4A-2A Ultimate Preview: Week 1

Get LIVE score updates of every game statewide on our App

Seminole vs Canyon West Plains: Seminole has hopes for challenging in 4A-Division II Region I and for the Indians to get past the hump of the DFW area they’ll need to show they can compete consistently at a high level. No one in Class 4A in 2024 competed at a level as high as West Plains, which ran all the way to the Division I state semifinals before falling in a close one to Celina. Seminole returns 34 lettermen from a 10-win team a year ago. Several of those players are three-year lettermen, including ATH Caton Cramer. Where Seminole has questions will be at the skill spots on offense and that could be a bad recipe against a West Plains squad LOADED with experience with 17 returning starters. QB Reid Macon is a four-year starter who will pilot the offense, while UTEP WR/DB commit Kane White-Tinsley is back and will be a key factor on both sides of the ball. West Plains has a couple of questions that need to be answered on defense, but the offense is going to be good enough to bail them out early while the defense figures it out. Stepp’s Pick: Canyon West Plains by 16

Carthage at Kilgore: The top two 4A’s in East Texas in 2024 will again open the season against each other and if the game is anything like the last two meetings, it’ll be a classic as Carthage took the 2023 meeting and Kilgore took the 2024 matchup. Defending 4A-Division II state champion Carthage comes into this one with a loaded group at the skill spots. Texas A&M RB commit KJ Edwards and Arkansas WR commit Keymian Henderson lead the offense along with QB Jett Surratt, who returns for a third-year as a starter. Carthage doesn’t lack headliners on defense with their pair of sensational LB’s in Texas A&M commit DaQuives Beck and Colorado commit Carson Crawford. Kilgore, the 4A-Division I state runner-up, had a big summer on the 7-on-7 scene and with an offense that returns eight starters, they think they can again contend for the state title. QB Kayson Brooks who had 43 touchdown passes a year ago is back to pilot the offense; he’s got two capable RB’s in Isaiah Watters and Rayshawn Williams and a veteran group of WR’s. WR/LB LaKeyleon Graves is a big-time FBS prospect, while SFA DB commit Ja’Kalen Sheffield lead a strong defense. Both teams have major questions in the trenches and that will ultimately be the key to if these teams are state contenders or not. Surratt has struggled the past two years against Kilgore. If he’s 100 percent and takes care of the football, Carthage has a bit too much. But if CHS turns the ball over we will see a repeat of the last two years where the games came down to the wire. Stepp’s Pick: Carthage by 13

Wimberley at Canyon Lake:

A really intriguing Region IV showdown features defending 4A-Division II regional champion Wimberley and up and coming Canyon Lake. Wimberley is in the middle of a major transition as the Texans have a young team and a new head coach, while Canyon Lake enters Year 2 of the Sam Parker era, where the Hawks return 19 starters from an 8-4 squad in 2024. Wimberley, with the graduation of a three-year starter at QB, may lean more heavily on the run game this year, which will be paced by RB/LB Maverick Jacobs and RB/LB Josh Belanger. Canyon Lake’s defense brings back all 11 starters led by LB Eli Hammons, who racked up 134 tackles a year ago and he was a menace on special teams as well. QB Jace Wheeler tossed 29 touchdowns a year ago and in his second season operating Parker’s spread offense, expect a major leap forward. On paper this has the makings of a Canyon Lake statement win, but Wimberley has the pedigree and even when they lose a lot you count on the new faces for the Texans to step forward and that’s what I’m counting on once again. Stepp’s Pick: Wimberley by 5

Sunnyvale at Aubrey: There’s a lot of excitement around Sunnyvale this year as the Raiders, fresh off a trip to the regional semifinals a year ago, bring back seven starters on both sides of the ball. Junior QB Cayson Maupin had a monster sophomore season throwing for 41 touchdowns. With 13 starts under his belt, he could be poised for a monster junior campaign. WR/D Drew Gardner is a force on both sides of the ball; he tallied 119 tackles and six picks a year ago, while also hauling in six touchdown receptions. Aubrey had a strong debut at the Division I level a year ago, pushing all the way to the regional semifinals. But most of the production from last year’s team has been lost to graduation. One thing about the past two seasons is Aubrey had a lot of team speed, and the Chaps may not quite have that type of firepower going into 2025. Look for a veteran Sunnyvale squad to jump out early and cruise against this youthful Aubrey bunch. Stepp’s Pick: Sunnyvale by 13

Tatum at Winnsboro: An intriguing Thursday night opener out in East Texas as an always formidable Tatum squad heads north to Winnsboro to take on the Red Raiders. Folks in Winnsboro are thinking this is the year their team breaks through and potentially wins the region with 27 letterman and a dozen starters returning from a team that went three deep last year. Mississippi State WR commit Camden Capehart is a three-year starter who returns after hauling in 25 touchdown receptions a year ago. He’s one of, if not the most dangerous threat in the state with his blazing speed. QB Nolee Carroll is back along with RB Neree Castleberry to give WHS among the most explosive offensive attacks in the state, but if they want to take the next step the defense will need to improve. Tatum has a lot of questions to answer going into 2025 as the Eagles have been solid in recent years, but the standard for this tradition-rich program has been set high. Coach Whitney Keeling’s squad will be quite young, with just five returning starters on both sides of the ball. Getting LB Qwardai Peoples back from injury should be a major boost for Tatum’s defense; he had a big sophomore season in 2023 and he was missed a year ago. The biggest questions for the offense will be inexperience primarily at the skill positions. That makes this Week 1 matchup a bad one for the Eagles against the experience of WHS. Stepp’s Pick: Winnsboro by 16

Goliad at East Bernard: Goliad has high hopes to contend for a Region IV crown in 2025 as Kevin Salazar’s squad welcomes back an experienced group. If they want to send a message to open the year, a win at perennial power East Bernard would be a good start. ATH Lamont Franklin tallied 30 touchdowns a year ago and averaged over 16 yards per touch a year ago; he leads the way along with RB Donovan Perry, who ran for over 1,000 yards in 2024. QB/DB Cord Zamzow is an elite playmaker at QB and comes from great athletic pedigree. East Bernard posted a 10-2 mark a year ago and in Year 2 under head coach Jeremy Jenkins. The Brahmas should be much more well versed in the scheme. WR/CB Amare Jones is a force on both sides of the ball, while DL Kanya Blunston anchors things in the trenches. Goliad’s veteran experience and explosiveness on offense is the key in this showdown. Stepp’s Pick: Goliad by 12

Lexington at Marlin: Two powerful small schools in the Super CenTex get together for a measuring stick matchup as both teams advanced to the regional finals in their respective divisions in 2024. Lexington will be led by Oklahoma State QB commit Kase Evans, who is one of the state’s most productive passers. WR Weston Bayer and RB Noah Wright-Harris gives the Eagles as dynamic a trio as anyone in 3A-Division II. Marlin rolled to the fourth round a year ago, but the Bulldogs lost the majority of their headliners. The good news is the core of the team returns as Jeff Rogers’ squad welcomes back 13 starters. Marlin should be much improved in the trenches, led by two-way OL/DL Brysen Steele. QB/LB De’Angelo Wright had a strong season playing on both sides of the ball but will take over at QB full-time in 2025. You know Marlin’s gonna bring a ton of speed to the table, but at least early on the edge goes to Lexington, which should be much sharper with the offensive skill experience back. Stepp’s Pick: Lexington by 14

Stamford at Albany: After a tremendous run to the state title game a year ago, Stamford will look to plenty of new faces in 2025 as just two offensive starters return, including losing all five starters on the offensive line. Stamford does have six starters back on defense, so expect the Bulldogs to lean heavily on that unit especially early in the year. Albany, which took home state titles at the 2A-Division II level in 2022 and 2023, struggled at times last year stumbling to a 9-3 mark and falling in the area round of the playoffs. The Lions return 16 starters led by QB Clay Chapman, who pilots an offense that returns several playmakers. Albany has nine starters back on defense and should be among the most improved units in the Big Country. The roles were reversed a year ago and Stamford dominated Albany in a 50-6 win. I don’t foresee that type of blowout, but Albany’s veteran experience handles a youthful Stamford bunch. Stepp’s Pick: Albany by 17

Waskom at Garrison: In what could be a playoff preview, two of the top teams in 2A-Division I Region III get together for a big Thursday opener in East Texas. Waskom is poised to do some damage with six starters back on both sides of the ball in Wade Lawson’s second year at the helm. That includes RB/DB Joe Irving, who was the district’s defensive MVP a year ago. He’ll likely see more time on offense along with two-way stalwart RB/LB Nate Espy. Garrison with 13 total starters back doesn’t have a ton of depth so staying healthy will be key, but the Bulldogs have the pieces with RB/LB Avery Yarbrough leading the way. QB Riley McGuire was thrust into action a year ago due to injury but now returns to guide the offense and he brings experience to the table. Waskom’s got a bit better depth, and they seem to have the better balance top to bottom, so take the Wildcats in a close one. Stepp’s Pick: Waskom by 4

Quick Picks

Waco La Vega at Kennedale Stepp’s Pick: Waco La Vega by 21

Lubbock Estacado at Tuscola Jim Ned Stepp’s Pick: Tuscola Jim Ned by 6

Paris at Sanger Stepp’s Pick: Paris by 3

Hamshire-Fannett at Little Cypress-Mauriceville Stepp’s Pick: Hamshire-Fannett by 10

Port Lavaca Calhoun at Yoakum Stepp’s Pick: Yoakum by 3

Cuero at Columbus Stepp’s Pick: Cuero by 9

Rockport-Fulton at Orange Grove Stepp’s Pick: Orange Grove by 1

Abernathy at Stratford Stepp’s Pick: Abernathy by 5

Tioga at Collinsville Stepp’s Pick: Collinsville by 6

Mason at Wall Stepp’s Pick: Wall by 19