The must-see Friday night games in every 11-man classification for Week 7

This may very well be the best slate of games all season, as there are exciting matchups in every classification and every region across the state. There are some big games that didn’t make the list, but here are the top showdowns in each classification Friday night: 6A: Lake Travis (4-1) vs. Westlake (6-0) It’s a battle of two of the top teams in Texas as Austin’s most high-profile rivalry adds another chapter. Lake Travis has absolutely dominated the series over the last 10 matchups and beat Westlake twice last season while outscoring the Chaparrals 100-10. There is star power all over the field again this season, as the highflying Lake Travis offense will clash against a physical and experienced Westlake defense. For the Cavaliers, senior Matthew Baldwin has been sensational through five games and is completing almost 70 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,867 yards and 24 touchdowns. Having a receiver like junior Garrett Wilson helps (829 yards, 9 TDs), and that duo will look to find holes in the Chaparrals’ secondary. Westlake will use its run game, led by Nakia Watson (985 yards, 13 TDs) to try to finally get back on track in the rivalry series. This game should be much closer than last year and will be a fun one in Austin. 5A: Highland Park (4-1) vs. West Mesquite (5-0) After a season opening loss to Rockwall, the defending Class 5A DI state champions have survived close tests from Waxahachie, Mansfield Timberview and North Forney. West Mesquite has jumped out to a hot start this year and will provide yet another challenge for the Scots in District 15-5A action. The game is at Highlander Stadium though, and Highland Park hasn’t lost a home game to an in-state opponent since the 1998 season. If the Scots are going to maintain their stranglehold on the rest of the district, it will continue to be by way of quarterback John Stephen Jones (1,329 yards, 15 TDs) and WR Cade Saustad (533 yards, 4 TDs). But the Wranglers have a talented offense of their own, led by QB Connor Neill (781 yards, 11 TDs) and RB Curtis Williams (837 yards, 6 TDs). That duo will look to end Highland Park’s dominance at home while also giving West Mesquite a real statement win in district play. 4A: Fredericksburg (5-1) vs. Boerne (6-0) Boerne has played a killer schedule with games against Somerset, Wimberley and now Fredericksburg over the last few weeks. The Greyhounds have passed every test so far, but now the stakes are higher in the District 14-4A opener. Fredericksburg, on the other hand, is an overtime loss to Wimberley away from being unbeaten on the year as well. The Billies will look to snap Boerne’s hot start through an offense that gets a lot of different athletes involved. Will Flannery (915 total yards, 13 TDs), Hobbs Price (591 total yards, 7 TDs) and Will Sebera (441 yards, 6 TDs) are the main engines of the weapons for coach Lance Moffett. Boerne will attack the Fredericksburg defense through the air with senior QB Brooks Klutts (1,471 yards, 20 TDs) and WR Douglas Hodo III (500 yards, 9 TDs) and Connor Fisher (492 yards, 7 TDs) leading the charge. The rival schools typically play each other close on a yearly basis, but Fredericksburg will have some extra motivation after a 45-14 loss last season. 3A: Holliday (4-1) vs. Nocona (5-0) We mentioned Nocona as a team to keep an eye on in 3A Region II back in the spring, and they’ve earned that distinction so far this season. The Indians returned 17 starters and have yet to even be tested this season as they have shutout four of their five opponents. Nocona has outscored teams 302-26 so far, but rival Holliday will certainly provide a real challenge. The Eagles are coming off their first loss of the season – a 21-7 loss to Class 4A Iowa Park – and will be motivated to get back on track in the District 5-3A opener. Holliday will use RB Justin Jones (716 yards, 14 TDs) to come right at the Nocona defense while the Indians utilize somewhat of a more balanced approach through the play of QB Jeremy James (791 total yards, 17 TDs) and a stable of running backs led by Tanner Cable (431 yards, 8 TDs). The rivalry is always a fun one, and should live up to the hype again. 2A: Abernathy (5-0) vs. Sundown (5-0) It’s always hard to beat a battle of the unbeaten. Abernathy and Sundown will put their perfect records on the line tonight in the District 2-2A opener, and the winner will have a head start in the race for a district title alongside New Deal and Hale Center. The Antelopes’ offense has thrived through the play of sophomore quarterback Bryson Daily (978 total yards, 15 TDs) and junior RB Kole Carlisle (464 yards, 6 TDs). But it’s the defense that’s been stellar thus far, giving up an average of less than 11 points per game. Sundown will look to change that, led by the play of its own sophomore QB, Christian Huey (1,590 total yards, 21 TDs). The Roughnecks haven’t beaten Abernathy since 2011, but this game has all the makings of another exciting finish after last year’s 28-24 Antelopes’ win.

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