to a stuffed fourth-down attempt with precious little time remaining, can't have a hangover effect, or else a Crosby team that's hoppin' mad from a bad beat to Montgomery will roll the purple tide right over. Dominic Merka, Crosby's big-bodied quarterback, was very good on the ground last week. Either the PN-G defense has to step up, or QB Brennan Doty needs to match him through the air. If we don't see either scenario develop, PN-G could be 0-2.
DCTF's pick: Port Neches-Groves 31, Crosby 29
Jerry Forrest's pick: PN-G by 6

Clute Brazoswood at Angleton, 7:00 PM
Notes: Speaking of hangover effect, Angleton's head has to still be swimming after a whirlwind loss to Friendswood last week. Despite a brilliant 200+ yard rushing performance out of QB and UT pledge Quandre Diggs, an Angleton defense that coughed up 35 first-quarter points couldn't stay out of its own way. Now a perpetually underrated 5A Brazoswood team that looked excellent on both sides of the ball last week comes to town. Not good for Angleton.
DCTF's pick: Brazoswood 41, Angleton 30
Jerry Forrest's pick: Angleton by 4

CC Calallen at Gregory-Portland, 7:30 PM
Notes: Greogry-Portland is riding high after last week's win against Port Neches-Groves — not only did the Wildcats stuff the late fourth-down attempt with a handful of grit and heart, but they had to come back 14-0 down early on to do it. Kyle Fishbeck and Justin McArthur are both quick and savvy, so Calallen needs to locate and slow them early and often to put G-P on its heels. Not sure it can do that on the road with all of G-P's momentum in full swing.
DCTF's pick: Gregory-Portland 28, Calallen 24
Jerry Forrest's pick: Gregory-Portland by 2