AREA PREVIEW: Breaking down the biggest games in Texas high school football

San Angelo Central (11-0) vs. Mansfield (10-1) Friday 7:00pm at Mansfield’s Newsom Stadium: Unbeaten San Angelo Central comes up to DFW to take on 10-1 Mansfield in one of the marquee games of the weekend. The Bobcats managed to start 11-0 despite being hit incredibly hard by the injury bug and a lot of it is due to the play of junior QB Maverick McIvor. Last week, the Bobcats knocked off El Paso Pebble Hills 35-20 as McIvor tossed four touchdowns and DeMarcus Cobb’s 60-yard touchdown run in the third quarter proved to be the difference. Central faces a tough challenge this week against a Mansfield team that is still as physical as ever on both sides of the ball. The Tigers had no trouble with Keller Central in an easy 42-3 win as Baylor-commit WR Jackson Gleeson had two long touchdown catches and the Tigers defense led by UCLA-commit Cam’ron Jones held Keller Central to just 94 yards of offense and four first downs. This game comes down to San Angelo Central’s offense. If it turns into a track meet, Mansfield out of its element, Central has a shot here. But if Mansfield slows it down and churns out first downs, San Angelo’s smallish defensive line may get worn down. Stepp’s Pick: Mansfield by 10 Max’s Pick: Mansfield Ishmael’s Pick: Mansfield Brady’s Pick: Mansfield Check out Tepper's pick — along with his picks for the other 175 TXHSFB playoff games this week Odessa Permian (9-1) vs. Arlington Martin (10-1) Friday 3:30pm at Arlington’s Maverick Stadium: MOJO heads east this week as the Panthers lost the home-and-home flip and have to take on a very strong and very underrated Arlington Martin squad on the road. Odessa Permian has the edge of being accustomed to travel so that edge is diminished a bit. Last week Permian turned on the jets in the second half and rolled past El Paso Coronado, 50-17. The Panthers led just 14-10 at halftime, but a huge second half from RB Ed Williams, who finished with 290 yards rushing and four touchdowns, gave Permian the ability to pull away for the win. Navy-commit Steve Steen is going to have to be more of a factor this week in order for MOJO to beat Marti. They have to throw the ball as the Warriors typically feast on one-dimensional offenses. The Warriors annihilated Keller High last week, 62-0, and QB Juma Otoviano didn’t need to have a monster game as Martin’s defense scored three first half touchdowns to take a 42-0 halftime lead and put things on cruise control from there. Martin’s speed on defense will cause Permian some problems and the Panthers haven’t seen that this year. But this game will hinge on Permian being able to hurt Martin throwing the ball. If WR Brother Miller has a big game MOJO can pull the upset. If Permian gets stubborn and doesn’t mix it up, Arlington Martin could roll. Stepp’s Pick: Arlington Martin by 14 Max’s Pick: Martin Ishmael’s Pick: Martin Brady’s Pick: Martin Check out Tepper's pick — along with his picks for the other 175 TXHSFB playoff games this week Coppell (10-1) vs. Mesquite Horn (10-1) Friday 1:00pm at Allen’s Eagle Stadium: With Rockwall’s upset of The Woodlands last week, things have opened up big time in 6A Division I Region II and the winner of this big-time matchup could benefit. Coppell rolled past Rowlett a week ago, 37-6, as the Cowboys defense benefitted from three Rowlett turnovers and QB Brady McBride tossed three touchdown passes on his nine completions. Mesquite Horn got off to a bit of a slow start last week getting down 10-0 early, but the Jags turned it on and rolled past Conroe Oak Ridge, 45-24. QB Jermaine Givens was the star for the Jaguars in the win tallying 408 yards of total offense and five total touchdowns to lead an explosive offensive attack. Mesquite Horn threw out a new wrinkle on defense as well inserting star WR Maureese Wren in on passing downs and he proved to be handful off the edge. The key matchup here is Coppell’s defense against the Horn offense. The Cowboys should have a big edge with their defensive line and if they can keep Givens corralled in the pocket and take away Horn’s ability to run the ball, I expect the Cowboys to win. Stepp’s Pick: Coppell by 9 Max’s Pick: Coppell Ishmael’s Pick: Coppell Brady’s Pick: Coppell Check out Tepper's pick — along with his picks for the other 175 TXHSFB playoff games this week Houston Lamar (8-1) vs. Fort Bend Ridge Point (9-1) Friday 12:00pm at Katy’s Legacy Stadium: Ultra-talented Houston Lamar was almost sent packing in the bi-district round, but won a 14-10 slugfest with feisty Cypress Falls last week. The Texans trailed 10-0 for most of the first half, but Alvonte Woodard’s touchdown catch from Ty Holden got them on the board and Holden’s run early in the third quarter proved to be enough. Lamar is the lone Houston ISD team who advanced out of the first round.  Fort Bend Ridge Point handled Katy Cinco Ranch, 40-23, last week as the Panthers got 361 passing yards and two touchdowns from QB Aaron Allen in the win. The Panthers have the physical style in the trenches that often gives Lamar trouble and will be more athletic at the skill spots than Cy Falls was last week. The key for Ridge Point is getting the running attack going. Lamar’s secondary is one of the state’s best so it’s doubtful that RPHS will have the kind of success in the air it had last week. Stepp’s Pick: Fort Bend Ridge Point by 10 Max’s Pick: Ridge Point Ishmael’s Pick: Ridge Point Brady’s Pick: Lamar Check out Tepper's pick — along with his picks for the other 175 TXHSFB playoff games this week Lake Travis (9-2) vs. Converse Judson (10-1) Saturday 2:00pm at Austin’s DKR Memorial Stadium: It’s a rematch of the Week 1 matchup that was broadcasted live statewide; when University of Houston commit Julon Williams introduced himself and his Judson Rockets as a real state title contender with a convincing win over the defending state champions. The rematch has some interesting storylines. The first being with the signal callers. Lake Travis QB Matt Baldwin, who recently received an offer from Ohio State (yet is still committed to Colorado State), did not play in last week’s 49-14 win over San Antonio Madison with an undisclosed injury, while Judson’s Julon Williams missed several weeks late in the season with an injury. Williams played the last two weeks, but there are still questions if he’s 100 percent, especially if he needs to make plays with his feet. Last week, Williams threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns, but only carried the ball twice for 18 yards. Most of the heavy-lifting was done by Sincere McCormick who had 220 yards rushing and three touchdowns on just five carries. If Williams has the ability to run and make plays with his feet, I’m not sure Lake Travis can slow down Judson, but I’m not convinced Williams has that ability right now. I think Baldwin plays and Lake Travis has shown its offense is still has potent as ever. I’m taking Lake Travis to take Judson down in a thriller. Stepp’s Pick: Lake Travis by 4 Max’s Pick: Converse Judson Ishmael’s Pick: Converse Judson Brady’s Pick: Converse Judson Check out Tepper's pick — along with his picks for the other 175 TXHSFB playoff games this week

Austin Westlake (11-0) vs. Smithson Valley (10-1) Friday 1:00pm at San Antonio’s Alamo Stadium: Austin Westlake was one of the teams who first embraced the spread offense and they’re led by one of the real innovators of modern offense in head coach Todd Dodge. However, this version of the Chaparrals gets it done with an old school approach that revolves around a punishing ground attack and solid defense. Westlake rolled past San Antonio MacArthur 62-14 a week ago as QB Taylor Anderson accounted for seven total touchdowns to lead the way, but this week against a tough and disciplined Smithson Valley squad, look for Westlake to rely heavily on RB Nakia Watson, a Wisconsin verbal commit. Smithson Valley is anything but flashy, but Larry Hill’s squad gets the job done more often than not and that includes a win over Converse Judson, who was ranked No. 1  in the state at the time. Last week, the Rangers stuck to the script in a 37-9 win over San Antonio Jay. QB Levi Williams tossed three touchdown passes and the SVHS defense contained an outstanding Jay Mustang offense. I think Smithson Valley turns this into an ugly slugfest type game, but this edition of Austin Westlake is more than happy to oblige. Stepp’s Pick: Austin Westlake by 7 Max’s Pick: Westlake Ishmael’s Pick: Westlake Brady’s Pick: Westlake Check out Tepper's pick — along with his picks for the other 175 TXHSFB playoff games this week El Paso Del Valle (10-1) vs. Lubbock Coronado (11-0) Friday 4:00pm at Roswell New Mexico’s Wool Bowl: For the second week in a row, a Texas High School Football playoff game is being played in New Mexico as 10-1 El Paso Del Valle looks to take down undefeated Lubbock Coronado. Last week, Del Valle took care of business at home knocking off El Paso Chapin, 49-28. QB Raymond Montez again had a big night accounting for 339 yards of total offense and three total touchdowns, while the Conquistadores’ defense, especially the secondary, really put the clamps down. The secondary will have their toughest test of the year this week as they try and contain Qua Gray and his quartet of receivers for Lubbock Coronado. The Mustangs knocked off Canyon Randall, 51-35, as Gray tossed six touchdown passes and 455 yards passing last week. The Mustangs had a pair of receivers top 170 yards as well showing their depth at receiver which goes four deep. Del Valle’s going to try and be physical with Coronado to try and throw their offensive timing off and they are going to try to run the ball and control the tempo. If Del Valle can do that for four quarters, it has the ability to pull the upset, but it’s going to take a perfect game to contain the Mustangs. That’s easier said than done. Stepp’s Pick: Lubbock Coronado by 14 Max’s Pick: Lubbock Coronado Ishmael’s Pick: Lubbock Coronado Brady’s Pick: Lubbock Coronado Check out Tepper's pick — along with his picks for the other 175 TXHSFB playoff games this week Temple (8-3) vs. Magnolia West (9-1) Friday 6:00pm at Waco’s McLane Stadium: It was a solid performance from Temple last week knocking off Corsicana, 35-17. RB Anthony Jackson was outstanding with 134 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns, while explosive WR D’Yonte Heckstall had seven catches and 100 yards and a touchdown. The Wildcats face a Magnolia West squad led by former Temple assistant J.D. Berna who was hired by Magnolia ISD AD Mike Spradlin who left Temple two years ago to take over in Magnolia. The Mustangs took care of Leander Rouse, 42-31, last week as QB John Matocha threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns. Temple’s offense should move the ball well on a Magnolia West. The key is Temple’s defense containing a MWHS attack that’s really underrated. Temple’s going to want to keep this one in the 30’s and if it keeps the score there or under it shouldn’t have much trouble winning but if it gets above 30 that’s more to the liking of Magnolia West. Stepp’s Pick: Temple by 8 Max’s Pick: Temple Ishmael’s Pick: Temple Brady’s Pick: Temple Check out Tepper's pick — along with his picks for the other 175 TXHSFB playoff games this week Lubbock Estacado (10-1) vs. Wichita Falls Hirschi (9-2) Friday 7:00pm at Abilene’s Anthony Field: Two of the most athletic and explosive teams west of the DFW area meet up at Abilene Christian in what should be a fireworks factory area round game. Lubbock Estacado didn’t get much of a test last week as it blasted past Clint Mountain View, 45-0, Thursday. The Matadors have playmakers on the offensive side of the ball in RB Jeremiah Dobbins and senior QB Bo Sim. But they get it done on defense with DL Royce Wellington and DB J.J. Walton leading the way. Their test this week will be slowing down Wichita Falls Hirschi RB Daimarqua Foster who is 240 yards short of a 3,000-yard rushing season. Foster has a game this year where he ran for over 500 yards and last week in the Huskies huge win over Brownwood, he was the key cog rushing for 272 yards and two touchdowns and he returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown. The strength on strength matchup of the Hirschi offense and the Estacado defense will decide this one, I am leaning to Estacado in what should be a thriller. Stepp’s Pick: Lubbock Estacado by 3 Max’s Pick: Lubbock Estacado Ishmael’s Pick: Wichita Falls Hirschi Brady’s Pick: Wichita Falls Hirschi Check out Tepper's pick — along with his picks for the other 175 TXHSFB playoff games this week