2020 Texas High School Football Playoffs: 6A-5A Area Round Preview

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Midland Lee (9-1) vs Euless Trinity (8-1), 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Arlington’s Globe Life Park: It’s a Saturday night special in Arlington as Midland Lee makes the trek east looking to punch their ticket to the regional semifinals as they take on an always tough Trinity squad. Midland Lee’s offense is one of the most explosive in the state led by QB Mikey Serrano and a cast of dynamic skill position players. Last week the Rebels put that offense on display in a 66-21 win over El Paso Montwood. Midland Lee put up 56 first half points as Serrano threw for 148 yards and three touchdowns passes, while also rushing for two scores. RB Makhilyn Young rushed eight times for 154 yards and a TD and added 48 receiving yards on three catches. Midland Lee didn’t play their starters in the second half. Trinity had to wait until Saturday for their playoff opener, but the Trojans wasted little time in burying Keller Timber Creek with their potent rushing attack, 44-20. Trinity ran out to a 38-3 lead after three quarters with a suffocating defense and 258 yards and four rushing touchdowns from RB Ollie Gordon. RB Gary Maddox chipped in 111 yards on the ground and two touchdowns as well. This is going to be an absolute shootout; both offenses strength’s play right into the weakness of the opposing side, so the question becomes which defense is going to find a way to get a stop or two each half. That edge goes to Trinity as their defensive line strength and ability to get pressure will force Midland Lee off the field a few times and allow their grinding rushing attack to take hold. Stepp’s Pick: Euless Trinity by 10

Cy-Fair (10-1) vs Katy Tompkins (9-0), 6 p.m. Friday at Katy’s Legacy Stadium: The Region III Division I race really heats up this week with several big-time matchups in the Houston area and this showdown headlines the slate. Cy-Fair didn’t show any signs of a hangover last week after dropping their regular season finale as the Bobcats blew past Houston Westside, 47-7. RB LJ Johnson ran for 154 yards and two scores in limited action, while QB Carter Cravens tossed four touchdown passes to lead the Bobcats. Tompkins had no trouble in their playoff opener rolling past Fort Bend Travis, 42-10. The Falcons defense, which has been among the state’s best all year, stifled an explosive Travis offense and even chipped in a touchdown of their own. Although Alabama QB commit Jalen Milroe gets a lot of the headlines (and he did throw a pair of touchdown passes), this is a Tompkins team that has plenty of punch with the running game. RB Marquis Shoulders ran for 118 yards and a touchdown last week, while Sherman Smith added 49 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Expect a low-scoring defensive slug-fest. The difference in this one is Milroe and the Tompkins offense; he gives the Falcons a dimension that Cy-Fair doesn’t have and that Falcons offense makes plays late to get them to the regional semifinals. Stepp’s Pick: Katy Tompkins by 6

Rockwall-Heath (9-2) vs Temple (10-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Waco’s McLane Stadium: Rockwall-Heath HC Mike Spradlin faces his former school as the Heath Hawks and their high-powered offense look to pull the upset against the Temple Wildcats, the top team in the Super CenTex. Heath got off to a slow start against Garland last week, but hit a different gear in the second half blowing past the Owls 42-14. The game was tied at 14 at the break and then Heath’s offense got rolling, finishing with 546 yards on the evening. RB Zach Evans led the charge with 154 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while QB Josh Hoover threw for 295 yards and a touchdown. Temple’s defense was magnificent last week in their 38-0 shutout win over Waxahachie as the Wildcats allowed just 152 yards of offense and set the tone early with an interception return for a touchdown by LB Marshall Grays to give THS an early 7-0 lead. From there on out it was a clinic in all three phases of the game; QB Humberto Arizmendi threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for 119 yards to lead an efficient Temple attack. Both offenses are plenty potent, but the big edge in this showdown is with Temple’s defense. They have the speed and quickness to frustrate Heath and get a few stops and put the pressure on the Hawks defense, which at times has had their share of struggles. Stepp’s Pick: Temple by 10

San Antonio Brennan (9-1) vs Edinburg Vela (6-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Corpus Christi’s Buccaneer Stadium: With Judson’s loss in the bi-district round, the bracket in Region IV in 6A-Division II is now wide open. Two teams who are hoping to step into that void are both Brennan and Vela. Brennan opened up the playoffs with a dominant defensive effort as the Bears rolled past Del Rio 48-0 behind a defense that had a pair of interceptions and blocked a punt in the first 15 minutes helping the Bears race out to a 28-0 lead early in the second quarter. Edinburg Vela got pushed in their playoff opener, but the Sabercats were able to make the plays late to escape with a 38-33 win. QB AJ Sotelo had a hand in all five Vela touchdowns rushing for three scores and throwing for two more as Vela bounced back from an early 14-0 hole and a 20-17 halftime deficit to win the game. Vela’s limited schedule makes them a mystery especially considering this is their first game against an opponent from outside of the RGV. Vela’s offense is going to get tested in a big way against a fast and very physical defense from Brennan. But if Vela can hold up they’ll be able to hang in this game because Brennan isn’t an offense by design that’s going to throw up monster offensive numbers. Stepp’s Pick: San Antonio Brennan by 5

Denton Ryan (10-0) vs College Station (10-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Waco’s Waco ISD Stadium: Top ranked Denton Ryan, led by a defensive unit that boasts as many as seven future FBS signees, faces maybe their toughest test since non-district this week as they go toe to toe with explosive College Station. Last week Denton Ryan easily pushed aside overmatched Dallas Bryan Adams, dispatching the Cougars with ease in a 69-6 blowout win. Ryan scored eight touchdowns in the first half on just 27 plays before sitting their starters down at halftime. They held Bryan Adams to just 26 yards of offense in the first half. College Station won comfortably last week over Sherman, but could never quite put the Bearcats away in a 38-26 victory. The Cougars running back duo of Roderick Brown and Marquise Collins led the way as Brown had 223 yards and three touchdowns, while Collins ran for 104 yards and a touchdown. College Station is always a tough out in the playoffs, but this Ryan squad is just too dominant. Their ferocious defensive line controls the line of scrimmage and totally takes away College Station’s ability to establish any type of rushing attack and the Ryan offense led by Memphis commit QB Seth Henigan will hit the CSHS defense with big plays and deliver the knockout punch early. Stepp’s Pick: Denton Ryan by 24

Cedar Park (10-0) vs Richmond Foster (8-2), 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Waller’s Waller ISD Stadium: Two regional favorites meet up Thursday night in a game that should feature plenty of high-flying fireworks from two outstanding offensive teams. Cedar Park opened the playoffs with an offensive barrage blasting San Antonio Veterans Memorial 72-20. The Timberwolves, led by Texas State baseball commit QB Ryder Hernandez, threw up 51 first half points and the “Black Rain” defense was suffocating while the first team was in the game. Foster was dominant in their playoff opener as well as the Falcons had no trouble with Goose Creek Memorial in an easy 49-7 victory. WR Cody Jackson, an Oklahoma commit, had a pair of touchdown receptions in the game, while RB Xavier Smallwood added a pair of touchdown runs to help lift the Falcons to the easy win. The stakes are raised in this game with two top 10 teams going at it. Foster can beat anyone, but they’ve played a brutal slate the past few weeks; how beat up are they is a big question mark. Cedar Park is fresher and they have the better defense going into this showdown. Lean is to the guys from the Austin area. Stepp’s Pick: Cedar Park by 7

South Oak Cliff (9-2) vs Frisco (7-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Dallas’ Kincaide Stadium: It’s the rubber match between these two DFW 5A-Division II powers. SOC took the first meeting in 2018 before Frisco evened the score last season with a superior defensive effort. This year’s showdown takes place on the Golden Bears’ turf. SOC had last week off as the Golden Bears scheduled first round opponent Arlington Seguin fell victim to Covid-19 and was forced to forfeit. But this is a team that’s got major potential with a bevy of defensive playmakers and a rejuvenated offensive attack with QB Kevin Henry-Jennings, San Diego State commit RB Cam Davis and Texas Southern commit RB Mikeviun Titus. The Bears defense shines in the back seven led by Stanford DB commit Jimmy Wyrick, Arizona State commit LB Jaydon Williams and Boise State commit LB Jai Jones. The question in this one is how does SOC’s star-studded defense handle the unique challenge of the Frisco Wing-T attack? Frisco made a strong opening statement last week as the Raccoons drilled a good Royse City squad, 52-9. QB Caree' Green led the way with 102 yards and a touchdown and RB Syone Usma-Harper chipped in 60 yards and three touchdowns. Arkansas commit Chase Lowery (WR/DB) had a pair of interceptions and returned one for a touchdown and he added in 59 yards on offense and a rushing and receiving score. This one will be down to the wire, but the week of rest and the defensive headliners SOC brings to the table gives the Bears the edge in what should be an outstanding matchup. Stepp’s Pick: South Oak Cliff by 4

Liberty Hill (9-0) vs Boerne Champion (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Cedar Park’s Gupton Stadium: It’s an early playoff meeting between two of the favorites in Region IV in 5A-Division II. Defending regional champion Boerne Champion hooks up with a Liberty Hill team that hasn’t been challenged on the field all year, but is dealing with plenty of adversity off the field. Liberty Hill defeated Leander Glenn, 51-0, in its first game since the death of head coach Jeff Walker. Now the test gets much tougher as they go against a Boerne Champion squad eager to prove 2019 was no fluke. The Chargers got a look at the Slot-T offense last week as they mowed down Edcouch-Elsa, 56-19. QB Karon Kaiser threw three touchdown passes and RB Alex Rodriguez ran for three scores. Although Edcouch-Elsa didn’t have the experience, execution or tempo of Liberty Hill’s Slot-T offense, many of the defensive principles and coaching points will apply this week and that extra week will benefit the Chargers. Liberty Hill hasn’t played a close game since a 17-point win over Del Valle in Week 2, so how the Panthers respond to being challenged will be interesting. That being said, the emotion and the energy for Liberty Hill and their incredibly tough-to-stop offense carries the Panthers another round as they knock off Champion in a thriller. Stepp’s Pick: Liberty Hill by 6

 

Quick Picks

Allen (9-0) vs South Grand Prairie (7-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Arlington’s Globe Life Park Stepp’s Pick: Allen by 11

Odessa Permian (8-2) vs Southlake Carroll (8-1), 4 p.m. Friday at Abilene’s Anthony Field Stepp’s Pick: Southlake Carroll by 19

Lewisville (7-3) vs Arlington Martin (9-1), 7 p.m. Thursday at North Richland Hills’ Birdville Fine Arts/Athletics Complex Stepp’s Pick: Arlington Martin by 12

Dallas Skyline (5-4) vs Duncanville (7-1), 2 p.m. Saturday at Dallas’ Kincaide Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Duncanville by 33

Spring Westfield (7-1) vs Klein Cain (7-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Spring’s Planet Ford Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Klein Cain by 3

Rockwall (10-1) vs DeSoto (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Prosper’s Children’s Health Stadium Stepp’s Pick: DeSoto by 10

Spring (8-0) vs Klein Oak (4-4), 7 p.m. Friday at Klein’s Memorial Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Spring by 11

Galena Park North Shore (11-0) vs Pearland Dawson (10-0), 7 p.m. Thursday at Webster’s Challenger-Columbia Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Galena Park North Shore by 20

Jersey Village (6-5) vs Fort Bend Ridge Point (6-2), 4 p.m. Saturday at Katy’s Legacy Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Fort Bend Ridge Point by 14

Humble Atascocita (6-2) vs Pearland (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Houston’s Sheldon ISD Panther Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Humble Atascocita by 7

Round Rock (8-2) vs Cibolo Steele (7-3), 7 p.m. Friday at Round Rock's Reeves Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Round Rock by 8

Laredo United South (4-3) vs Mission (5-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Laredo's Johnson Student Activity Center Stepp’s Pick: Mission by 14

Austin Westlake (9-0) vs Smithson Valley (8-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Pflugerville’s The Pfield Stepp’s Pick: Austin Westlake by 27

San Antonio Stevens (6-4) vs Harlingen (6-0), 3 p.m. Saturday at Corpus Christi’s Buccaneer Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Harlingen by 2

Abilene (5-4) vs North Crowley (7-3), 7 p.m. Friday at Stephenville’s Memorial Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Abilene by 3

Denton Guyer (8-2) vs Arlington (5-5), 3:15 p.m. Saturday at Arlington’s Globe Life Park Stepp’s Pick: Denton Guyer by 21

San Angelo Central (5-5) vs Haslet Eaton (8-3), 7 p.m. Thursday at Abilene’s Anthony Field Stepp’s Pick: San Angelo Central by 5

Prosper (6-3) vs Arlington Bowie (8-1), 1 p.m. Saturday at Grapevine’s Mustang-Panther Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Prosper by 10

Tyler Legacy (6-5) vs Cedar Hill (8-1), 2 p.m. Saturday at Mesquite’s Memorial Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Cedar Hill by 18

Conroe Oak Ridge (6-5) vs Tomball Memorial (10-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Tomball’s Tomball ISD Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Tomball Memorial by 13

Spring Dekaney (6-3) vs Cypress Bridgeland (11-0), 7 p.m. Thursday at Cypress’ Cy-Fair FCU Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Cypress Bridgeland by 14

Houston Lamar (6-2) vs Katy (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Katy’s Rhodes Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Katy by 27

Houston King (8-3) vs Alvin Shadow Creek (5-3), 7 p.m. Friday at Webster’s Challenger-Columbia Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Alvin Shadow Creek by 12

Houston Heights (7-1) vs Katy Taylor (8-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Houston’s Delmar Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Katy Taylor by 22

Beaumont West Brook (5-5) vs Clear Falls (6-3), 7 p.m. Friday at Galena Park’s Galena Park ISD Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Beaumont West Brook by 6

Austin Vandegrift (8-2) vs San Antonio Roosevelt (7-3), 2 p.m. Saturday at Buda’s Shelton Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Austin Vandegrift by 5

Buda Hays Consolidated (7-3) vs San Antonio Johnson (9-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Buda’s Shelton Stadium Stepp’s Pick: San Antonio Johnson by 10

San Antonio Taft (7-3) vs PSJA North (5-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Corpus Christi’s Cabaniss Stadium Stepp’s Pick: San Antonio Taft by 14

El Paso Del Valle (5-1) vs Red Oak (7-2), 2 p.m. Thursday at Big Spring’s Memorial Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Red Oak by 39

Lubbock Coronado (11-0) vs Azle (9-2), 3 p.m. Saturday at Lubbock’s Lowery Field Stepp’s Pick: San Lubbock Coronado by 6

Mansfield Summit (5-4) vs Amarillo Tascosa (8-2), 5 p.m. Saturday at Wichita Falls’ Memorial Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Amarillo Tascosa by 8

Colleyville Heritage (7-0) vs Amarillo (7-3), 6 p.m. Friday at Wichita Falls’ Memorial Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Colleyville Heritage by 9

Lancaster (10-0) vs Longview (8-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mesquite’s Memorial Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Longview by 2

Highland Park (9-0) vs Frisco Independence (5-4), 7 p.m. Thursday at Arlington’s Globe Life Park Stepp’s Pick: Highland Park by 23

Magnolia (10-1) vs Frisco Lone Star (6-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Corsicana’s Tiger Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Magnolia by 3

Fort Bend Hightower (4-4) vs Pflugerville Hendrickson (7-3), 7 p.m. Friday at Waller’s Waller ISD Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Fort Bend Hightower by 14

Manvel (7-1) vs Dripping Springs (9-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bryan’s Green Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Manvel by 22

New Braunfels Canyon (10-1) vs Katy Paetow (9-1), 6 p.m. Thursday at Katy’s Legacy Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Katy Paetow by 21

Eagle Pass Winn (5-2) vs Victoria West (7-3), 7 p.m. Thursday at San Antonio’s Comalander Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Victoria West by 28

San Antonio Southside (9-1) vs Corpus Christi Flour Bluff (9-1), 7 p.m. Thursday at San Antonio’s Alamo Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Corpus Christi Flour Bluff by 8

Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (10-0) vs San Antonio Legacy (8-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday at San Antonio’s Alamo Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial by 27

Weslaco East (5-0) vs San Antonio Southwest (5-6), 6 p.m. Friday at San Antonio’s Farris Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Weslaco East by 14

El Paso Parkland (7-1) vs Canyon Randall (5-5), 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Odessa’s Ratliff Stadium Stepp’s Pick: El Paso Parkland by 3

El Paso Burges (3-2) vs Wichita Falls Rider (8-2), 6:30 p.m. Friday at Odessa’s Ratliff Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Wichita Falls Rider by 34

Lubbock Cooper (9-1) vs Clint Horizon (4-3), 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Pecos’ Eagle Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Lubbock Cooper by 41

Grapevine (8-3) vs Canutillo (5-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Big Spring’s Memorial Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Grapevine by 38

Aledo (8-1) vs North Forney (9-1), 3:15 p.m. Friday at Arlington’s Globe Life Park Stepp’s Pick: Aledo by 8

Lovejoy (11-0) vs Everman (6-5), 11 a.m. Friday at Arlington’s Globe Life Park Stepp’s Pick: Lovejoy by 16

Ennis (9-0) vs Mansfield Timberview (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Midlothian’s Midlothian ISD Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Ennis by 9

Texarkana Texas High (11-0) vs Crosby (8-3), 7 p.m. Friday at Nacogdoches’ Bryce Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Texarkana Texas by 7

Huntsville (10-0) vs Barbers Hill (6-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Shenandoah’s Woodforest Bank Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Huntsville by 10

Fort Bend Marshall (10-0) vs Montgomery (8-3), 7 p.m. Friday at Porter’s Randall Reed Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Montgomery by 4

Nederland (8-3) vs Longview Pine Tree (9-1), 2 p.m. Saturday at Nacogdoches’ Bryce Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Nederland by 6

Leander Rouse (9-1) vs Mercedes (6-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Victoria’s Memorial Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Leander Rouse by 25

Alamo Heights (7-2) vs Georgetown East View (6-4), 7 p.m. Friday at San Antonio’s Comalander Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Alamo Heights by 16

Mission Pioneer (6-0) vs Marble Falls (7-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday at San Antonio’s Heroes Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Mission Pioneer by 5

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