6A-5A Ultimate Preview: The Best Week 2 Games in Texas

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El Paso Franklin (1-0) at El Paso Del Valle (1-0): Two of the 915’s top teams meet up in a big-time measuring stick showdown, as both Franklin and Del Valle have aspirations to make noise outside of the area. Franklin had a resounding 41-8 win over El Paso Chapin last week in head coach Ruben Torres’s debut. The Cougars ran early and often behind an offensive line anchored by Kansas State commit Justin Morales, RB Ernie Powers was the benefactor of that great trench play tallying five touchdowns. Franklin has the size and speed that when they are clicking is capable of doing major damage. Del Valle stepped up in competition last week and made short of 6A El Paso Montwood last week in a 41-7 win. Arizona State commit QB Jake Fette did his thing throwing three touchdown passes to lead DVHS. Del Valle got the running game going as RB Dante Eytcheson ran for 92 yards and a pair of scores, while Joel Vizcarrav added 70 yards on the ground. If the Conquistadores run the ball like that, they’ll be tough for anyone in the Sun City to beat. Franklin’s going to try and dare Del Valle to run the ball and the Cougars will count on their speed and physicality to carry the day against a smaller Del Valle bunch. Stepp’s Pick: El Paso Franklin by 8

DeSoto (0-1) at North Crowley (1-0):

It’s been a tough go for DeSoto in their last two games as they’ve been beaten by a combined 120-42 in losses in the playoffs to Longview and in their season opener against Creekside, GA. In last week’s 70-28 loss out in Georgia, the Eagles lone bright spot was special teams where they returned two kickoffs, but the defense was absolutely gashed. The Eagles offense struggled during the first three quarters and didn’t get any traction until the game was out of reach. North Crowley had some trouble with Lancaster for the second straight year, but the Panthers were able to slip away with a 22-18 win. Junior QB Hayes Cloutier tossed three touchdown passes to three different receivers in the win, while the NCHS defense lived up to the billing in a strong effort slowing down Lancaster. Look for DeSoto to come out with a chip on their shoulder. The Eagles’ 24-game winning streak was snapped by North Crowley in DeSoto a year ago and after last week’s disaster Coach Mathis and his team will embrace the underdog role as they look to avoid their first three-game losing streak since 2008. North Crowley will come out with something to prove as well after the Panthers had their struggles in the opener; the key will be the two-star WR’s on both sides. DeSoto’s USC commit Ethan Feaster and North Crowley super-sophomore DaMarion Mays, whichever WR can make the plays, that team will likely walk away with the win. The edge goes to the young guy in Mays. As North Crowley’s secondary led by Texas Tech commit Aaron Bradshaw and three other players with FBS offers is equipped to force someone other than Feaster to beat them. Stepp’s Pick: North Crowley by 13

Lake Travis (1-0) at Rockwall (1-0): 

After a big season opening win over Arlington Martin, Lake Travis will look to take down their second DFW opponent as they travel north to take on Rockwall. Last week the Cavaliers were dominant in a 48-21 win over Arlington Martin as QB Luke McBride was sensational in his first start throwing for 398 yards and four touchdowns. Rockwall was impressive in their opener as they rolled to an easy 33-12 win over a youthful Richardson Berkner squad. QB Brent Rickert led a balanced RHS attack with three touchdown passes, but the pair of interceptions thrown are concerning, especially going into a matchup with a top 10 squad in Lake Travis. If Rockwall takes care of the football this will be a high-scoring game that comes down to the wire, but if they are minus-two in the turnover column, Lake Travis pulls away for a comfortable win. Stepp’s Pick: Lake Travis by 11

Klein Collins (1-0) at Willis (1-0): 

After starting 2024 with some struggles, Klein Collins opened with a 35-28 win over College Station. The Tigers raced out to a 28-0 lead but had to hold off a furious late surge from College Station. QB Braydon Schoggin proved to be the difference maker as his 56-yard touchdown run with just under two minutes left lifted KCHS to the win. Schoggin ran for three scores and threw for another touchdown in the victory. Willis had plenty of questions going into their season opener, and at least for one week they answered them in resounding fashion with a 42-14 win over Aldine Davis. Texas commit ATH Jermaine Bishop hauled in two touchdown passes and freshman QB Lincoln Frazier had a solid debut in leading the pass-happy Wildkats attack. Willis’ defense was key last week in containing a veteran Aldine Davis attack that had hopes of major improvement in 2025, slowing down Klein Collins who plays with a different level of physicality will be a chore. But Bishop is such a difference maker for the ‘Kats. Stepp’s Pick: Willis by 10

Katy (0-1) at Humble Atascocita (1-0):

Katy will look to avoid going 0-2 as they visit Turner Stadium to take on Atascocita squad that will present many of the same problems for the Tigers that Dickinson presented in a 34-21 win over Katy last week. The Tigers offense struggled with consistency as Dickinson loaded the box and Katy wasn’t able to make plays through the air, while Dickinson routinely hit big plays against a banged-up Katy group in the secondary. Atascocita got a tougher-than-expected test against Houston Lamar, but after getting down early, order was restored and the Eagles cruised to a 48-28 win. We thought in the preseason Arizona State commit Cardae Mack would move from QB where he’s played the last two years, to his natural position of RB. But in last week’s win, Mack played the entire game at QB. He had a hand in all six AHS touchdowns rushing for three scores and throwing for three scores to three different receivers. Atascocita’s defense has some things to clean up, but if you are an Eagles fan you have to encouraged about how crisp the offense looked behind a young offensive line AHS has taken Katy down two years in a row. At home, I think they make it three in a row as the Tigers offense isn’t able to keep up. Stepp’s Pick: Humble Atascocita by 10

San Antonio Pieper (1-0) at San Antonio Johnson (1-0): One of San Antonio’s top 5A teams in Pieper gets to measure themselves this week against what may be the best 6A program in the city in Johnson. Pieper got pushed last week by Boerne, but the Warriors escaped with a 35-28 victory as QB Isaiah Gaitan led the charge with 167 yards passing and a score; he chipped in two touchdowns on the ground as well. Johnson made quick work of a struggling Converse Judson squad as the Jags rolled to an easy 45-7 victory. The key for the Jags was a three-touchdown third quarter outburst that turned a 21-7 game into a 42-7 laugher. Pieper is still young in spots and has some growing to do, while the time is now for Johnson. This is a veteran team fresh off a district title. If things break their way TP Miller’s squad believes the can contend for a regional title. Stepp’s Pick: San Antonio Johnson by 14

McAllen Memorial (1-0) at Weslaco (1-0): McAllen Memorial has designs on taking the 16-5A Division I crown in 2025 as the Mustangs got their season off to the right start last week with a 37-14 win over Brownsville Hanna. Memorial scored the game’s first 30 points leading 30-0 and put it on cruise control to close things out. Weslaco had no trouble blasting past Harlingen in their highly anticipated season opener as the Panthers rolled to a 49-28 win. QB Chris Luna, a three-year letterman who has played multiple positions for Weslaco, shined in his QB debut tallying 268 yards of offense and totaling four touchdowns. Weslaco scored on their first five drives of the game to race out to a 35-13 halftime lead, and they never looked back against Harlingen. Memorial will try to slow the game down with that stout running attack and keep Weslaco’s offense off the field. That strategy will keep things close, but Weslaco just has a bit too much firepower. Stepp’s Pick: Weslaco by 14

Victoria East (0-1) vs Victoria West (1-0): When Victoria East and Victoria West get together, you can be sure of two things: it’ll be a full house at Memorial Stadium and it’ll likely be a close football game. East opened up with a tough opponent at home last week as Georgetown took care of the Titans 27-0. There weren’t a ton of positives to take from the game from an offensive standpoint, but East’s defense did have a solid showing in containing a really explosive Georgetown offense that can put up 40-plus points on a lot of teams. They’ll have to figure things out this week against a West squad that has their sights on contending in Region IV in 5A-Division II. The Warriors rushing attack was nearly unstoppable on the road last week with six rushing touchdowns and 354 yards rushing led by 110 yards and two scores from Jenesis Jeffries. I expect East’s offense to look a little better this week, but West is too balanced and too experienced across the board. Stepp’s Pick: Victoria West by 12

Belton (1-0) at Georgetown (1-0):

After getting shut out by Pflugerville Hendrickson in the opener a year ago, Belton got a measure of revenge on the road as they escaped the Pfield with a 21-17 win. QB Will Sheppard’s screen-pass touchdown to Gino Zecca with just over a minute left was the difference in the game for the Tigers. Sheppard had a hand in all three Belton scores with two touchdown passes and a touchdown run. Georgetown’s defense, which struggled at times a year ago, looked in mid-season form last week as the Eagles went on the road and handled Victoria East, 27-0. RB Westin Steward ran for 100 yards and three scores, while Zach Guyton ran for 98 yards in the win. RB Jett Walker, a West Virginia commit, only carried the ball four times in the win as Georgetown looks to manage his workload early in year. One concern for GHS fans going forward will be developing their passing game with a young signal-caller. The Eagles didn’t look sharp in Week 1; that part of the offense will need to improve in order to compete in a tough Region II. Belton is a step up from Victoria East, but Georgetown’s explosive running game is the difference. Stepp’s Pick: Georgetown by 13

Quick Picks

Amarillo (1-0) at San Angelo Central (0-1) Stepp’s Pick: Amarillo by 15

Midland Legacy (1-0) at Euless Trinity (1-0) Stepp’s Pick: Euless Trinity by 20

Trophy Club Nelson (1-0) at Lewisville (1-0) Stepp’s Pick: Lewisville by 2

Katy Tompkins (1-0) at Bridgeland (1-0) Stepp’s Pick: Katy Tompkins by 3

Smithson Valley (1-0) at San Antonio Brennan (1-0) Stepp’s Pick: Smithson Valley by 9

Denton Ryan (1-0) at Mansfield Timberview (1-0) Stepp’s Pick: Denton Ryan by 6

Crosby (0-1) at Iowa Colony (1-0) Stepp’s Pick: Iowa Colony by 21

Humble Kingwood (1-0) at La Porte (1-0) Stepp’s Pick: La Porte by 2

Kerrville Tivy (1-0) at San Antonio Davenport (1-0) Stepp’s Pick: San Antonio Davenport by 3

Edcouch-Elsa (1-0) at Mission Veterans Memorial (1-0) Stepp’s Pick: Mission Veterans Memorial by 6

Last Week’s Record: 14-6

Last Week’s Win Percentage: 70.0%

Season Record: 14-6

Season Win Percentage: 70.0%