North Crowley (12-0) vs. Prosper (11-1), 2 p.m. Saturday at Frisco’s Ford Center: It’s a regional semifinal rematch between North Crowley and Prosper. A year ago, a veteran Prosper team with plenty of playoff experience escaped a stiff challenge from the Panthers. This time North Crowley enters this game with plenty of playoff pedigree and their eyes on a regional title.

Last week, NCHS went out to Abilene and absolutely destroyed Odessa Permian 63-10 as QB Chris Jimmerson threw for 205 yards and four touchdowns and added 51 yards on the ground and two touchdowns to lead the Panthers attack that nearly doubled Permian’s yardage total.

Prosper rolled past Lake Highlands 44-24 as the Eagles rolled up 383 yards rushing on the night. Led by QB Nathan TenBarge, who ran for 159 yards and two scores; four different backs for Prosper ran for at least 50 yards for PHS.

North Crowley has had this one circled after its loss a year ago. The Panthers are 24-1 in their past 25 games with the one loss being to Prosper. That loss gets avenged this week in emphatic fashion.

Stepp’s Pick: North Crowley by 13

Cy-Fair (11-1) vs. Galena Park North Shore (12-0), 2 p.m. Friday at Houston’s NRG Stadium: The middle game of the Black Friday tripleheader at NRG Stadium is a potential banger as a Cy-Fair squad that’s won 11 straight games takes on the state’s No. 1 team in North Shore.

The Bobcats upset perennial powerhouse Katy 28-21 in overtime last week thanks to a tough defense and Texas QB commit QB Trey Owens.

North Shore got a scare from Clear Springs for three quarters, but the Mustangs exploded for four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to pull away from Clear Springs. RB DeAndre Hareman had 206 yards rushing and three touchdowns, including a 90-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that put the game away.

QB Kaleb Bailey did leave the game with an injury in the second half, but reports are he’ll be fine and good to go for this week’s game.

North Shore has had slow starts in its first two playoff games. That trend needs to end soon because eventually it will come back and bite them. I think Coach Gaston’s squad comes out focused and ready to go on the big stage.

Stepp’s Pick: Galena Park North Shore by 14

Trophy Club Nelson (12-0) vs. Coppell (12-0), 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Arlington’s Choctaw Stadium: One of the best Saturday games on the slate statewide is this battle of up-and-coming DFW programs who are having breakout seasons at 12-0.

Byron Nelson, who boasts a win over Southlake Carroll, returns to the DFW area after heading out west last week and knocking off Midland High on the road, 35-7. QB Tom Von Grote accounted for four touchdowns to lead the Bobcats, while the Byron Nelson defense was dominant shutting down the MHS offense and holding them to just 199 yards of offense.

Coppell rolled to a 42-23 win over Dallas Jesuit on Thursday night as the Cowboys were led by WR Baron Tipton, who hauled in three touchdown receptions and RB O'Marion Mbakwe, who ran for 134 yards and two scores.

These two are about as evenly matched as it gets. Both teams have elite defensive units and explosive offenses. Coppell’s offense gets the slight edge and that may make the difference in this one that should go down to the wire.

Stepp’s Pick: Coppell by 3

Cibolo Steele (11-1) vs. San Antonio Harlan (12-0), 11 a.m. Friday at San Antonio’s Alamodome: The game of the week in the Alamo City is without a doubt this one as Steele, whose only loss was early in the year to Lake Travis, takes on an underrated but strong 12-0 Harlan squad.

Steele got a push last week from a scrappy Round Rock McNeil bunch, but the Knights pulled away in the second half with a 42-21 win. RB Samuel Harris ran for 276 yards and two scores to lead Steele, while WR Jalen Cooper continues to torment defenses as he set a school record for receiving yards last week.

After surviving a near upset in the bi-district round of the playoffs, Harlan bounced back nicely last week in a dominant 48-0 win over Harlingen. RB Adrian McDade had a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown, while QB Noah Farris had a touchdown rushing and a passing score to pace a dominant effort.

Steele has been the best team in the Alamo City most of the year; the Knights are by far the most talented team, and a win this week puts them back into the discussion as a team that can challenge for a state title.

Harlan puts up a fight, but this Steele team if locked in will pull away in the second half.

Stepp’s Pick: Cibolo Steele by 11

Aledo (12-0) vs. Red Oak (12-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Arlington’s Choctaw Stadium: It’s a battle of unbeaten teams in Arlington, but the story for both these teams really is about the QB’s and injuries.

TCU commit Hauss Hejny has played, but from all accounts has been limited in his abilities with an apparent leg injury. Hejny can still throw it quite well, but his running ability at times has been severely hampered.

Still, Aledo’s offense was still outstanding last week in a 48-31 win over Lubbock-Cooper. Hejny willed Aledo to a pair of fourth quarter touchdown drives after Cooper had pulled to within 35-31. He finished with 246 yards of total offense and a rushing TD. RB Raycine Guillory ran for 182 yards and two scores and LB/RB Dahvon Keys ran for three scores.

Red Oak is without QB Reggie Moody, who was injured in Week 11, but RB turned QB Chris Martinez has led the Hawks to a pair of playoff wins, including a hard fought 35-28 win last week over Amarillo High. It was the second straight win in the playoffs by single digits for the Hawks.

Martinez had another strong game throwing for 184 yards and four touchdowns, two each going to Brayden Robinson and Taz Williams, while Martinez added 115 yards rushing and a score.

At full strength, Red Oak has the front-line talent to go toe to toe with Aledo, but the Bearcats depth and playoff pedigree in key moments will be the difference in this one down the stretch.

Stepp’s Pick: Aledo by 8

San Antonio Pieper (11-1) vs. Alamo Heights (12-0), 7 p.m. Saturday at San Antonio’s Alamodome: The regional final weekend closes with a bang at the Alamodome as upstart Pieper – playing in only its second varsity season - takes on perennial area power Alamo Heights.

Pieper went down to Laredo last week and rolled to an easy 38-6 win over Mission Veterans Memorial as the Warriors defense had three interceptions, including a pick six, while WR Jake Stratchan hauled in three touchdown passes.

Alamo Heights played in the Alamodome last week and made quick work of Gregory-Portland, 49-14. QB Collin Ernst threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 184 yards rushing and two scores to lead the Mules. WR Michael Terry, III had a big night as well with 111 receiving yards and a score; he chipped in 71 yards on the ground as well.

Both teams are district champions and Pieper is the story of the year in the Alamo City, but Alamo Heights’ playoff experience in these type of games will be the difference.

Stepp’s Pick: Alamo Heights by 7

Quick Picks

Midland Legacy (10-2) vs. Allen (8-4), 4 p.m. Saturday at Abilene’s Shotwell Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Allen by 3

Duncanville (10-1) vs. The Woodlands (9-3), 3 p.m. Saturday at Hutto’s Memorial Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Duncanville by 24

Rockwall (11-1) vs. Spring Westfield (10-2), 3 p.m. Saturday at Pflugerville’s The Pfield Stepp’s Pick: Rockwall by 6

Houston Lamar (12-0) vs. Humble Atascocita (10-2), 6 p.m. Friday at Houston’s NRG Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Houston Lamar by 4

Lake Travis (10-2) vs. San Antonio Brennan (10-2), 3 p.m. Friday at San Antonio’s Alamodome Stepp’s Pick: Lake Travis by 21

Austin Westlake (12-0) vs. Laredo United (10-2), 3 p.m. Saturday at San Antonio’s Alamodome Stepp’s Pick: Austin Westlake by 35

Southlake Carroll (11-1) vs. Highland Park (11-1), 3:30 p.m. Friday at Arlington’s Choctaw Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Southlake Carroll by 18

Cedar Hill (7-5) vs. Tomball (8-4), 4 p.m. Saturday at Waco’s Waco ISD Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Cedar Hill by 15

Houston Stratford (9-3) vs. Humble Summer Creek (11-1), 2 p.m. Saturday at Tomball’s Tomball ISD Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Humble Summer Creek by 19

Fort Bend Hightower (11-1) vs. Sheldon C.E. King (9-3), 10 a.m. Friday at Houston’s NRG Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Fort Bend Hightower by 3

Dripping Springs (10-2) vs. San Antonio Jay (10-2), 11 a.m. Saturday at San Antonio’s Alamodome Stepp’s Pick: Dripping Springs by 13

Justin Northwest (10-2) vs. Abilene (10-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Wichita Falls’ Memorial Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Abilene by 10

Richland (12-0) vs. Forney (11-1), 6 p.m. Friday at North Richland Hills’ Birdville FAAC Stepp’s Pick: Forney by 3

Longview (11-1) vs. Lancaster (7-5), 7 p.m. Friday at Forney’s City Bank Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Longview by 10

Cedar Park (9-3) vs. College Station A&M Consolidated (9-3), 5 p.m. Friday at College Station’s Tigerland Stadium Stepp’s Pick: A&M Consolidated by 10

Victoria West (6-6) vs. Corpus Christi Miller (12-0), 5 p.m. Friday at Corpus Christi’s Buccaneer Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Corpus Christi Miller by 23

PSJA North (12-0) vs. Brownsville Veterans Memorial (10-2), 4 p.m. Friday at Pharr’s PSJA Stadium Stepp’s Pick: PSJA North by 20

Frisco Emerson (10-2) vs. Wichita Falls Rider (10-2), 2 p.m. Friday at Mineral Wells’ Ram Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Wichita Falls Rider by 3

Argyle (9-2) vs. Colleyville Heritage (11-1), 6 p.m. Friday at Denton’s Collins Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Colleyville Heritage by 3

Midlothian Heritage (12-0) vs. South Oak Cliff (10-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Mesquite’s Memorial Stadium Stepp’s Pick: South Oak Cliff by 6

Richmond Randle (11-1) vs. Huntsville (7-5), 1 p.m. Friday at Shenandoah’s Woodforest Bank Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Richmond Randle by 14

Corpus Christi Flour Bluff (10-2) vs. Liberty Hill (8-4), 7 p.m. Friday at San Antonio’s Heroes Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Liberty Hill by 4

Last Week Record: 48-16 75.0%

Playoff Record: 48-16 75.0%

Season Record: 188-76 71.2%