DeSoto (4-0, 2-0) at Cedar Hill (4-0, 2-0): The “Battle of Belt Line” has zone title implications as the winner of this game locks up the top spot in their zone in 11-6A. Both teams have been outstanding early on, but the buzz in the DFW area is with DeSoto who has been flat out dominant early on. Last week the Eagles showed no signs of looking ahead to Cedar Hill as they routed Mansfield Lake Ridge, 42-0. Illinois commit QB Samari Collier had 370 yards passing and five touchdowns to lead the DeSoto offense, while the Eagles dominant defense allowed Lake Ridge just 85 yards of total offense.In fact, DeSoto’s defense has allowed a paltry 35 points through four games this year, giving credence that Claude Mathis’ squad may have one of the state’s most underrated defensive units. Cedar Hill has been very workman-like through their first four games. Carlos Lynn’s squad hasn’t just blown people away, but the Longhorns have a couple of outstanding wins on their resume going on the road and beating Arlington and Aledo to open the season. CHHS started slow last week, but turned things on in the second half of a 35-10 win over Waxahachie. QB Kaidon Salter, the Tennessee commit, had some struggles throwing the ball with a pair of interceptions, but even on an off night, he still tallied three total touchdowns. It was Kevin Young’s 61-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter that put the game away for Cedar Hill. Cedar Hill’s defense doesn’t get the headlines, but this is a solid group allowing just over 15 points per game. The difference is DeSoto’s talent at the skill spots. Aside from Salter, Cedar Hill really doesn’t have that go-to weapon, while Samari Collier has plenty of options to turn to. Stepp’s Pick: DeSoto by 9
Katy (5-0, 2-0) vs Katy Tompkins (5-0, 3-0): This matchup was supposed to take place a couple of weeks ago and then it’s been moved up a week from the reschedule date as Katy ISD massages the district schedule to work around teams dealing with Covid-19 issues. This is the one everyone has been waiting for. Katy has been a juggernaut of late and Friday may have been their most impressive effort to date as they went on the road and rolled past a good Dickinson squad, 49-7. RB Jalen Davis broke loose for a 69-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game and added a short scoring run in the second quarter as Katy raced out to a 28-0 halftime lead and never looked back. Sophomore QB Caleb Koger continues to improve throwing two scoring passes of his own and adding in a touchdown run as well for the Tigers. Katy’s defense limited Dickinson to just 201 yards of offense on the night as well as the Tigers have allowed just 10 points in the last three games. Meanwhile, Tompkins has been even better on defense, as they’ve pitched shutouts in their last three games. The only points they’ve allowed the last four weeks came via a kickoff return touchdown. Last week was more of the same for the Falcons, who blasted Katy Morton Ranch, 48-0, in a game that was well in hand by halftime. The Tompkins offense has been solid as they are led by Alabama commit QB Jalen Milroe, along with RB’s Sherman Smith and Tulsa commit Marquis Shoulders. Still looking for a breakout game offensively, they’ll need that breakout, especially from a young group of receivers to get past the monster that is Katy, who has just dominated Katy ISD opposition in the past dozen or so years. Tompkins played the Tigers close last year losing 35-30. They can’t afford to dig themselves a hole like they did last year. I don’t think they will, I expect this one to be close the entire way, but picking against Katy against another KISD school just isn’t happening for me until that streak is broken. Stepp’s Pick: Katy by 3