Thursday night's must-see Texas high school football games for Week 3

With several big matchups around the state Thursday night, here are a few that stand out in week three of the Texas high school football season. Graham (2-0) vs. Wichita Falls Hirschi (2-0) One of the top matchups of the night comes at the Class 4A level as two of the classification’s most explosive offenses meet up in Wichita Falls. The Steers beat Sanger convincingly to open the season and then escaped Brownwood with a tight 54-49 win last week. Graham is averaging 55 points per game, so it will be a stiff test for Hirschi’s defense as they take a big jump in competition level. The Huskies have logged dominant wins over Life Oak Cliff (48-0) and Life Waxahachie (56-0), but Graham certainly brings a much bigger challenge to the table. The Huskies offense has thrived behind the efficient play of senior quarterback Mar’tez Vrana, who has thrown nearly as many touchdown passes (6) as incomplete passes (7) this season. He has completed 74 percent of his throws, and has a talented group of receivers led by Javen Banks (202 yards, 3 TDs) and Xavier Wilson (155 yards, 2 TDs). Graham will look to work the ball to running back Chase Gilmore (499 yards, 7 TDs) early and often, while quarterback Tucker Horn (712 yards, 8 TDs) has been impressive as well in the early going. The Huskies will have to find a way to slow down wide receivers Cameron Parker (262 yards, 5 TDs) and Adam Groves (257 yards, 3 TDs). Klein Collins (0-0) vs. Houston Lamar (0-0) Houston schools are making their return to the football field for the first time since Hurricane Harvey, and this game will be a major challenge for both teams as they open up the season. There is a ton of Division I talent on the field, and both teams are ranked in the top 15 of Class 6A. Lamar’s dominant secondary unit, headlined by the highly coveted Anthony Cook and D’Shawn Jamison, will be on display for the first time this year. But Lamar’s offensive unit is just as talented with Texas commit WR Al’Vonte Woodard (909 yards, 15 TDs last year) and RB Ta’Zhawn Henry (1,454 yards, 16 TDs) leading the way. Slowing Lamar down will be a tall task for Collins, but the Tigers will turn to Houston commit LB Donovan Martin to lead the way defensively. Josh Powell (672 yards, 12 TDs) and Isaiah Spiller (550 yards, 8 TDs) will see the majority of the touches out of the backfield as Collins looks to build on last year’s run to the 6A Division II state semifinals. San Antonio Brandeis (1-1) vs. Boerne Champion (1-1) These two teams have only played three times, but when they meet up on the field it’s almost always an entertaining game. Two of the three games have been decided by a field goal or less, including last year when Brandeis squeaked by the Chargers 24-21. Both teams are coming off a win, but Champion will be looking to build some momentum as they head into the start of District 26-5A play next week. Brandeis quarterback Kyle Fitzgerald, who has accounted for 512 total yards and six touchdown, is the focal point of the offense. Champion does most of its damage through the air, as QB Davis Brin (474 yards, 5 TDs) has a trio of receivers on the outside – Chase Locke (189 yards, 3 TDs), Konner Beavers (161 yards) and Austin Jones (130 yards) – that could give Brandeis trouble. Gregory-Portland (0-2) vs. Corpus Christi Carroll (0-2) What better game to kick off the weekend than the DQ Big Game of the Week, especially when it’s a rivalry that’s been as even as the Battle of the Bridge has over the years. The teams are deadlocked (22-22-1) going into their 46^th meeting and will be looking to tilt that balance in a new direction. Gregory-Portland has struggled recently in the series and hasn’t beaten Carroll since 2012 – but former Cameron Yoe coach Rick Rhoades is in year two with the Wildcats and will be looking for that signature victory. The Wildcats will lean heavily on running back Kyle Zipprian offensively while linebackers Sam Guzman and Absar Ali lead the way defensively. Carroll puts a lot on its senior quarterback Michael Garza, who has thrown for 342 yards and six touchdowns through two games. Freshman Jermiah Earls (280 total yards, 3 TDs) can make plays out of the backfield as a runner or in the passing game – the Wildcats will have to find a way to slow him down. El Paso Parkland (2-0) vs. El Paso Eastlake (1-1) Parkland has a chance to make a statement as Eastlake is coming off a tough 28-14 loss to El Paso Chapin last week. The Matadors have scored 55 points in each of their first two wins over El Paso Jefferson and Socorro, but Eastlake will provide a bigger challenge for coach Eric Frontz and company. For Eastlake, the game marks an important bounce-back opportunity in the first game of District 2-5A action. Parkland’s offense has put up crazy numbers through the first two games, as quarterback AJ Briggs (665 yards, 7 TDs) and running back Deion Hankins (382 yards, 6 TDs) have been lighting up the scoreboard. The Matadors have four receivers with more than 100 yards on the season, including Zarcariaous Presha, who leads the way with eight catches for 209 yards and three scores. Eastlake will lean on its passing game behind the play of quarterback Justin White (545 yards, 4 TDs) and WR Ivan Avina (338 yards, 3 TDS), who has been unstoppable thus far. There should be a lot of scoring in this west Texas showdown.

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