Frisco Lone Star (15-0) vs. Smithson Valley (14-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium

Smithson Valley is back in Arlington to defend their state championship after rallying a week ago for a 31-28 win over previously unbeaten Port Arthur Memorial. SVHS trailed 21-7 early and 21-10 at the half before controlling the second half to rally for the win.

QB Ty Knutson tossed two second half touchdown passes and had a touchdown run, while it was all special teams in the first half for Larry Hill’s squad as they got a field goal and a 77-yard kickoff return for Noah Johnson.

Frisco Lone Star trailed powerhouse Aledo with under five minutes left in the game, but Jeff Rayburn’s squad did the impossible by scoring three times down the stretch to stun Aledo, 56-52.

Sophomore QB Trey Wright had a monster game for the second straight week as he threw for 366 yards and five touchdowns and added 177 yards on the ground and three scores. Wright’s four-yard touchdown pass Zach Forbish with under a minute left in the game proved to be the difference.

Florida WR commit Davian Groce had a huge night with 15 catches for 310 yards and four touchdown receptions and he recovered a key onside kick that helped set up the game winner.

This game is going to come down to pace. Smithson Valley doesn’t have the firepower to keep up with Lone Star in a shootout, so if this game gets into the 30’s, things heavily favor Lone Star. But there’s no one better in a rock fight than Smithson Valley, so if this game stays in the 20s, that heavily skews to Smithson Valley.

Stepp’s Pick: Frisco Lone Star 35, Smithson Valley 27

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Frisco Lone Star

Soph. QB Trey Wright - Wright, a first-year starter, is playing like a man possessed. The sophomore has thrown for 3,764 yards and 42 touchdowns and is also Frisco Lone Star’s leading rusher with 1,664 yards and 16 touchdowns. He is an electric factory.

Sr. WR Davian Groce - When Groce entered high school, he was believed to have the capability to be one of the greatest Frisco Lone Star players ever. The Florida signee has lived up to every expectation with 1,471 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns.

Sr. DE Marcel Dominguez - While Dominguez doesn’t have the Power Four offers like many of Frisco Lone Star’s starters, he has big-time production. Ahead of the state semifinal game, Dominguez had 34 TFLs and 19.5 sacks. His constant pressure off the edge could set Smithson Valley behind the chains.

Smithson Valley

Sr. LB Colton Hornsby - Hornsby has been Smithson Valley’s leading tackler two years in a row. The 6-foot-0, 200-pound senior has 123 tackles on the year and is a dynamic blitzer with 12 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks. Can his Smithson Valley defense stop Frisco Lone Star’s, averaging 50.4 points per game in the playoffs?

Sr. DE Hudson Woods - Want to know how tough the face of Smithson Valley’s defense is? Woods played the entirety of Smithson Valley’s state championship season with a fractured wrist. Now fully healthy, the SMU commit is ready to wreak havoc in Frisco Lone Star’s backfield.

Sr. K Trent Amaya - A kicker on the key players to watch? They’re not all built like Amaya, who last year tied a UIL State record with four field goals in the win over Highland Park. Amaya will also be relied on to pin Frisco Lone Star deep in their own territory.

- Carter Yates

PREDICTIONS

THE PICK