DeSoto running back Sarod Baker (5) hands the ball off to running back Wyatt Davis (0) during the second half of a nondistrict football game against Duncanville at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Dallas.

DeSoto running back Sarod Baker (5) hands the ball off to running back Wyatt Davis (0) during the second half of a nondistrict football game against Duncanville at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Dallas.

Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News

Here are five storylines to watch in Week 4 of the Texas high school football season.

Big district matchups

District play begins for many Dallas-area teams in Week 4, with some programs playing important matchups early.

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Allen and Prosper, two of the area’s top 6A teams, will clash to open District 6-6A play. In 2025, Allen went 8–0 in district play, edging Prosper 31-30 late in the regular season for the district title. Both programs enter the matchup undefeated, with Allen coming off a 56-35 win over Southlake Carroll and Prosper fresh off a 49-40 victory over Austin Westlake.

District 11-6A newcomer North Crowley begins district play against Duncanville, the 2025 6A Division I state runner-up. This will be the first time the teams meet since the 2024 6A Division I state semifinals, which North Crowley won 36-34 en route to winning the 6A Division I state title. Duncanville finished 6–1 in District 11-6A last season, while North Crowley went 6–0 in District 3-6A.

Other teams finishing non-district play

District play is not here yet for other programs across the Dallas area, creating space for more non-district contests.

Undefeated Lovejoy and two-time reigning TAPPS Division II state champion Fort Worth All Saints meet this week. Six-time state champion Highland Park and two-time state champion Argyle also clash in Week 4.

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Duncanville, Southlake Carroll looking for bounce back wins

Duncanville and Southlake Carroll, two area and state powers, are both 1–2 on the season and looking for bounce back wins in Week 4. 

Carroll, which edged Oklahoma’s Jenks 34-33 to open the season, has dropped two straight. The eight-time state champion fell 40-10 to North Crowley in Week 2 and 56-35 to Allen in Week 3. This week it begins District 4-6A play against undefeated Keller Central

Three-time state champion Duncanville lost its season opener 26-7 to Allen and beat Cedar Hill 34-7 in Week 2. Duncanville fell 21-20 to rival DeSoto in Week 3. The program faces undefeated North Crowley in Week 4 to open District 11-6A play.

DeSoto’s new district

While District 11-6A, the “District of Doom,” remains daunting, it doesn’t include DeSoto this year.

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The four-time state champion moved down to Class 5A Division I in 2026 after winning the 6A Division II state title in 2025. DeSoto, which beat Duncanville 21-20 in Week 3 to conclude its non-district slate, now belongs to District 8-5AI. The district includes Burleson Centennial, Cedar Hill, Cleburne, Lancaster, Mansfield Legacy, Mansfield Summit and Midlothian.

DeSoto, predicted by The Dallas Morning News ahead of the season to win the district, opens play in District 8-5AI against Centennial on Friday.

Will Frisco Lone Star continue its scoring streak?

Lone Star, the 5A Division I state runner-up in 2025, has scored 40 or more points in three straight games. The program beat Royse City 41-26 in Week 1, Pennsylvania’s Simon Gratz 48-24 in Week 2 and Cedar Hill 56-27 in Week 3. The program visits Melissa this week to open District 5-5AI play. The News predicted Lone Star would win the district ahead of the season.

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