Celina (6-0, 2-0) at Sulphur Springs (5-0, 1-0): Top-ranked Celina hits the road this week to East Texas, where the Bobcats tangle with newly state-ranked Sulphur Springs. Celina didn’t have any sort of hangover after a big win over Aubrey as they rolled to a 49-10 win. It was more of the same from the Bobcats, who used their balanced offense to run out to a big lead and coast in the second half. Unbeaten Sulphur Springs is led by a talented junior class, so many believed 2025 would be the year the Wildcats would really be a threat, but that arrival may be a year earlier than expected after SSHS opened district play with a dominant 35-14 win on the road over a good Aubrey squad. RB Deuce Timmons found the end zone four times to lead the Wildcats and the defense kept a potent Aubrey running game in check all night. This game is in Sulphur Springs, and the Wildcats have had two full weeks to cook something up to slow the Celina juggernaut. I think SSHS keeps it close for a half, but Celina will wear the Wildcats down in the second half and take another step toward the district title. Stepp’s Pick: Celina by 18
Kilgore (4-2, 1-1) at Tyler Chapel Hill (5-1, 2-0): It’s time for another edition of the Kilgore-Chapel Hill rivalry, which has been among the best in East Texas, and the state, since 2020. This will be the teams' eighth meeting since 2020, with Chapel Hill holding a 4-3 edge in the series. The most interesting fact is Kilgore is 3-1 in the regular season, but CHHS has eliminated Kilgore from the playoffs in three straight years. Where will Kilgore’s heads be after the Bulldogs were stunned at home by Henderson in a massive 27-24 upset last week. Henderson raced out to a 21-0 halftime lead and then held on down the stretch as Kilgore rallied to tie it at 24, but the Lions got a late field goal to stun Clint Fuller’s squad. QB Kayson Brooks was solid, throwing for three touchdowns for Kilgore, but KHS simply put itself in too big of a hole against a rapidly improving Henderson bunch. Chapel Hill didn’t get the prettiest win, but a win is a win, as CHHS knocked off Palestine behind a stellar defensive effort. Chapel Hill needed that defense to step up with the absence of Baylor commit QB Demetrius Brisbon. Texas commit RB Ricky Stewart did play and ran for 118 yards and a touchdown on just 12 carries. Kilgore is a tough matchup for Chapel Hill even at full strength, but Coach Fuller will have the Ragin’ Red on full rage mode as they look to get the bad taste of last week out of their mouths. Look for the 9-4A Division I race to get even more muddled up this week as Kilgore goes into Tyler and grabs a much-needed win. Stepp’s Pick: Kilgore by 7