While the heaviest hitters in Conference 6A play Friday and Saturday, Thursday finds several ranked teams with title aspirations in action to kick off the Area round of the state playoffs.

2A D1 No. 1 Refugio vs Thorndale, 6:30 pm, TexanLive.com

Thorndale has won five straight games by at least 23 points and looks to prove that there is indeed strength in numbers, using a four-pronged rushing attack to run past opponents. Michael Herzog, Cain Brymer, Jagger Rubio and Colt Cauble have all rushed for more than 500 yards this season. Top-ranked Refugio boasts a fast-paced, high-scoring offense that features Austin Ochoa. The teams are familiar foes, having met in the playoffs in 2018 (Refugio 49-14) and 2017 (Refugio 47-13).

5A D1 No. 4 Highland Park vs Magnolia, 7pm, TexanLive.com

The three-time defending state champions have cruised since a 30-19 loss to top-ranked Frisco Lone Star on Sept. 13. The Scots must stay focused on the task at hand…a win over Magnolia will bring a rematch with Lone Star should the Rangers win their Area game tomorrow. Chandler Morris has passed for 3,138 yards and 35 touchdowns. Led by junior running back Mitch Hall (1,958 yards), the Bulldogs have won four straight games.

Corpus Christi Miller vs San Antonio Southwest, 7pm, TexanLive.com

Corpus Christi Miller continues its storybook season. The unbeaten Buccaneers won their third game by a touchdown or less in beating Brownsville Pace last Thursday. Andrew Body threw three more touchdown passes an, raising his season total to 40 (against just one 1 interception), and ran for a fourth score to lead the Bucs. Southwest’s defense forced two Harlandale turnovers in the final 4:47 to hang on to a 17-14 win. Makhi Johnson’s 46-yard grab of Matthew Luna’s pass provided the winning points.

Cy Creek vs Katy Mayde Creek, 7pm, TexanLive.com

The state’s only 6A playoff game Thursday features a Houston area battle of Creeks looking to move on to the third round. Cy Creek battles Katy Mayde Creek. Cy Creek quarterback Julian Uwadia threw for 301 yards and four touchdown passes to lead the Cougars past Westside 41-21. Mayde Creek got several fortuitous bounces and survived a pair of lost fumbles in the closing minutes of a 27-21 upset of Fort Bend Bush last week. Donte Jones recovered his own fumble en route to scoring the winning touchdown.

4A D1 No. 1 Argyle vs Stephenville

The top-ranked Eagles have been flying high, topping the 50-point mark seven times this season, most recently last week against Dallas Carter. Cole Kirkpatrick scored touchdowns on three of his six catches. He’s caught a touchdown pass in every Argyle game. Stephenville is one of the teams that held Argyle under 50, little consolation during a season-opening loss. Stephenville needs another big effort from Kason Philips, who rushed for more than 100 yards in the first meeting with Argyle.

4A D1 No. 4 Decatur vs Clint Mountain View

Mountain View held off feisty 2-win Big Spring to score its first playoff win since it started playing football in 1990. Hector Nevarez ran for 203 yards – his third 200-yard game in the last four – and three scores to pace the Lobos. Their reward: a date with fourth-ranked Decatur. The Eagles haven’t been tested since a 38-31 win over Springtown. Roman Fuller has thrown for 3,335 yards and Gunner Ragsdale has rushed for more than 1,400 yards.

3A D1 No. 3 Malakoff vs Jefferson

The third-ranked Tigers embarked on what they hope is a return trip to AT&T Stadium with a 49-3 win over Commerce. Dedric Davis needed just five carries to gain 102 yards, and Malakoff sprinted out of the gate to take a 28-3 first-quarter lead. Kylan Thomas rushed for 127 yards, passed for another 95 and totaled three touchdowns to help Jefferson end West Rusk’s seven-game win streak.

2A D1 No. 3 San Saba vs Collinsville

San Saba’s used a suffocating defense to compliment a high-scoring offense, allowing 64 points all season. The Armadillos gave up 20 of those points last week and will look to get back into form against Collinsville. Eli Salinas and Sean O’Keefe lead the ‘Dillos’ hard-charging run game while Landon Yarbrough and Risien Shahan have combined for 49 tackles for loss to pace the defense. Collinsville blocked a Wolfe Creek field goal on the game’s final play to advance last week.

2A D1 No. 5 Hawley vs New Deal

One of the most anticipated Area matchups pits unbeaten Hawley against 10-1 New Deal. Hawley hasn’t been tested since a two-game September stretch that saw wins over Hamlin and Albany. Colton Marshall leads a dominating Hawley rushing attack with 2,798 yards and 41 touchdowns. New Deal’s only blemish is a loss to unbeaten Post. The Lions rely on Leric Eaton and Haden Caudill, who have combined for 32 rushing touchdowns.

2A D2 No. 5 Hamlin vs Quanah

Quanah rebounded from a rough non-district schedule to punch its playoff ticket with three wins in its final four games, then upset Santo 28-26 to stick around. The Indians’ defense forced four turnovers and stopped a tying two-point conversion late in the game. Their prize is fifth-ranked Hamlin, which won its fifth straight game by thumping Menard 64-16. The Pied Pipers follow the lead of Braydin Warner and Jevon Williams.