El Paso Eastlake (1-0) vs El Paso Montwood (2-0, 1-0): After a two week hiatus, high school football in El Paso kicks into full swing; with teams not being able to play a full district schedule, every game takes on massive importance. Eastlake has had major trouble with Covid-19 early this year as the Falcons have only been able to play one game as they had to cancel two games and then had a game canceled on them before the two-week shutdown. The Falcons have one of the Sun City’s most powerful offensive attacks led by QB Orion Olivas and a dynamic group of receivers, but can Eastlake’s defense hold up in their first district game? Montwood’s offense was really good in their first two games - scoring 42 and 49 points - and the Rams have embraced that underdog role as they feel overlooked when it comes to the best teams in town. Expect a lot of points in this one as both offensive units are dynamic, but the long layoff leaves plenty of questions. Eastlake hasn’t played a game since Oct. 2 and Montwood hasn’t played since Oct. 9. Who comes out from the layoff playing sharp? Stepp’s Pick: El Paso Montwood by 6
Cedar Hill (5-0, 3-0) at Duncanville (4-1, 3-0): The district title potentially could be decided in District 11-6A this week as the two zone champions meet up with really only bragging rights on the line; they will likely have different playoff paths. Cedar Hill is fresh off what was easily their best performance of the year as the Longhorns knocked off heavily favored DeSoto, 49-42, behind a virtuoso performance from QB Kaidon Salter, who accounted for 389 yards and six touchdowns. The Longhorns unleashed Salter’s legs as he ripped through DeSoto’s vaunted defense with 179 yards and four touchdowns. It remains to be seen if Coach Lynn and the offensive staff at Cedar Hill do the same this week against a Duncanville front seven that is probably a step up from DeSoto. Duncanville, who had some issues on offense at times early in the year, unleashed an avalanche last week by drilling Waco Midway, 74-21. They Panthers got 266 yards passing and three touchdowns from QB Grayson James, while three different running backs topped 66 yards and five different backs found the end zone on the ground. The Panthers defense dominated by limiting Waco Midway to 71 yards rushing. Cedar Hill is fresh off an emotional win last week against their biggest rival, and even though Duncanville isn’t far away, the Longhorns just don’t have that real rivalry feel with Duncanville. Duncanville’s defense is just dominant across the board and with Cedar Hill likely not willing to expose Salter in this game, look for the Panthers to control the pace of this matchup. Stepp’s Pick: Duncanville by 17