Euless Trinity (4-0, 1-0) at San Angelo Central (4-1, 1-0):
The unbeaten Trojans take a long trip down to the Concho Valley this week to take on pre-season 3-6A co-favorite San Angelo Central. Trinity had no trouble last Thursday beating arch-rival Hurst Bell for the 21st straight time 40-13. THS scored on its first five drives as RB Brandon Theus ran for 195 yards and two touchdowns, while QB Laki Ellis accounted for three total touchdowns. Trinity’s physical defense continues to set the tone as well and will have laser focus this week on San Angelo sophomore QB Malachai Brown. Brown accounted for all four Bobcats touchdowns in a much closer than anticipated 26-21 win over Weatherford.

Central has been decimated this season by injuries not only at the QB position (Texas Tech commit Maverick McIvor in Week 3); but the entire offense has been hit hard with the injury bug. That’s not a good recipe this week against one of the state’s most physical teams. The game being at Bobcat Stadium will give San Angelo a boost and a big home crowd is expected, but a good defense and running game travels well and that’s the formula for success with Trinity.
Stepp’s Pick: Euless Trinity by 16

Coppell (3-1, 1-0) at Lewisville Hebron (3-1, 1-0):
District play opened up last week for both teams and for district-favorite Coppell, it definitely wasn’t a performance most expected as the heavily-favored Cowboys struggled with Irving MacArthur. CHS needed a 25-yard touchdown run from Ryan Hirt with 1:29 left in the game to escape MacArthur’s upset bid in a 28-21 win. They can’t play that poorly this week and expect to get past a very good Hebron squad.

The Hawks were a big favorite over Irving Nimitz last week and held up their end of the bargain with a 40-21 victory. Oklahoma commit WR Trejan Bridges had a monster night as he had six catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns, he ran for 38 yards and a touchdown and he returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown. The Hawks look to be a more explosive team overall, but Coppell has a big time star of its own in two-way playmaker Jonathan McGill. Expect him to shadow Bridges a lot to try and contain Hebron’s dynamic playmaker. Coppell’s defense and punishing rushing attack will be the key in what looks to be an absolute slugfest.
Stepp’s Pick: Coppell by 3

Belton (4-1, 3-0) at Temple (4-0, 2-0):
The District 12-6A title could be decided in Temple on Friday as longtime and often bitter rivals Belton and Temple hook up. After a slow start, Belton got going in the second half rolling past a game Killeen Shoemaker squad, 42-20. QB Connor Carothers finished with 312 yards passing and five touchdowns passing along with adding 52 yards and a score on the ground. Most of that damage was done in the final two frames as Belton led Shoemaker just 13-7 at the half.

Temple’s last game was also against Killeen Shoemaker as the Wildcats rolled two weeks ago against the Wolves with an easy 42-6 win. Temple had the week off last week and coming into this matchup, that in my view is a massive advantage. QB Jared Wiley is committed to Texas to play tight end, but he’s been outstanding leading the Wildcats offense which has one of the state’s most underrated receivers in Quinton Johnson. THS also has the running game going in the win with RB De’Jon Overton rushing for 196 yards and pair of touchdowns. If Temple can consistently get the running game going, it's going to be a handful for any team on the schedule.
Stepp’s Pick: Temple by 8