Lewisville (3-1, 1-0) at Coppell (4-0, 1-0): First place is on the line in 6-6A as Lewisville visits Coppell. The winner will seize total control of the district race.

Lewisville opened district play last week with an emphatic 34-7 win over Flower Mound. The Fighting Farmers got a big night from Jackson State commit QB Ethan Terrell, who threw for 249 yards and four touchdowns, while Tulsa commit RB Viron Ellison added 119 yards on the ground.

Lewisville’s defense, which has been the key to their success, limited Flower Mound to just 202 yards of offense.

Coppell’s defense, which struggled early in the year, appears to be rounding into form as the Cowboys have allowed just 21 total points the last two weeks.

The Cowboys rolled past Plano West, 55-7, last week as QB Edward Griffin threw for 237 yards and two scores along with one score on the ground. RB’s Xavier Mosely and O’Marion Mbakwe combined for 161 yards on the ground and four touchdowns. Coppell’s defense held Plano West to just 171 yards of offense on the night.

Expect a much closer contest than last year’s convincing Lewisville win, but the Farmers will be a very tough team to beat if they keep throwing the ball with efficiency.

Stepp’s Pick: Lewisville by 13

Mesquite Horn (3-2, 0-1) at Rockwall (4-1, 1-0): The high hopes Mesquite Horn had during the preseason are no more as the Jaguars offensive struggles continued to plague them in a 20-16 upset loss to North Forney.

Horn’s defense, which led by Oklahoma State commit Armstrong Nnodim, continues to play well, but the offense struggled, including an interception in the end zone late in the game.

Horn played two quarterbacks in the loss and the lack of a passing game is a concern as Horn threw for just 69 yards.

Rockwall got pushed by rival Rockwall-Heath last week, but the Yellowjackets managed to escape Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium with a 38-22 win. QB Mason Marshall threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns, while RB Ashton Emory ran for 199 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Rockwall’s defense is far from a shut-down unit, but they’ve made great strides this year and it’s made the ‘Jackets a much more well-rounded team.

Horn’s defense keeps them in it, but unless the offense totally does a 180, Rockwall pulls away in the second half.

Stepp’s Pick: Rockwall by 14

Galena Park North Shore (4-0, 1-0) at Sheldon C.E. King (4-0, 1-0): Things get real in 21-6A this week with a matchup on the East Side as second ranked North Shore visits No. 21 C.E. King.

North Shore made quick work of Beaumont United in a 49-7 win last week. The Mustangs raced out to a 42-0 halftime lead and cruised in the second half. WR Christopher Barnes returned a punt for a touchdown and had a touchdown catch, while QB Kaleb Bailey accounted for three touchdowns.

Five-star DB Devin Sanchez also nabbed an interception for a suffocating North Shore defense.

C.E. King got a real test last week from upstart Humble, but the Panthers were able to escape on the road with a 34-28 overtime win. They’ll need to be near perfect to take down a loaded North Shore squad who has designs on a state title.

North Shore blitzes C.E. King early and often and cruises in the second half.

Stepp’s Pick: Galena Park North Shore by 20

Red Oak (4-0, 2-0) at Killeen Shoemaker (3-2, 1-2): Unbeaten and state ranked Red Oak makes the trip down to Central Texas where they’ll tangle with a dangerous Shoemaker squad who is trying to re-establish themselves after dropping their first two district games.

Red Oak had the week off in Week 5 after rolling past Killeen Ellison, 49-18. QB Reggie Moody threw for 347 yards and four touchdowns to pace the Hawks attack as Red Oak raced out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and cruised to the win. WR Taz Williams had a pair of first quarter touchdown catches helping stake Red Oak to the big lead.

Shoemaker blasted Killeen Ellison themselves, but the game was last week as the Grey Wolves rolled to an easy 54-6 win as RB Jerrod Hicks found the end zone three times and tallied 159 yards of offense in a dominant performance.

Red Oak is on the road in this one, but the Hawks have had a week to prep, so the edge goes to the Hawks in another close road win.

Stepp’s Pick: Red Oak by 5

Sherman (2-2, 1-1) at Frisco (4-1, 3-0): Sherman will look to put itself into the playoff mix in 6-5A Division I as the Bearcats try to upset a quietly strong Frisco squad on Thursday night in Frisco.

Sherman had its bye week last week, so the Bearcats had two weeks to prep for this one after their 44-20 win over Frisco Lebanon Trail. SHS trailed at the half but ripped of 27-straight second half points to cruise to the win. ATH Kane Bowen had an 83-yard touchdown run for SHS in the victory.

Frisco High has quietly won four of its first five games and that has the Raccoons at the top of the district standings. They rolled past Lebanon Trail, 36-13, a week ago as FHS got two rushing touchdowns from Kam Pendergraph and the defense held LTHS to just 142 yards of offense.

Most in this district believe Lone Star, Reedy and Wakeland are the top three teams and the battle for fourth will come down to Frisco, Frisco Heritage, and Sherman, so any game involving these two will be massive.

Frisco’s been a little more consistent early in the season, so give the Raccoons and that tough defense the edge playing at home in Frisco.

Stepp’s Pick: Frisco by 8

Angleton (3-2, 2-1) at Fulshear (4-0, 2-0): After getting off to a strong 2-0 start in district play, Angleton stumbled last week to Magnolia in a 42-35 heartbreaker.

Angleton’s defense, which in the previous three games had just allowed 25 total points, was shredded by an efficient Magnolia offensive attack.

It gets even tougher this week as Angleton will try and slow down one of the state’s most explosive offensive attacks in Fulshear. The Chargers average 48.5 points per game through four games. They started out fast after the bye last week and held off a pesky Rosenberg Terry bunch with a 40-22 win.

RB Davion Godley is the man to keep an eye on for the Chargers; his ability to break games open has put the Chargers in a spot to be state ranked and among the favorites in Region III in 5A-Division I.

Both these schools are growing at a fast rate and this may be their last meeting as Class 5A programs as both could be 6A in 2024.

Stepp’s Pick: Fulshear by 12

Port Neches-Groves (3-1, 1-0) at Texas City (4-0, 1-0): After knocking off No. 2 Fort Bend Marshall to open up district play, it doesn’t get any easier for Port Neches-Groves as the Indians tangle with unbeaten Texas City.

PNG used a stellar defensive performance last week to take down an explosive Marshall bunch, 7-0. Isaiah Nguyen’s third quarter touchdown run was the Indians only points of the night and the PNG defense put together an absolutely stellar effort in the win.

Much like Fort Bend Marshall, Texas City is extremely dynamic at the skill spots. The Stingarees opened district play cruising to a 35-0 win over Galena Park. RB Caleb Bell ran for two scores to pace the Texas City attack.

This Port Neches-Groves defense and strong offensive line will be the difference as they’ll contain the potent skill talent on the other side and get another low-scoring, grind it out type of win.

Stepp’s Pick: Port Neches-Groves by 10

Quick Picks

Highland Park (3-1, 1-1) at Dallas Jesuit (3-2, 2-1) Stepp’s Pick: Highland Park by 16

Conroe (3-2, 1-2) vs Conroe Oak Ridge (2-2, 1-1) Stepp’s Pick: Conroe by 1

Spring Westfield (2-2, 1-0) vs Spring DeKaney (3-1, 1-0) Stepp’s Pick: Spring Westfield by 12

Cypress Ranch (3-1, 1-0) vs Cypress Springs (4-0, 1-0) Stepp’s Pick: Cypress Ranch by 5

San Antonio Churchill (3-1, 1-1) vs San Antonio Roosevelt (4-1, 2-1) Stepp’s Pick: San Antonio Roosevelt by 6

Corpus Christi Miller (4-0, 1-0) at Victoria East (2-2, 1-0) Stepp’s Pick: Corpus Christi Miller by 21

Humble Kingwood Park (4-1, 2-1) vs La Porte (4-1, 3-0) Stepp’s Pick: La Porte by 7

Brownsville Veterans Memorial (2-2, 0-0) at Donna (4-1, 1-0) Stepp’s Pick: Brownsville Veterans Memorial by 8

Brenham (2-2, 0-0) at Richmond Randle (4-1, 0-1) Stepp’s Pick: Richmond Randle by 2

San Antonio Veterans Memorial (2-2, 0-0) at Lockhart (2-3, 1-0) Stepp’s Pick: San Antonio Veterans Memorial by 10

Last Week Record: 14-6 70.0%

Season Record: 67-33 67.0%