Previews and predictions for notable high school football games, including a clash between two surprise teams

SportsDayHS staff writer Joseph Hoyt breaks down the biggest area games, played on Oct. 15-17, as well as impact players to watch and picks his winners.

TC-Cedar Hill vs. DeSoto

Where: 7:00 p.m. Friday at DeSoto

TC-Cedar Hill has mostly played a national schedule this season, but now it’ll take on one of the Dallas-area’s best teams. DeSoto, due to COVID-19 cases at Prosper, has only played one game, but it was an impressive one. The Eagles shutout state-ranked Converse Judson 37-0. Illinois pledge Samari Collier found wide open receivers, including Jerand Bradley and Jaedon Wilson, all night. TC-Cedar Hill, at 5-2 and led by Florida Atlantic pledge Shedeur Sanders, will also have their hands full with a tough DeSoto defense.

Hoyt’s pick: DeSoto 35, TC-Cedar Hill 14

South Grand Prairie vs. Arlington Bowie

Where: 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Arlington’s Wilemon Field

This may be the toughest area matchup to pick this week. South Grand Prairie is the No. 12 team in the area 6A rankings. Arlington Bowie is right behind the Warriors at No. 13. Both teams are also 2-0 so far. South Grand Prairie has three Division I-bound senior receivers, including Josh Nicholson, a Weber State pledge who has nine receptions for 263 yards and four touchdowns. Arlington Bowie has one of the best juniors in the nation in five-star offensive tackle Devon Campbell. Navy pledge Drevonn Ponder is also one to watch for Bowie.

Hoyt’s pick: South Grand Prairie 24, Arlington Bowie 21

Arlington Sam Houston vs. Grand Prairie

Where: 7:00 p.m. Friday at Grand Prairie’s Gopher-Warrior Bowl

You’d have to go back to 2015 to find the last time Grand Prairie was 2-0. The Gophers have defeated McKinney Boyd and Mesquite so far. Grand Prairie quarterback Michael Stallworth had a big game last week, finishing with 162 rushing yards. Junior wide receiver Savion Red, a SMU pledge, is a player the Arlington Sam Houston defense will have to keep an eye on. Speaking of players to watch, Sam Houston quarterback Omari Milton is coming off a huge game. He had six total touchdowns last week and threw for 339 yards.

Hoyt’s pick: Grand Prairie 28, Arlington Sam Houston 27

Denton Braswell vs. Northwest Eaton

Where: 7:00 p.m. Friday at Northwest ISD Stadium

Anytime a team makes the jump up in a classification there are some expected struggles. Denton Braswell, a school that made its first postseason trip a year ago, has looked good at the 6A level. The Bengals offense deserves a lot of credit. Quarterback Tristan McClary leads the Dallas area in passing and has thrown 14 touchdowns. Cam Smith and JK Carter are both in the top five for receiving. Northwest Eaton (2-1) looked good in the first half against Hebron last week, but fell off in the second half. Eaton will need a big time defensive effort this week.

Hoyt’s pick: Denton Braswell 42, Northwest Eaton 21

Arlington vs. Arlington Martin

Where: 7:00 p.m. Friday at Globe Life Park in Arlington

Arlington ISD, as it is seemingly every year, has a lot of talent across the board, but this week’s matchup could be between the district’s two best teams. Arlington Martin, the No. 10 6A team in the area, has rebounded with two wins after a season-opening loss to Arlington. Defensive back Lenard Lemons had two kickoff returns for touchdowns last week, so he could be an X-factor in this week’s game. Arlington’s only loss was a seven-point defeat to state-ranked Cedar Hill. Arington junior running back Rodney Talton II had five touchdowns last week.

Hoyt’s pick: Arlington Martin 17, Arlington 14

South Oak Cliff vs. Hillcrest

Where: 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Hillcrest

South Oak Cliff faced one of the toughest teams in the country in a Week 1 loss to Duncanville, but bounced back nicely with a 63-0 win over Spruce. The Golden Bears needed only eight plays to score 28 points in the first quarter. Kevin Henry-Jennings completed all nine passes, five of which went for touchdowns, and San Diego State-bound running back Cam Davis needed only six carries to total 141 yards and a touchdown. Davis isn’t the only talented running back in this game. Hillcrest’s Nasir Reynolds has nearly 300 yards rushing through two games.

Hoyt’s pick: South Oak Cliff 56, Hillcrest 14

McKinney North vs. Rockwall-Heath

Where: 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Rockwall’s Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium

You want offense? This is the game to watch. Rockwall-Heath is 2-1 thanks to its explosive offense. The Hawks, led by junior quarterback Josh Hoover and running back Zach Evans, scored 72 in a Week 1 win over Lewisville, 57 in a loss to Southlake Carroll and 38 last week in a win over McKinney Boyd. The Heath defense showed up last week, too, pitching a shutout. McKinney North is off to an 0-2 start, and the Bulldogs lost a lot of talent, but they did have one of the best offenses in the state last year and still have electric receiver JJ Henry.

Hoyt’s pick: Rockwall-Heath 63, McKinney North 35

Plano Prestonwood vs. Parish Episcopal

Where: 7:00 p.m. Friday at Parish Episcopal

Parish Episcopal, last year’s TAPPS Division I state championship, is off to another good start this year, though its most recent finish was a close one. SMU pledge Preston Stone, the top-ranked quarterback in the SportsDayHS Top 100 recruiting rankings, fired a touchdown pass to Jai Moore with four seconds left to beat Midland Christian 32-28 last week. Parish Episcopal hasn’t lost since Sept. 27 of last season. Plano Prestonwood has played well in its three games, but enters with a 1-2 record. Dual-threat sophomore QB Maguire Martin is one to keep an eye on.

Hoyt’s pick: Parish Episcopal 35, Plano Prestonwood 21

Fort Worth All Saints vs. Fort Worth Nolan

Where: 7:00 p.m. Friday at Fort Worth Nolan

Fort Worth Nolan originally was slated for a revenge game against John Paul II, the same team that ended Nolan’s undefeated season last year, but that game was canceled. Enter another formidable opponent: 1-0 Fort Worth All Saints. This matchup will also feature plenty of Division I talent. All Saints has Alabama pledges James and Tommy Brockermeyer on the offensive line and Michigan State-bound quarterback Hamp Fay. Tommy is the top-ranked recruit in the SportsDayHS Top 100. Nolan has junior running back Emeka Megwa, a four-star recruit with over 30 scholarship offers.

Hoyt’s pick: Fort Worth All Saints 28, Fort Worth Nolan 24

Aubrey vs. Sanger

Where: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Sanger

Sanger is one of the surprise teams in the state. The program entered with one win in its last two seasons, but through six games this year is still undefeated. The combination of Rylan Smart and Tallyn Wellborn has been key for Sanger. Aubrey, at 6-1, is another one of the area’s surprise teams. The key to Aubrey’s offense has been a powerful rushing attack. Last week, the Chaparrals had more than 300 yards rushing in a win over Celina. Two-way starter Martavious Hill had three rushing touchdowns and multiple big plays on defense.

Hoyt’s pick: Aubrey 21, Sanger 17

Hot ticket: Cedar Hill vs. Aledo

Where: 7:00 p.m. Friday at Aledo

This week’s hot ticket wasn’t originally on the schedule, but due to COVID-19 issues at opposing schools, these two state elites found each other. Aledo, the two-time reigning 5A-II state champions, are undefeated once again, including a two-point win over a talented Frisco Lone Star team. Jojo Earle, a LSU pledge, is electric with the ball in his hands. Cedar Hill also has some players like that, including Tennessee-bound quarterback Kaidon Salter. Texas Tech pledge Charles Esters and junior corner Jalon Peoples lead a Longhorns defense that will have to be stout.

Hoyt’s pick: Cedar Hill 31, Aledo 28

Spotlight: Highland Park vs. Rockwall

Where: 7:30 p.m. at Rockwall’s Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium

A matchup so nice they played it twice — and then three more times. This game will mark the fifth straight season Highland Park and Rockwall have played each other. This year, once again, features two talented quarterbacks. Highland Park senior Brayden Schager, a Hawaii pledge, made his first varsity start last weekend and threw an interception on his first pass, but bounced back beautifully with four total touchdowns. Rockwall junior Braedyn Locke has been dominant in his second season throwing to a deep receiving corps led by Jax Johnson and Goodnews Iwuamadi.

Hoyt’s pick: Rockwall 43, Highland Park 42

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