Texas High School football playoffs have been nothing short of fast-paced this season. With incredible plays across the state, some of the biggest games, surprises, and wins have come out of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Last week, we saw a ton of hard-fought battles to keep season alive and this week, we can expect much of the same. VYPE DFW takes a deeper look into this week's big matchups.
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Highland Park vs. Frisco Wakleland
Shana Willeford
Highland Park vs. Frisco Wakeland -- Friday, November 19 at 7 p.m.
Highland Park Scots (10-1, 6-0)
After initially dropping their week one matchup, the Scots have won 10-straight games and are ready to continue showing their usual dominant attitude on the gridiron. With a big 45-13 victory over New Caney in the bi-district round last week, the Scots are gearing up to put all of their energy into Friday's matchup against Frisco Wakeland.
Led by Brennan Storer in the pocket, the Scots have been able to score consistently against their opponents. Storer has thrown 25 touchdowns this season on nearly 2,300 passing yards and isn't looking to slow down anytime soon. The Scots defense has also been a strong force on the field and will look to show no mercy to the Wolverines.
Frisco Wakeland Wolverines (8-2, 6-2)
The Wolverines have had a great season so far. Wakeland comes into the area round with a three-game win streak and a hungry spirit. This is a team that is doubted when it comes to playing against powerhouses like Highland Park, but that might be just enough to get the fire lit in their hearts to play the hardest they've played all season in order to put up the numbers they need for a real chance at putting a stop to the Scots' dominance.
Running back Jared White is the player to watch for on the Wolverine's squad. With 1,733 rushing yards White is quick on his feet and a great athlete to keep strong defenses on their toes. White has scored 24 touchdowns on the season and can be expected to put up a fight on Friday. Wakeland's defense is going to have to play stronger and faster than they have all season if they want to put Highland Park's lights out.
What to Expect:
On paper this game belongs to Highland Park, however this season has seen plenty of upsets. Wakeland might have some tricks up their sleeves when it comes to putting their best foot forward and coming in strong against an unsuspecting Scots' team.
▲Prosper vs. Grand Prairie
Neena Sidhu (VYPEU - VYPE Media)
Prosper vs. Grand Prairie -- Friday, November 19 at 7 p.m.
Prosper Eagles (7-4, 3-3)
Prosper has been quite the surprising team this season. Posting a rollercoaster season, the Eagles have come into playoffs and made everyone who ever doubted them take a second look. Before heading into playoffs, Prosper posted the biggest win in DFW- a 28-23 victory over Allen. So far in playoffs, Prosper has posted a surprising victory over Flower Mound Marcus.
The Eagles are led by quarterback Harrison Rosar who has acted calm, cool, and collected in the pocket. With nearly 2,400 passing yards and 26 passing touchdowns, Rosar is a strong force for the Eagles. Rosar is also quick on his feet and makes big-time rushing plays when necessary.
Grand Prairie Gophers (7-4, 5-1)
Grand Prairie is on a mission this season to change the way fans look at the team. Posting their first playoff win since 1989 with a 29-22 victory over Richardson Berkner last week, the Gophers are looking to continue playing strong and advancing on Friday night.
Led by Savion Red, the Gophers are known for being a team that gets the work done on the ground. In fact, this season the team has scored a total of only nine passing touchdowns. Red, having thrown seven of those nine, has mostly kept the ball and taken things into his own hand. Red has tallied 20 rushing touchdowns and 1,359 rushing yards on 152 carries. Second in scoring for the Gophers is Drew Damper who has 14 touchdowns this season on 154 carries.
What to Expect:
Grand Prairie is going to have to mix things up against Prosper if they expect to keep their season alive. Grand Prairie has been used to moving it down the field on foot this season and Prosper's defense is going to figure that out very quickly. If Grand Prairie doesn't mix it up, Prosper has this win in the bag.
▲Frisco Lone Star vs. College Station
Frisco Lone Star vs. College Station -- Friday, November 19 at 7 p.m.
Frisco Lone Star Rangers (9-2, 7-1)
The Rangers are consistent when it comes to Texas High School Football... especially in the playoffs. With the drive to go far every season, Frisco Lone Star battles to get the job done every single time they step foot onto the field. Fans should expect nothing less on Friday night as they take on College Station.
Running back and Boise State commit, Ashton Jeanty, has been one of the strongest forces on the field this season for the Rangers. Jeanty has tallied 1,772 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns while also tallying 10 receiving touchdowns on 39 catches. Quarterback Garrett Rangel has thrown 22 touchdown passes this season and will look to continue his record of excellence on Friday night.
College Station Cougars (11-0, 8-0)
Coming into this game undefeated, the Cougars definitely have an edge. They have shut down every single opponent this season and will be looking to do the same to a strong Frisco Lone Star team on Friday. With a strong offense and an even stronger defense, College Station is looking to continue their undefeated streak on the season.
Players to watch out for on the Cougars side includes quarterback Jett Huff who has thrown 39 touchdowns this season. Marquis Collins will be another player that keeps Lone Star on their toes. Collins has rushed for 21 touchdowns while tallying nearly 1,700 rushing yards on the season.
What to Expect:
This game is going to be a challenge for Frisco Lone Star, but the Rangers are used to shining under adversity. College Station is going to play tough right out of the tunnel, so the Rangers defense is going to have to make sure they brought their A-game. College Station is the favorite, but Lone Star shouldn't be slept on.
▲Melissa vs. Midlothian Heritage
Melissa vs. Midlothian Heritage -- Friday, November 19 at 7 p.m.
Melissa Cardinals (9-2, 6-0)
The Cardinals have had an incredible season in which they finished at the top of their district. Posting a 6-0 district record- including a shut-out win over Argyle, Melissa has been nearly unstoppable on the season. With a nine-game win-streak as they head into the area round, fans can expect to see the Cardinals play stronger than ever.
Melissa is led by Sam Fennegan who has thrown 31 passes so far on the season with 2,238 passing yards. Fennegan has also rushed for four touchdowns. The Cardinals' lead rusher is Ashton Mitchell-Johnson. Mitchell-Johnson has rushed for 14 touchdowns this season.
Midlothian Heritage Jaguars (8-3, 3-2)
Midlothian Heritage posted quite the roller-coaster season. Despite a couple of losses, the Jaguars have been able to score and keep their season alive. The defense has been strong as they have been able to hold their opponents to a combined 242 points all season.
Players to keep your eyes on for the Jaguars are senior quarterback Kaden Brown and junior Mason O'Neal. Brown has been a dominant force not only in the pocket where he has thrown 19 touchdowns this season, but also on his feet as he has rushed for a team-high of 15 rushing touchdowns. O'Neal has scored nine rushing touchdowns this season.
What to Expect:
Midlothian Heritage is strong at running the ball, but Melissa's defense just might be able to read right through that. Melissa's defense has been able to step up to the challenge of big games all season- fans can expect the same in the area round of Texas High School football playoffs!
▲Rockwall vs. DeSoto
Shana Willeford (VYPE Media)
Rockwall vs. DeSoto -- Saturday, November 20 at 7 p.m.
Rockwall Yellowjackets (9-2, 5-1)
The Yellowjackets have had a season to be proud of no matter how Saturday's game goes. The Yellowjackets have made big defensive plays all season, but more than that the entire team has been a body of one working cohesively to complete wins whenever necessary.
Led by quarterback Braedyn Locke, the Yellowjackets offense has been one of the strongest forces in the DFW area. Locke has thrown 35 touchdowns on the season with a 66% pass completion while tallying 3,339 total yards. Locke has posted four games this season with over 400 passing yards.
DeSoto Eagles (9-2, 6-1)
DeSoto has posted an 82% win percentage as they have plowed through opponents on their way through the season. With a defense that has been a driving force, DeSoto will look to shut down a strong Rockwall team on Saturday.
DeSoto hosts Oregon pledge Stephon Johnson, Johntay Cook, and Mike Murphy who have been on another level all season. The trio of receivers have combined for 35 touchdown receptions on the year and will look to continue to add to that.
What to Expect:
DeSoto is ready to go head-to-head against a strong Rockwall team. This game is a rematch of last year's second-round playoff game in which DeSoto won 30-27. The Eagles are going to want to do everything the can to show that they can beat Rockwall again- this time by a larger margin. Rockwall, however, is not going to go down without a fight. In fact, the way Locke and company have been playing all season, it would be surprising to see Rockwall go down at all!
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