El Paso Pebble Hills (10-1) vs. North Crowley (11-0), 5:30 p.m. Friday at Andrews’ Mustang Bowl: Pebble Hills made some history last week winning their first playoff game in school history and doing so in emphatic fashion taking down longtime El Paso menace Odessa Permian in a 45-28 win. QB Gael Ochoa triggered a dynamic Pebble Hills offense throwing four touchdowns, while LB Bobby Deal picked off two passes and contributed on offense hauling in a touchdown pass. North Crowley, under first-year head coach Ray Gates is having a dream season and it continued last week with a dominant 66-17 win over Keller Timber Creek. The Panthers got the running game untracked last week as Dejuan Lacy and Cornelius Warren combined for 382 rushing yards and six touchdowns in the win. North Crowley’s overall team speed and physicality will be something Pebble Hills has never dealt with before and NCHS will have major edges at most positions, the only question for North Crowley will be how they handle the six-hour road trip west. If they navigate that and don’t get off the bus sluggish, the Panthers should roll. Stepp’s Pick: North Crowley by 21
Rockwall (10-1) vs. Waxahachie (9-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Arlington’s Globe Life Field: Rockwall has quietly put together a strong season, yet the 10-1 Yellow Jackets have flown under the radar, they’ll have a chance to pop up on the radar this week if they can take on up and coming Waxahachie, who won a 6A playoff game for the first time last week. Last week Rockwall got off to a slow start, but pulled away from Sachse in the second half of a 50-24 victory. QB Lake Bennett torched Sachse throwing for 424 yards and four touchdowns in the win and the ‘Jackets defense allowed just three second half points.Waxahachie went down to Central Texas and knocked off a tough Temple squad in their backyard 30-21, it was the Indians ground game that was key as Jayden Becks and Iverson Young combined for 175 yards rushing, while the Waxahachie defense forced five Temple turnovers. If Waxahachie’s defense can stand on their heads and cause Rockwall to get out of character and turn the ball over, the Indians can pull the upset. But that’s not the norm from Rockwall who typically takes care of the football. Stepp’s Pick: Rockwall by 8