A look at the notable games around the Dallas area in the regional final round of the Texas high school football playoffs.
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Notable Dallas-area quarterfinal playoff games
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Duncanville vs. Waxahachie
When/where: 3 p.m. Saturday at Midlothian ISD Stadium
Three-time state champion Duncanville looks to avenge its 28-27 loss to Waxahachie that came on Sept. 19. Meanwhile, Waxahachie hopes to beat the behemoth for a second time this season. Both teams, along with DeSoto, tied for first in District 11-6A and are loaded with Division I talent.
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It was TCU pledge Jerry Meyer III who threw two touchdown passes to help Waxahachie rally from a 27-9 third quarter deficit and beat Duncanville during district play. One of his top weapons is Texas pledge Kohen Brown. Brown had seven catches for 137 yards and a touchdown in Waxahachie’s 38-31 overtime win over Houston Cypress Ranch in the regional semifinals.
State-ranked Duncanville has not allowed more than two touchdowns in its last seven games, beating Klein Collins 34-7 in the regional semifinals. Its defense, which includes Florida pledge KJ Ford and Ole Miss pledge Landon Barnes, held Collins to just 14 total yards and one first down. Duncanville has advanced to at least the state semifinals each of the last seven years, winning back-to-back 6A Division I state titles in 2022 and 2023. Waxahachie has a good chance to end that streak.
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Taylor’s pick: Duncanville 40, Waxahachie 29
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Notable Dallas-area quarterfinal playoff games
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Allen vs. North Crowley
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at University of North Texas
Five-time state champion Allen and defending 6A Division I state champion North Crowley will meet in the regional finals for the third straight year. North Crowley has won the last two matchups, defeating Allen 49-37 in 2023 and 30-8 in 2024.
Both programs ranked among the top in the state entering the playoffs. Allen will try to get over the hump, while North Crowley will look to protect its crown.
North Crowley beat Coppell 46-21 last week and Allen beat Odessa Permian 56-13. Lyndon Spriggs had 134 yards and three rushing touchdowns in Allen’s win. North Crowley is loaded with stars on offense. Wide receiver Damarion Mays has 53 catches for 826 yards and 11 touchdowns. Kiante Ingram and G’Yrell Smith have combined for 2,440 yards and 41 touchdowns on the ground.
Taylor’s pick: North Crowley 42, Allen 35
Notable Dallas-area quarterfinal playoff games
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Denton Guyer vs. Southlake Carroll
When/where: 2 p.m. Saturday at Crowley ISD Stadium
The last time these two teams met in the 6A Division II regional finals, it was 2022 and Guyer had five-star Jackson Arnold at quarterback. Arnold threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 149 yards and four scores. That season, Guyer was the team to beat. This year, undefeated and nationally ranked Southlake Carroll has assumed that role. Carroll is coming off a 49-31 win in the regional semifinals over a top team in Prosper. Pitt pledge Angelo Renda passed for 235 yards and three touchdowns in the win, as Ohio State pledge Brock Boys caught five passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Guyer, the District 5-6A champion, edged Carroll’s districtmate Trophy Club Byron Nelson 24-21 last week in the regional semifinals. Caroll routed Byron Nelson 52-3 in September.
Taylor’s pick: Southlake Carroll 48, Denton Guyer 27
Notable Dallas-area quarterfinal playoff games
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Aledo vs. Denton Ryan
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Northwest ISD Stadium
Two of the state’s top teams in 5A Division I will meet for a second time this season and for the second consecutive year in the regional finals. After losing 42-27 to Aledo in district play in 2024, Ryan beat the 12-time UIL state champion 31-21 in the regional finals. Ryan lost 15-14 to Aledo earlier this season, but has a chance at redemption on Friday. The program is coming off a 41-10 win over its other districtmate, Richland, in the regional semifinals. Senior quarterback Quin Henigan was 18-of-24 for 206 yards and three touchdowns, as Ryan’s defense held Richland to just 202 total yards and 43 on the ground.
Taylor’s pick: Denton Ryan 24, Aledo 21
Notable Dallas-area quarterfinal playoff games
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Highland Park vs. Frisco Lone Star
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at the Ford Center at The Star
Friday could very well be a shootout between six-time state champion Highland Park and undefeated Frisco Lone Star, which rank among the best teams in the state. Highland Park, the 2024 5A Division I state runner-up, beat Frisco Wakeland 47-20 behind junior quarterback Buck Randall’s three passing touchdowns and solo ground score. Highland Park recorded 456 yards of offense and forced three turnovers. Lone Star, which features Baylor pledge Karece Hoyt and Florida pledge Davian Groce, took care of West Mesquite also in a win where the final score was also 47-20. Groce had three catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 68 yards and a score. Hoyt rushed for 68 yards and three touchdowns.
Taylor’s pick: Highland Park 36, Frisco Lone Star 29
Notable Dallas-area quarterfinal playoff games
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Argyle vs. Melissa
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Choctaw Stadium
Argyle will make its third appearance in the regional finals since 2022, and Melissa is back in the fourth round for the first time since that same year. Both are coming off dominant wins in the regional semifinals. Melissa dominated Anna 49-7 and Argyle outlasted Prosper Walnut Grove 59-42. Walnut Grove beat Melissa for the District 4-5AII title. The status of Melissa quarterback Brett Holloway is still unclear after he was ejected in the third quarter from last Friday’s game, when officials said he threw a punch. Melissa appealed the decision, but if it stands, Holloway will mist the first half of the game against Argyle.
Taylor’s pick: Argyle 42, Melissa 37
Notable Dallas-area quarterfinal playoff games
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South Oak Cliff vs. Port Neches-Groves
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Merrill Green Stadium in Bryan
These two programs are quite familiar with each other after meeting in the 5A Division II regional finals last season and the 5A Division II state championship games in 2022 and 2023. SOC, the state’s top-ranked team in 5A Division II, beat PNG 56-14 in the fourth round last season. The two-time state champion is coming off a 45-17 win over Terrell. Undefeated PNG edged Midlothian Heritage 17-14. Friday will mark South Oak Cliff’s fifth straight regional finals appearance. SOC beat 6A state powers Galena Park North Shore and Longview earlier this season. It lost 35-28 to state-ranked Duncanville, a 6A Division I titan that has beat fellow 6A teams by a much wider margin.
Taylor’s pick: South Oak Cliff 49, Port Neches-Groves 14
Notable Dallas-area quarterfinal playoff games
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Celina vs. Alvarado
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mansfield’s Vernon Newsom Stadium
Undefeated Celina, the defending 4A Division I state champion, will take on another state-ranked program in Alvarado this week. The nine-time state champion beat Decatur 33-7 last week, despite four-star quarterback Bowe Bentley leaving the game in the second quarter with injury. Gaurav Muttasseril stepped in midway through the second quarter, finishing 6-for-10 passing for 92 yards and two touchdowns. The severity of Bentley’s injury is unknown. As is his status if he will play this week against undefeated Alvarado, which beat Springtown 64-13 last week.
Taylor’s pick: Celina 24, Alvarado 14
Notable Dallas-area quarterfinal playoff games
SportsDay Staff
DeSoto vs. Willis
When/where: 3 p.m. Saturday at McLane Stadium in Waco
Three-time state champion DeSoto is back in the regional finals for a consecutive year. DeSoto is looking for a big win after falling 50-14 to Longview in the fourth round last season. In the regional semifinals, DeSoto beat College Park 56-34. This will be the third straight time DeSoto and Willis meet in the playoffs. DeSoto beat 65-31 in the 2023 regional semifinals and 55-35 in the 2024 regional semifinals.
Taylor’s pick: DeSoto 58, Willis 33
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