Hereford (5-0) at Canyon West Plains (4-1): If anyone told you during the preseason that Hereford would not only start the season at 5-0, but enter the Class 4A-Division I state rankings, they’d probably tell you that you are crazy. But after five games here we are.

Adam Narron’s squad continues to defy expectations after pulling off a heart-stopping 24-21 win over 5A Plainview (who was also unbeaten) last week. RB Brylyn Lopez led the way for the Whitefaces with 201 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to lead the Herd, who had a sensational defensive effort as well holding an explosive Plainview offense to just 259 yards.

Speaking of explosive offenses, West Plains’ has one of the panhandle’s most dynamic attacks as the Wolves last week with a fourth-quarter flurry raced past previously unbeaten Lubbock Estacado, 51-34.

RB Jordi Hernandez led the way for West Plains with 209 yards and three rushing touchdowns, while WR Kyron Wooten had seven catches for 166 yards and a score. WR King Tallant had 85 receiving yards and added a touchdown on the ground for a dynamic Wolves offense that will present some problems for Hereford this week.

West Plains’ playmakers at the skill spots are the edge here as Hereford doesn’t have the firepower to keep up.

Stepp’s Pick: Canyon West Plains by 9

Yoakum (4-1) at Waco La Vega (3-2): State ranked Yoakum makes the long road trip up to Waco where the Bulldogs battle with a very good La Vega squad, which is much tougher than its 3-2 record indicates.

Yoakum rolled past Gonzales, 34-14, last week as the Bulldogs have rattled off two straight wins since their close loss on the road to Cuero.

La Vega rolled past Dallas Roosevelt, 48-0, as RB Bryson Roland ran for two touchdowns and QB Junior Thornton tossed three first half touchdowns as the Pirates raced out to a 42-0 lead and cruised with a running clock in the second half.

Yoakum will have the athleticism to keep pace with La Vega as the Bulldogs are led by Army QB commit Zachary Taylor and a bevy of talented playmakers.

There will be fireworks in north Waco for this one and I think La Vega at home gets the edge against a much-improved Yoakum squad.

Stepp’s Pick: Waco La Vega by 11

Wilmer-Hutchins (5-0) at Frisco Panther Creek (4-1): This under the radar game Thursday night is elevated to main event status in DFW as a talented and underrated Wilmer-Hutchins squad takes on second year varsity program Frisco Panther Creek.

Wilmer-Hutchins opened district play last week with an emphatic 40-8 win over previously unbeaten Dallas Pinkston. RB Jacob Cummings led the way for Hutch in the win with 178 yards in the ground and a touchdown, while Robert Hall hauled in two touchdown passes.

Wilmer-Hutchins’ secondary, led by 2026 DB Braylon Edwards, will face their toughest test of the young season as they tangle with an explosive Panther Creek attack. Last week the Panthers blasted past North Dallas, 52-6, as QB Braxton Roberts threw for 281 yards and four touchdowns. ATH Sentel Simpson, who holds multiple FBS offers, did not play last week, so that’s something to keep an eye on.

Panther Creek has had a measuring stick game in a 48-31 loss to state ranked 5A Frisco Emerson. Wilmer-Hutchins has not to this point. That experience against a tougher team pays off this week for Panther Creek, which gets a big win to keep pace with state ranked Celina for the district title.

Stepp’s Pick: Frisco Panther Creek by 8

Rusk (3-1, 0-0) at Center (4-1, 1-0): Division 8-4A Division II certainly runs through Carthage, but this battle down in Center could be for second place as an underrated Rusk squad, which has had two weeks to prepare, takes on Center, which features one of the state’s most explosive offensive attacks.

Center comes into this one averaging over 51 points per game after the Roughriders rolled past Canton, 57-27, a week ago in the district opener.

RB Kaden Dixon is the catalyst of the Center offense and slowing him down is job No. 1 for Rusk.

Rusk handed a strong Division I team in Alvarado its only loss of the season two weeks ago with a 33-30 win. QB Brady Barrier tossed three touchdown passes and rushed for another score, while throwing for 268 yards. WR/DB Spencer Barnett had a touchdown catch and an interception.

This one has all the makings of a good old fashioned East Texas shootout and those games tend to favor Center, so take the ‘Riders in a game where the first team to 40 wins.

Stepp’s Pick: Center by 5

Jasper (3-2, 1-0) at Hamshire-Fannett (5-0, 1-0): District 9-4A Division II is one of the state’s best districts and the action heats up this week with a pair of playoff contenders facing off as Jasper and its stout defense tries to contain unbeaten Hamshire-Fannett.

Jasper opened up district play with a dominant 48-0 homecoming win over Liberty to end its two-game losing streak.

Hamshire-Fannett rolled past Bridge City, 42-7, last week to open up district play. Bridge City managed to keep things close for a half before the Longhorns pulled away with a third quarter flurry.

Jasper’s defense is going to face maybe its biggest test of the year with an explosive Hamshire-Fannett attack, but the key to this one may be Jasper’s offense, specifically the passing game. If the Bulldogs can be balanced and keep Hamshire-Fannett from flooding the box with numbers, the Bulldogs will be in good shape. But that’s easier said than done.

Stepp’s Pick: Hamshire-Fannett by 4

Muleshoe (5-0) at Brownfield (3-2): There’s plenty of good stories out in the Texas Panhandle this year and the Muleshoe Mules are one of them.

The Mules are off to a sizzling 5-0 start after an impressive 47-0 win over Abernathy. Josue Sigala had an 80-yard touchdown run and a 75-yard interception return for a score to pace the Mules while QB Nathan Martens tossed two touchdown passes as Muleshoe dominated from start to finish to get the win.

Brownfield had a puzzling loss last week to Littlefield as the Cubs were dominated start to finish in a 49-13 loss. The key stat in this one was Brownfield’s inability to run the football as the Cubs finished the night with just three yards rushing; that simply won’t get it done.

Muleshoe goes into district play on a high note with a dominant win.

Stepp’s Pick: Muleshoe by 25

Commerce (5-0, 1-0) at Winnsboro (4-0, 1-0): Surprising Commerce will look to jump back on the statewide radar this week as it tangles with fellow unbeaten and state ranked Winnsboro in a key district showdown.

Commerce made quick work of over-matched Bonham last week with a 55-8 homecoming win. The Tigers got two passing and two rushing touchdowns from QB Michael Orso, while RB Jordan McMurray led a balanced rushing attack with 128 yards on the ground and a touchdown.

Winnsboro also had itself a big win in the district opener last week rolling past Emory Rains, 59-0. QB Kyler Finney and the dynamic Red Raiders offense put up 49 first half points and then emptied the bench in the second half.

Commerce should be a playoff team. But this is big step up in competition with a powerful Winnsboro squad that is a regional title contender.

Stepp’s Pick: Winnsboro by 17

East Bernard (2-2, 0-0) at Tidehaven (4-0, 1-0): Traditional roles are reversed in this game a bit as East Bernard, the perennial power in the Cross Roads region, plays the role of underdog against state ranked Tidehaven, which has played the role of spoiler for years.

East Bernard appears to be bouncing back from a tough 3-7 mark in 2022 as the Brahmas have won their last two games, including a dominant 49-6 win over Shiner two weeks ago.

While Tidehaven’s offense, led by Baylor commit RB Joseph Dodds, gets many of the headlines, the Tigers defense has been sensational as they’ve yet to allow a point, outscoring four overmatched opponents by a combined 196-0. Their Week 4 game vs Vanderbilt Industrial, a good 3A-Division I team was cancelled due to storms in the area, so this is the Tigers first true measuring stick game in my opinion.

I think the shutout streak comes to an end, but Tidehaven still wins in comfortable fashion.

Stepp’s Pick: Tidehaven by 16

Quick Picks

El Paso Riverside (4-1) vs Bushland (4-1) Stepp’s Pick: Bushland by 28

Lubbock Estacado (4-1) at Sweetwater (4-1) Stepp’s Pick: Lubbock Estacado by 26

Iowa Colony (4-0, 0-0) at Stafford (3-2, 0-1) Stepp’s Pick: Iowa Colony by 7

Devine (3-2) at San Antonio Davenport (2-2) Stepp’s Pick: San Antonio Davenport by 19

Snyder (3-2) at Holliday (3-1) Stepp’s Pick: Holliday by 4

Diboll (3-2, 1-0) at Palestine Westwood (4-0, 0-0) Stepp’s Pick: Diboll by 3

Edna (2-1) at London (4-1) Stepp’s Pick: Edna by 20

Refugio (4-1, 1-0) at Three Rivers (4-1, 1-0) Stepp’s Pick: Refugio by 22

Archer City (2-1, 0-0) at Seymour (4-1, 1-0) Stepp’s Pick: Archer City by 2

Bremond (2-2) at Windthorst (3-1) Stepp’s Pick: Windthorst by 11

Last Week Record: 17-3 85.0%

Season Record: 75-25 75.0%