Thursday night's statewide must-see high school football action

[caption id="attachment_26287" align="alignright" width="350"]Photo by Dennis Clark Kemp DB Jaise Bowie (Photo by Dennis Clark)[/caption] Week 8’s Thursday slate includes a few state contenders and numerous district showdowns with playoff implications. Oak Ridge at The Woodlands The Woodlands reached our top 5 rankings in Class 6A after a 7-0 start with wins over George Ranch, Katy and Lufkin. The Highlanders could all but wrap up the District 12-6A title with the win. Quarterback Eric Schmid and the offense scored at least 63 points in the first two district games. The defense rebounded from a poor effort (by their standards) against Lufkin in last week’s victory over West Brook, allowing just seven points. Oak Ridge is 2-1 in district play and expected to make the playoffs. Oak Ridge began district play with a win over Conroe before falling the next week to Montgomery. The War Eagles are coming off a win against College Park. Hurst Bell at Euless Trinity This wasn’t expected to be an important game for Euless Trinity entering the season. The Trojans were the favorites in District 5-6A before falling by two touchdowns to Southlake Carroll in Week 6. Trinity remained ranked and was expected to get back on track against Byron Nelson. Instead, Trinity suffered a defeat that sounded alarms throughout the state. To stop the slide, Trinity must defeat rival Bell. The Raiders are 2-4 overall and 0-3 in district play. El Paso Franklin at El Paso El Dorado Two playoff bound teams square off for district seeding Thursday night. El Paso might sport the most consistently strong Thursday slate in the state and Week 8 is no different. Each of these programs enters the game at 2-1 in district play. El Dorado is the favorite, predicted to win District 1-6A before the season. The Aztecs knocked off Eastwood to begin district play before an upset loss to Montwood shook up district projections. Franklin lost to Montwood last week, but beat Pebble Hills and Eastwood to begin district play. Brazoswood at George Ranch A defending state champion faces an early must-win situation. George Ranch moved to Class 6A after winning the Class 5A Division I championship last year and the adjustment isn’t going seamlessly. The Longhorns lost a non-district game to The Woodlands and then lost their first district game of the year last week against Pearland Dawson. With Pearland and an emerging Alief Taylor still remaining on the district schedule, George Ranch needs tonight’s win to allow breathing room for a playoff seed. Dallas Madison at Kemp Officiating conflicts forced a rare small-school Thursday game with playoff implications. Each at 5-1 overall, Madison and Kemp are fighting for a spots along with Grandview and Sunnyvale in District 6-3A D1. Kemp’s lone loss of the season came last week to Grandview, 39-32. Kemp began district play by beating Maypearl and Rice by a combined 89-14. Dallas Madison is also coming off a loss after falling to district favorite Sunnyvale last week.

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