Waco Connally (1-0) at Waco La Vega (1-0): Old rivals on the northside of Waco meet up for the first time in a regular season game in a few years as 4A-Division II power Connally meets the No. 1 team in 4A-Division I La Vega. Connally, behind their sensational running duo of Tre Wisner (266 yards, four touchdowns) and Kavian Gaither (233 yards, two touchdowns), blasted past Sunnyvale, 46-27, in an impressive opener. CHS didn’t need to throw it last week, but they are capable with Idaho commit Tyler Webb under center. Connally’s defense and special teams will need to improve this week against La Vega, who took down state-ranked Port Lavaca Calhoun last week, 20-7, in a late scheduled matchup. The Pirates didn’t have much time to prepare for this one and they are notoriously slow starters and that sloppiness showed at times last week. Expect a much sharper effort this week from Don Hyde’s squad in a game that means a ton to both communities. Controlling emotions will be huge in this matchup as well, silly penalties and mistakes may loom large. La Vega has the much better track record in these big games in the past and despite this being non-district it’ll be plenty talked about. The edge goes to the Pirates in what will be a very physical, but entertaining game. Stepp’s Pick: Waco La Vega by 11
Argyle (1-0) at Texarkana Pleasant Grove (1-0): Both state-ranked teams easily handled their business a week ago as Argyle absolutely destroyed Decatur 56-9, while Texarkana Pleasant Grove went out of state and easily rolled past a state-ranked team in Nashville, AR, 55-14. This week we will get a better idea of where both of these teams stand after this big matchup in East Texas. Argyle raced out to a 42-3 lead at halftime behind a solid first start for QB C.J. Rogers, two receiving touchdowns from TE Jasper Lott and a 74-yard touchdown run from Tito Byce on his only carry of the evening as he works his way back from a knee injury. Pleasant Grove, who is without Texas A&M commit Marcus Burris on the defensive line, is still scary good on defense with DE Landon Jackson, an LSU commit, and fellow FBS recruits DL Torrey Phillips and LB Nick Martin. The questions for the Hawks are on offense where Josh Gibson’s squad has a lot of youth, but that youth looked good last week as freshman RB Jaylen Boardley ran for 140 yards and a touchdown, Logan Johnson chipped in 136 yards and two scores, while Martin chipped in a 28-yard touchdown run and QB Jalen Woodside impressed in his first varsity start. If this game was being played later in the year, I’d pick Pleasant Grove, especially with it being in Texarkana. But Argyle has the experience factor over the Hawks, and they are usually the sharper team earlier in the season. This one goes to Argyle. Stepp’s Pick: Argyle by 6