STATE SEMIFINALS PREVIEW: Breaking down ALL of the Texas high school football playoff games

Duncanville (14-0) vs Rockwall (12-2), 2:30 p.m. Saturday at McKinney’s McKinney ISD Stadium: Duncanville took care of Southlake Carroll in the regional finals for the second straight season, this time with a hard fought 49-35 win. QB Ja’Quinden Jackson put on a show for his future college head coach Tom Herman, accounting for 312 yards of total offense and five touchdowns to lead a Panthers offense that rolled up 517 yards on the day. Although the defense did allow Southlake Carroll to tally 500-plus yards, they were able to shut Carroll out in the third quarter and that proved to be the big difference. Rockwall’s offense continues to be the story and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba will look to break the state’s career receiving yardage record on a big stage in the semifinals this week. Last week the Ohio State pledge had another monster game as he had eleven receptions for 218 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for two touchdowns in Rockwall’s 59-42 win over Prosper. Rockwall’s defense, which at times has struggled, will be put to the test in a major way against a Duncanville offense that is big, fast and extremely physical. It starts with the QB who is one of the most difficult players in the country to bring down in space. Duncanville’s defensive dominance in the trenches will be enough to slow down the flamethrower Rockwall offense and the ‘Jackets defense has no answer for Duncanville’s speed and physicality.

Stepp’s Pick: Duncanville by 24