One must-see Week 5 game in every 11-man classification

[caption id="attachment_25714" align="alignright" width="350"]Photo by Ronnie Sartors Gilmer Harmony QB Spencer Seahorn (Photo by Ronnie Sartors)[/caption] We’ve reached the important part of the program. For many teams throughout the state, Week 5 is the start, or the continuation, of district play. For the rest, it serves as one of the final opportunities to correct mistakes before games start counting towards playoff projections. If I was you, I’d check out one of these games. 6A: Converse Judson at Cibolo Steele It is hard not to pick Cedar Hill vs. DeSoto in Week 5, but this contest in San Antonio might as easily provide a future state champion. Region IV isn’t the easy walk it was for Steele and Judson in years past with Lake Travis and Westlake joining the picture. Still, the San Antonio powers already proved capable of the task this season with Judson knocking off Lake Travis in Week 1 before Steele fell to the same team in overtime. These programs sport the most pure talent in San Antonio, where it is rarer to see future FBS players litter the field than it is in Dallas or Houston. This game comes down to quarterback play. Judson junior Julon Williams missed last week. If he plays, Judson has a chance to steal bragging rights from Steele quarterback Xavier Martin, who also enters the game with injury concerns. 5A: Denton vs. Denton Ryan Both teams enter the district opener with 4-0 records. It was expected from Denton Ryan, ranked No. 1 in Class 5A entering the season after moving down from Class 6A following the most recent realignment. The Raiders didn’t exactly march through opponents in the opening games, but played their most complete game against Frisco Lone Star. Denton wants to spoil Ryan’s attempt at a District 5-5A title and the Broncos should feel capable after knocking off Class 6A Keller Timber Creek. Denton Ryan enters as the clear favorite, but rivalry games rarely go as predicted. 4A: Geronimo Navarro at Refugio Refugio is ranked No. 1 in Class 2A Division I, but faces a stern test moving up multiple classifications to take on a powerful and undefeated squad. Geronimo Navarro is from Class 4A Division II, so the Bobcats have a strong test in front of them late in non-district play. Refugio is undergoing an offensive change with a bigger emphasis placed on going under center. Geronimo Navarro should have a size and numbers advantage, which could help wear down Refugio’s defense behind a strong Slot-T running attack. 3A: White Oak at Gilmer Harmony Two 4-0 teams from two different divisions within Class 3A offers one of the final cross-division battles before district play begins. Gilmer Harmony, from Class 3A Division I, opened eyes around the state when it ended two-time defending state champion Waskom’s 32-game winning streak. The Eagles offense has scored more than 60 points in three of its four games. White Oak is the bigger school and those number advantages could come into play. White Oak is another team unafraid to score points, leading many to see this contest as one of the more entertaining of the week, at least on paper. 2A: Centerville at Mart An 11-point loss to Trinity was erased from the Centerville memory after a 51-point win over Hardin. Now, the 3-1 Tigers can shake the state rankings up with a road clash against a highly athletic Mart football team. Mart will spread the field and attempt to get playmakers in space, while Centerville wants to control the football, manage the clock and ground out a victory.

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