North Crowley (12-1) vs Allen (13-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Denton’s DATCU Stadium: For the third year in a row, we get North Crowley and Allen in the regional final. The previous two seasons, North Crowley’s had Allen’s number. Can a senior laden Allen squad get past DFW’s newest 6A powerhouse? Last week North Crowley put together maybe their most impressive effort of the season as they blasted a surging Coppell squad, 46-21. The Panthers defense was absolutely dominant in holding Coppell to just 169 yards of offense. They got not one, but two safeties on the afternoon. The NCHS running game was sensational with Kiante Ingram running for 140 yards and a score. G’Yrell Smith ran for 50 yards and three scores. Jeremiah Robertson had 56 yards with a score and QB Hayes Cloutier ran for 92 yards. Cloutier added 229 yards through the air and a touchdown pass to lead the Panthers offense. Allen’s fresh off a dominant 56-13 win over Odessa Permian a week ago. The Eagles got 134 yards and three rushing touchdowns from RB Lyndon Spriggs and 62 yards and two scores from RB Jaden Hambric. Allen’s defense allowed just 212 yards of offense, much of it in the second half after Allen had established a 42-0 lead early in the third quarter. The key to this game is which defense can stop the run. Both teams love to run the ball and use the pass as a compliment. Allen has been reluctant to throw the deep ball and against this North Crowley secondary that might be trouble anyway. Whoever can consistently run the ball and get into manageable down and distance wins this game. North Crowley has the pedigree. This one is closer than the last two years, but the Panthers get to the semifinals once again. Stepp’s Pick: North Crowley by 5

Duncanville (10-1) vs Waxahachie (11-1), 3 p.m. Saturday at Midlothian’s Midlothian ISD Stadium: Early in the season, Waxahachie got the statement win they were looking for as the Indians stunned Duncanville at home 28-27. The very next week Waxahachie got boat-raced by DeSoto and they fell out of the statewide discussion. Duncanville, after that loss, began to figure out their identity after playing just one non-district game and the Panthers have rattled off nine straight wins. Waxahachie gets a chance to prove once and for all they are ready for the big stage as the long-awaited rematch takes place in front of what should be a standing room only crowd in Midlothian. Last week Waxahachie nearly didn’t have a chance to get that second win over Duncanville as the Indians trailed Cy Ranch 31-21 with two minutes left. But the Indians rallied to send the game into overtime in the game’s dying moments and then after a Nolan Barnard touchdown run to put WHS up 38-31, they got a defensive stop and survived Cy Ranch’s upset bid. Waxahachie was unable to consistently run the ball, but TCU QB commit Jerry Meyer, III saved his best game for a key moment throwing for 353 yards and two scores. Texas WR commit Kohen Brown led the Indians with seven catches for 137 yards and a score. Duncanville looked every bit the state title contender last week as the Panthers raced past Klein Collins 34-7. A 21-point second quarter outburst was the key for Duncanville as they’ve found a running game using speedy WR Ayson Theus as a wildcat quarterback, while a trio of speedy WR’s give the Panthers some dangerous big play weapons. Duncanville’s defensive line is among the best in the state; they make life miserable on opposing QBs and they do a great job against the run. This will be an absolute slugfest with elite talent all over the field, but beating Duncanville twice in the same season is a monumental task and I’m not sure Waxahachie is ready for that step at the moment. Stepp’s Pick: Duncanville by 9

Galena Park North Shore (11-2) vs Dickinson (13-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Houston’s TDECU Stadium: 

The team of record when it comes to Houston football over the past seven years is without question the North Shore Mustangs. Willie Gaston’s squad is looking for their eighth straight regional title this week and to do so, they’ll have to get past unbeaten Dickinson, who is seeking their first regional title since 1977 when they won the Class 3A state title. The last time the Gators made it this far was 2015, when they ran into eventual state champion North Shore. Both teams were dominant last week in regional semifinal wins as North Shore blew past Cy Falls, 54-27. Utah State QB commit Kaleb Maryland continues to deliver for the Mustangs accounting for 299 yards of offense and three touchdown passes as the balanced Mustangs roared out to a 42-7 lead after three quarters before pulling their starters heading into the fourth quarter. The Mustangs defense the last two weeks has been the epitome of North Shore football, flying around and playing fast and physical. They’ll face their biggest test this week against a battle-tested Dickinson squad who owns wins over Katy, Sheldon King and Pearland to name a few. The Gators rolled through Strake Jesuit, 55-16, last week as QB Lorenzo Aguirre tossed three touchdown passes and Kaileb Peterson ran for a pair of scores as DHS roared out to a 49-0 halftime lead. Even more impressive was the Gators defense. They held Strake RB John Hebert under 100 yards on the ground, the first time in two years he’s been held under the century-mark in a game. This will be a beautiful street-fight to watch, two extremely talented teams who thrive playing a physical brand of football. The defense that can get off the field on third down and force a turnover or two in key moments will be the difference. I picked against North Shore two weeks ago and I’m not making that mistake twice. The ‘Stangs get it done once again. Stepp’s Pick: Galena Park North Shore by 6

Humble Summer Creek (12-1) vs Sheldon King (11-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Houston’s Thorne Stadium: The rematch theme is real this week and this is another one of the 19 UIL 11-man rematches. The regular season meeting, CE King raced out to a 42-0 halftime lead, but Summer Creek rallied to make it a game before falling, 42-28. Summer Creek dug themselves a hole last week against Katy, falling behind 14-0 and 21-7. But the Bulldogs rallied late to win it 38-37. With 17 seconds left, WR Trenton Thomas made his only catch of the game in the biggest moment on 4th-and-8 as he hauled in the game winning touchdown from QB Noah Spinks and the PAT proved to be the difference. Spinks ended up with three touchdown passes, while Texas Tech WR commit Benny Easter had a kickoff return for a score. Sheldon King’s game was much less exciting as the Panthers ripped through Katy Jordan 52-0. Stepp’s Pick: Summer Creek by 3

Denton Ryan (12-1) vs Aledo (13-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Justin’s Northwest ISD Stadium: For the fourth time in the last two seasons, we get Ryan and Aledo. Aledo’s taken both regular season wins while Ryan took last year’s matchup in the regional final. Both teams come in playing their best football of the season, so expect nothing less than an absolute banger. Ryan rolled past Richland 41-10 last week as QB Quin Henigan threw for 206 yards and three scores. RB’s Rontavian Brown and Tre’Vaughn Reynolds combined for 198 yards on the ground and two scores. The last two weeks in wins over Abilene and Richland, the Denton Ryan offense has started operating at peak levels. Aledo since switching to Lincoln Tubbs at the QB spot full-time has been an offensive machine. Last week the Bearcats ripped through upstart Fort Worth Arlington Heights, 55-0, as multiple Bearcats had strong games, including Tubbs and RB’s Kaden Winfield and Brady Powell. The Aledo defense continued their stellar play as they held Arlington Heights to just 65 yards of offense. The regular season meeting was a game best described as a rock-fight; Aledo took home a 15-14 come from behind win to keep their long winning streak alive. Expect another low scoring game with both defenses being absolutely dominant. The difference is Aledo’s newly found firepower with QB Tubbs. This one is close for three quarters, but Aledo’s offense is the key late. Stepp’s Pick: Aledo by 9

Frisco Lone Star (13-0) vs Highland Park (12-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Frisco’s Ford Center: It’s a rematch of last year’s regional final won by Highland Park. Unbeaten Lone Star has the firepower to take the Scots down. Despite the game being in Frisco, it feels like a HPHS home game considering the Scots have never lost at the Ford Center. Jeff Rayburn’s squad cruised past West Mesquite, 47-20, last week as the Rangers stars rose the occasion. ATH Davian Groce had 81 receiving yards and two scores; he added 68 yards on the ground and a score. Karece Hoyt ran for 68 yards and a score and sophomore QB Trey Wright ran for 114 yards and a score, while throwing for 191 yards and two scores. Lone Star’s defense was stellar as well as they were key in helping the Rangers race out to a 40-0 lead. Highland Park has been the bane of Frisco ISD’s existence the past two seasons winning the last five playoff games against Frisco ISD opponents. Last week Randy Allen’s bunch cruised past Frisco Wakeland by an identical 47-20 score. Junior QB Buck Randall was lethal completing 20 of 27 passes for 268 yards and three scores and he added a touchdown on the ground as well. Both defenses this year have been much maligned at times and have given up points. The winner of this game will make key plays on defense; both offenses seem to be a push. I think it’s crazy to pick against Highland Park in the Ford Center, but I think it’s Lone Star’s time. Stepp’s Pick: Frisco Lone Star by 3

Melissa (10-2) vs Argyle (12-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Arlington’s Choctaw Stadium: Melissa will look to dethrone defending regional champion Argyle in a game that many projected would happen before the season started. Melissa dominated district rival Anna, 49-7, last week as the Cardinals defense totally dominated Anna to just 180 yards of offense and three turnovers. Melissa QB Brett Holloway had a monster night for the Cardinals rushing for 300 yards and two scores, while also throwing for 155 yards and three scores. The story though is Holloway’s ejection from the game in the second half, which will cause him to sit out the first half of this week’s game (pending appeal). Argyle used a flamethrower offense to roll past previously unbeaten Prosper Walnut Grove, 59-42, last week. QB Maguire Gasperson had a huge afternoon with 332 yards through the air and four scores, while adding 45 yards on the ground and a score. Julian Caldwell was his top target with 10 catches for 164 yards and two scores. The key here is how Melissa handles the first half without their QB. If they can keep it close at half, they could get a shot of momentum with Holloway entering the game in the third. I don’t know if the Cardinals can move the ball efficiently without Holloway, and I think Argyle gets out to a big lead and holds off the Cardinals in the second half. Stepp’s Pick: Argyle by 10

South Oak Cliff (12-1) vs Port Neches-Groves (13-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bryan’s Green Stadium: 

For the fourth year in a row, we get a matchup of South Oak Cliff and Port Neches-Groves, two of the best programs in TXHSFB over the past few seasons. South Oak Cliff will look to take down their second straight undefeated opponent. Last week the Golden Bears, on the strength of a bruising running game, raced past Terrell, 45-17. SOC ran for 498 yards with Levon Morton and Mikhail Trotter combining for 473 yards rushing and five scores. The Golden Bears defense forced a couple of key turnovers, which allowed SOC to pull away from a feisty Terrell squad. Unbeaten Port Neches-Groves was pummeled by SOC a year ago and no doubt the Indians haven’t forgotten that lopsided defeat. They nearly weren’t able to get to this game as the normally potent Indians attack struggled mightily in a 17-14 win over Midlothian Heritage. However, despite the offensive struggles, PNG’s defense was outstanding and held them into the game until their offense could find some second half footing. Sophomore QB Jake Ashworth, who stepped in two weeks ago for injured QB Connor Bailey, looked great in his first start against Ennis, but he looked more like a sophomore last week. It’s a lot to ask a sophomore in his third career start to play in a playoff game, much less a regional final against maybe the state’s best team. If PNG pulls this one off it might be head coach Jeff Joseph’s best job of wizardry yet. Stepp’s Pick: South Oak Cliff by 18

Richmond Randle (13-0) vs Iowa Colony (12-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Katy’s Legacy Stadium: 

For the fourth time in the past two seasons, Randle and Iowa Colony meet up. Since moving up to 5A in 2024, Iowa Colony has posted an incredible 24-3 record, but all three loses have come at the hands of Randle, including the last two meetings coming in overtime. If Iowa Colony is going to pull the upset, they’ve got to sellout to slow down Randle RB Landen Williams-Callis, who looked completely healthy rushing for 319 yards and six touchdowns in last week’s 83-20 demolition of Bastrop. However, selling out to slow Williams-Callis may still make things tough since QB Tyler Skrabanek looked outstanding as well with 188 yards passing and a score to lead the Lions offense. Iowa Colony got pushed last week and needed a late defensive stand with an interception to hold off a Brenham upset bid in a 31-30 win. RB Aaron Tenner had a strong night with 223 yards and a score, while QB Carson White and WR Jayden Warren connected for two touchdown tosses. White’s touchdown run with 6:36 left proved to be the difference and put ICHS ahead for good. It’s tough to beat a good team twice, much less four straight times. I think Iowa Colony’s defense finds a way to slow the Randle running game down and gets that long-awaited win. Stepp’s Pick: Iowa Colony by 2

Quick Picks

Denton Guyer (11-2) vs Southlake Carroll (13-0), 2 p.m. Saturday at Fort Worth’s Crowley ISD Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Southlake Carroll by 16

DeSoto (10-3) vs Willis (11-2), 3 p.m. Saturday at Waco’s McLane Stadium Stepp’s Pick: DeSoto by 24

Austin Vandegrift (11-2) vs Dripping Springs (12-1), 3 p.m. Saturday at San Antonio’s Alamodome Stepp’s Pick: Dripping Springs by 11

Port Arthur Memorial (13-0) vs Barbers Hill (10-3), 5 p.m. Saturday at Beaumont’s Doggett Family Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Port Arthur Memorial by 13

Smithson Valley (12-1) vs New Braunfels (11-2), 7 p.m. Friday at San Antonio’s Alamodome Stepp’s Pick: Smithson Valley by 17

Boerne (12-1) vs Alamo Heights (12-1), 7 p.m. Friday at San Antonio’s Alamo Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Alamo Heights by 3

Last Week’s Record: 29-3

Last Week’s Win %: 90.6%

Playoff Record: 83-13

Playoff Win %: 86.5%

Season Record: 221-75

Season Win %: 74.7%