Week 1 featured several high-profile matchups across the Houston area, and the fun continues this week as some teams get their final tunes outside of the district. This week’s schedule is packed again with showdowns between state teams, top-notch action between Houston and Dallas, and many other storylines. Here are some of the top games to keep an eye on.
Hightower (1-0) at Westfield (1-0)
7 p.m. at Planet Ford Stadium
Both teams put on strong performances in their opening games, but Westfield’s 63-3 win over reigning District 16-6A champion Cypress Park was an eye-opener. Quarterback PJ Hatter threw six touchdown passes to four different receivers, and the defense was without light. Hightower, meanwhile, started his first Class 6A season with a 29-17 away win over Dawson. The defense made a shutout in the second half, and second quarterback Joseph Stewart Jr. looked good in his varsity debut. Westfield, No. 8 in the state, has beaten Hightower in each of the last two seasons, including last year’s 38-12 road triumph. The Mustangs will try to make it a three-peat on their home turf.
Fort Bend Marshall (1-0) at Crosby (0-1)
7 p.m. at Cougar Stadium
Crosby faced a major test early in the season, facing off against a CE King program looking to challenge North Shore and Atascocita for the District 21-6A crown. The Cougars were just seven points behind at the end of the first quarter before the Panthers outplayed them 49-0 en route to a 63-7 loss. Crosby will have another tough test against eternal power Fort Bend Marshall this week. Marshall started his season with a 14-7 home win over Klein to finish 4th in the Class 5A Division II national rankings. The Buffalo defense held the Bearkats to just 148 total yards. Crosby, who was eliminated from the 5A Division I state rankings this week, won that duel at home last season, 37-28.
More Thursday games to watch: Klein Forest (1-0) at Humble (1-0); Dobie (1-0) at Grand Oaks (1-0); Memorial (1-0) at Pearland (0-1); Cinco Ranch (1-0) at Klein Oak (1-0); Manvel (0-1) at Beaumont West Brook (1-0); Fulshear (1-0) at Clements (0-1); Brazoswood (1-0) at Baytown Sterling (1-0).
The games on Friday
Atascocita (1:0) at Katy (1:0)
6 p.m. at Legacy Stadium
This is without a doubt the main event of the week in the Houston area. Katy has dominated this series since 2009, going 4-0 and beating the Eagles 176-49. The last matchup came in 2019 when the Tigers rolled to a 56-14 win. Looking for her 10th state championship, Katy started the season with a crucial 49-16 away win over a strong Clear Springs side. Mississippi State Commitment Seth Davis picked up where he left off last year, rushing for 277 yards and three points. Atascocita, on the other hand, dominated on both sides of the ball in last week’s 37-0 triumph over Dickinson. The Eagles gave the Gators their first shutout loss in 93 games, a streak that dates back to 2013.
Bridgeland (1-0) at Tompkins (1-0)
7 p.m. at Rhodes Stadium
Perhaps the second biggest game of the week takes place right next to the matchup between Katy and Atascocita. Bridgeland and Tompkins, both multi-round contenders in the playoffs, will compete as state-ranked teams in their first matchup. The Bears came in at No. 22 in the 6A rankings this week and Tompkins at No. 12. Bridgeland picked up a 24-21 win over Cy-Fair in the opener and will look to start the season 2-0 for a fourth straight year . Tompkins made the deal against Bridgeland’s District 16-6A rivals in his opening game, beating Cypress Ranch 31-23 on the road. This matchup is important for the Falcons as their last game outside of the county. But it’s even bigger considering they’re having Katy next week.
Ridge Point (0-1) at Dickinson (0-1)
7 p.m. at Vitanza Stadium
This is certainly one of the top games in the state this week with two 0-1 teams. Ridge Point wanted to be tested right outside the gates, and the team certainly got that during a 44-14 away loss to national No. 9 Austin Westlake. Dickinson also started with a tackle against Atascocita, so both teams now understand where they stand against some of the best teams in the state at this point in the season. The Panthers and Gators are still contenders for the district title, of course, and have a comeback on their minds this week. This duel caused a lot of drama last season when Ridge Point prevailed with a 42-36 victory. The encore on Friday could be another close game.
Clear Springs (0-1) at Shadow Creek (1-0)
7 p.m. at Freedom Field
This will be the first matchup between these programs. Shadow Creek put in a strong showing in the opener, winning the Highway 288 fight over Alvin’s ISD counterpart Manvel 32-13. The state No. 17 Sharks displayed their ability to make explosive offensive plays, with senior quarterback Duke Butler and running back Tylik Burton leading the offense. The defense also did a good job and kept the Mavericks on their toes throughout the evening. Clear Springs will try to recover after their opening loss to Katy. The Chargers need a better start this week after falling 21-0 against the Tigers in the first quarter. A plus point for Clear Springs in that loss was the defense, which forced three turnovers.
CE King (1-0) at Allen (0-1)
7 p.m. at Eagle Stadium
The Panthers passed their first Test of the season against Crosby but the road will be tougher this week. CE King will take a four-hour drive to tangle with the eternal power Allen. The Panthers will seek to become the second straight Houston-area team to beat the Eagles on their home field. Atascocita ended Allen’s 122 home game winning streak last September. Allen started the season with a 52-14 home loss to the nation’s No. 1, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.). CE King relied heavily on his running game against Crosby, and Keith Willis Jr. made the most of his 12 carries with 201 yards and three points. Allen, on the other hand, gave up 5.3 yards per carry against St. John Bosco.
Stafford (1-0) at Bellville (1-0)
7:30 p.m. at Brahma Stadium
Bellville and Stafford are No. 1 and No. 3 respectively in the Chronicle’s Class 4A/3A rankings, making for an intriguing duel between small schools. Bellville finished 10th in the Class 4A Division II this week after a 24-14 win over La Grange. The Brahmas have won 13 straight regular-season games since 2020. Bellville has been 6-4 against Stafford since 2010, a streak that includes wins in each of the last four seasons. The Brahmas prevailed last year with a 48-26 triumph. Stafford started his season with a 35-7 win over Port Lavaca Calhoun. The Spartans’ defense managed five turnovers and kept the Sandcrabs scoreless until the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach.
Fort Bend Christian (1-0) at Dallas Christian (1-0)
7 p.m. at Wheeler Field
This could very well be the first private school fight in the state this week. Dallas Christian, the defending TAPPS Division II champion, got the season rolling with a 34-21 away win over Dallas Bishop Dunne. The Chargers have won 19 straight regular-season games since 2019 and have had double-digit wins in nine of the last ten seasons. Dallas Christian has been up 4-0 against Fort Bend Christian since 2014 and has won all of those games by a wide margin. This also includes last year’s 35:13 victory. Fort Bend Christian, on the other hand, dominated last week’s 51-7 win over Iowa Colony. Sophomore Cobey Sellers was the star of the show, returning a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns.
More Friday games to watch: Brookshire Royal (1-0) at Furr (1-0); Cypress Creek (0-1) at Tomball Memorial (1-0); Clear Falls (1-0) at Summer Creek (0-1); Lamar (1-0) at The Woodlands (0-1); Galveston Ball (1-0) to Texas City (1-0); Madison (0-1) at Yates (0-1); parish episcopal (1-0) at episcopal (1-0); Porter (1-0) at New Caney (1-0); Klein Collins (1-0) at Dawson (0-1); Oak Ridge (1-0) at Stratford (1-0); Willis (1-0) in the Temple (1-0).
The games on Saturday
Paetow (1-0) at Cypress Ranch (0-1)
6 p.m. at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium
Paetow began Lonnie Teagle’s era with a 14-7 win over Conroe. As expected, the defense rose to the occasion, and five-star defenseman DJ Hicks played as promised on offense with three sacks, a fumbled recovery and a touchdown catch. The Panthers should have a tougher test this week on the road against Cypress Ranch in the first meeting between programs. The Mustangs opened their season with a 31-23 loss to a top-ranked Tompkins team. Cypress Ranch expects to be in contention for the District 16-6A title this season, so this gives Paetow a test of quality before he heads into District 19-6A’s Morton Ranch next week.
North Shore (1-0) in Spring (1-0)
7 p.m. at Planet Ford Stadium
North Shore couldn’t have asked for a much better start to their Class 6A Division I state title defense. Dominating a strong team from The Woodlands from start to finish last week, the Mustangs recorded a 49-21 win at home. North Shore, the No. 11 team in the country, scored points on offense, defense and special teams in this competition. Spring, meanwhile, easily overcame Fort Bend Travis in its opener, 36-14. The Lions, led by new head coach Antonio Singleton, will have their work cut out for them this week in what appears to be the first matchup between the programs. Spring have suffered just three regular-season losses since the start of the 2019 season.
More Saturday games to watch: Small (0-1) at Seven Lakes (0-1); Jordan (1-0) at Kingwood (1-0); Alief Taylor (0-1) at Westside (0-1); Pasadena First Baptist (1-0) at Emery-Weiner (1-0).