A look at the notable games around the Dallas area in the area round of the Texas high school football playoffs.
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SportsDay Staff
Rockwall-Heath vs. Duncanville
When/where: 7:30 p.m Friday at Eagle Stadium
This might be the best second-round game in the Dallas area this week. Heath, which went 4–2 in a competitive District 10-6A, averages 40.7 points per game and boasts wins over state-ranked Highland Park and North Forney. Last week in the first round, Heath (8–3) beat previously undefeated Wylie East 52-10. Quarterback Prosper Neal threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns, as Carter Zahm rushed for 157 yards and four scores. Meanwhile, Shawn Gary had five catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns.
Heath faces a three-time state champion Duncanville (8–1) program that has advanced to at least the state semifinals each of the last seven years. Duncanville won back-to-back 6A Division I state titles in 2022 and 2023. Its defense allows 14.6 points and 201.3 yards of total offense per game. In six of Duncanville’s last seven wins, it has allowed 14 points or less. Duncanville beat Temple 35-14 in the first round.
Taylor’s pick: Duncanville 35, Rockwall-Heath 27
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North Forney vs. Waxahachie
When/where: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Arlington’s Choctaw Stadium
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Both of these teams are dark horses to win the 6A Division I title, but one of them will fall this week. State-ranked North Forney (10–1) is coming off a 42-7 rout of Sachse in the first round, and Waxahachie (9–1) dominated Waco Midway 48-16.
North Forney went 5–1 in District 10-6A, which includes Rockwall-Heath, Longview and Forney. All four of the district’s playoff teams are alive after the first round. A 56-55 loss to Heath in overtime is the only blemish on North Forney’s record. Four-star Ohio State pledge Legend Bey has played incredibly for the rising program. With 1,624 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns, the senior quarterback is one of the area’s top performers on the ground.
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Waxahachie, which went 6-1 in District 11-6A, boasts a win over state-ranked Duncanville and was state-ranked itself at one point this season. Junior quarterback Jerry Meyer III, a TCU pledge, has passed for 1,843 yards and 28 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Kohen Brown, a Texas pledge, has recorded 48 catches for 953 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Taylor’s pick: North Forney 42, Waxahachie 36
SportsDay Staff
Coppell vs. Richardson
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Carrollton’s Standridge Stadium
Richardson (8–3) is having one of its best seasons in recent years and is fresh off a 35-7 win over Haltom in the bi-district round. The No. 1 seed in District 7-6A, it faces a state-ranked Coppell (9–1) team that shut out Plano 38-0 last week. Richardson quarterback Lucas Sawyer has passed for 2,504 yards and 29 touchdowns. Coppell quarterback Carter Zinglemann has accounted for 2,215 yards of offense, with 1,529 yards through the air and 6868 on the ground.
Taylor’s pick: Coppell 39, Richardson 21
SportsDay Staff
Odessa Permian vs. Mansfield Lake Ridge
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Abillene’s Wildcat Stadium
After upsetting three-time state champion Euless Trinity 47-38 in the first round, Mansfield Lake Ridge (9–2) now faces six-time state champion Odessa Permian (10–1). Junior quarterback Deshawn Edwards threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns in the win, in which he also ran for 170 yards and two more scores. In its first playoff game since 2018, Lake Ridge won one of the biggest games in school history. Permian beat El Paso Eastlake 59-7 last week after finishing a 9–1 regular season.
Taylor’s pick: Mansfield Lake Ridge 42, Odessa Permian 28
SportsDay Staff
Allen vs. Lake Highlands
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at McKinney’s McKinney ISD Stadium
Five-time state champion Allen (11-0), the second-ranked Class 6A team in Texas, survived a scare against Lewisville in the first round. Undefeated Allen needed a touchdown and two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter to win the game 22-15. A play on defense, which has been key to Allen’s run this year, helped seal the game. Lake Highlands (9–2), which went 6-1 in District 7-6A, beat South Grand Prairie 43-36 last week and will face arguably its biggest challenge of the year in Allen.
Taylor’s pick: Allen 30, Lake Highlands 17
SportsDay Staff
Prosper vs. Richardson Berkner
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Mustang-Panther Stadium
One of four District 7-6A teams that made it out of the first round, Berkner (7–3) faces state-ranked Prosper (10–1) next. Berkner, which clinched its district’s last playoff spot in Week 11, beat District 8-6A champion Arlington Bowie 30-28 last week to get here. Prosper went 9-1 in the regular season, finishing second in the District 6-6A race behind state-ranked Allen. The perennial contender beat Hebron 66-39 in the first round last week. Senior quarterback Braeden Imhoff was 22 of 30 for 496 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions in the win.
Taylor’s pick: Prosper 56, Richardson Berkner 21
SportsDay Staff
West Mesquite vs. Midlothian
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Mesquite Memorial
District 6-5AI champion West Mesquite (10–1) has won 10 straight, with its last win being a 28-24 victory over Frisco in the first round. It will try to keep the winning streak alive against Midlothian (8–3), the second place team in District 7-5AI, which includes Red Oak and Highland Park. Midlothian beat Georgetown East View 36-16 last week.
Taylor’s pick: Midlothian 28, West Mesquite 19
SportsDay Staff
Highland Park vs. Frisco Reedy
When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday at The Star
Six-time state champion and 2024 state runner-up Highland Park won the District 7-5A title this season. On a 10-game winning streak, Highland Park (10–1) beat Lake Belton 56-13 last week thanks in part to a 321-yard, 3-touchdown performance by junior quarterback Buck Randall. Frisco Reedy (8–3) went 6-2 in District 5-5AI with Frisco Lone Star and Frisco Wakeland. Reedy beat Carrollton Creekview 24-3 in the first round.
Taylor’s pick: Highland Park 45, Frisco Reedy 27
SportsDay Staff
DeSoto vs. Longview
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Waco ISD Stadium
After falling to Longview 50-14 in the 2024 regional finals, three-time state champion DeSoto (8–3)has a chance for revenge. Longview recorded 427 yards on the ground in its win last year, but DeSoto’s run defense is much improved in 2025. In a 63-6 win over Copperas Cove last week, DeSoto allowed just 22 yards on 27 carries. Longview (7–4), which finished 4-2 in District 10-6A, is looking to win two straight against DeSoto. The state power out of East Texas dominated Rowlett 63-7 in the bi-district round.
Taylor’s pick: DeSoto 40, Longview 23
SportsDay Staff
Frisco Lone Star vs. Georgetown
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Georgetown
Undefeated Lone Star (11–0), the state’s second-ranked 5A Division I team, beat North Mesquite 49-6 last week. The program won its third straight district title this season and is a top contender for the 5A Division I state championship. Georgetown (9–2) dominated Burleson Centennial 41-11 in the first round.
Taylor’s pick: Frisco Lone Star 36, Georgetown 13
SportsDay Staff
Frisco Panther Creek vs. Springtown
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at North Richland Hills’ Birdville Fine Arts/Athletic Complex
This will be a battle between two state-ranked 4A Division I teams. Panther Creek (9–2) enters its matchup with undefeated Springtown (11–0) after beating Carter 49-7 in the bi-district round. Meanwhile, Springtown shut out Lake Worth 55-0.
Taylor’s pick: Frisco Panther Creek 28, Springtown 24
SportsDay Staff
Midlothian Heritage vs. Texarkana Texas
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at Royse City
These teams met during pre-district play earlier this season and Midlothian Heritage (8–3) left the matchup with a 35-21 win. Heritage went on to finish second in District 6-5AII, which includes Ennis, Crandall and state-ranked Terrell. It beat Hillcrest 45-7 last week, while Texarkana Texas (10–1) defeated Lake Creek 35-24.
Taylor’s pick: Midlothian Heritage 37, Texarkana Texas 24
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Find more high school sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.