Playoff edition: Trinity-Allen tops best UIL bi-district matchups

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The regular season is complete. This week, the UIL playoffs begin across all six classifications and 12 divisions of Texas high school football.

The bi-district round is the first step on the road to Arlington's AT&T Stadium and a potential berth in a state championship game on Dec. 14-17 when 12 teams will be crowned.

Two of the most intriguing match-ups this week come from the six-man classification of 1A.


1. Trinity (Euless) 7-3 at Allen 10-0, Class 6A-DI, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Since 2005, these two programs have combined to win seven state titles with Allen holding a 4-3 edge. Trinity, which favors an attack with speedy running backs behind a massive line, rebounded from a pair of district losses in time to make the playoffs for the 19th consecutive season. Allen has a new head coach in Terry Gambill this season, but a typical Eagles' team, strong in all phases.

2. O'Connor (Helotes) 9-1 vs. Judson (Converse) 8-2 Class 6A-DI, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Judson leads the all-time playoff series, 4-1. O'Connor depends on junior quarterback Roel Sanchez who has thrown for 1,767 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 714 yards and 11 scores. Judson, reeling a little after a 44-14 loss at Smithson Valley (Spring Branch) in Week 10, played without junior quarterback Julon Williams last week. Demerion Clark got the start.

3. Richland (North Richland Hills) 9-1 vs. South Hills (Fort Worth) 10-0, Class 5A-DI, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Richland saw its hopes of the school's first unbeaten season end in a Week 11 loss to Heritage (Colleyville), but enters the playoffs with a solid senior quarterback in Trae Self and an explosive sophomore in Shamar Johnson.
Fort Worth ISD teams have struggled in the playoffs in the last decade, but South Hills is trying to change all that. Kyran Jackson, a senior running back, is averaging over 13 yards a carry and has scored 26 touchdowns.

4. Loraine 9-1 vs. Jayton 9-1, Class 1A-DII, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Loraine, operating under first-year head coach Eric Sanchez, has an opportunity to reach the 10-win threshold for the third time since 2010. The Jaybirds of Jayton, 2-8 in 2015, saw their undefeated season halted in a 68-22 road loss to Guthrie in the final game of the regular season.

5. Lufkin 7-3 at Tyler 9-1, Class 6A-DII, 7:30 p.m. Friday
The bi-district round has been unkind to Lufkin. The Panthers have a 1-6 record in playoff openers since 2009 with four losses coming by six points or less. Bryson Smith is the major weapon for longtime East Texas foe Tyler with 41 combined touchdowns coming on 2,371 passing yards and 1,240 more on the ground. 6. Port Neches-Groves (Port Neches) 9-1 vs. Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu) 8-2, Class 5A-DII, 7 p.m. Friday
Coming off a 41-21 victory over rival Nederland in the Bum Phillips Bowl, Port Neches-Groves enjoyed its best regular season since 2009. In the opening playoff round, the Indians will face a Barbers Hill team making its first playoff appearance in four seasons under new coach Tom Westerberg, the former Allen head man.



7. Cedar Hill 8-2 at Midway (Waco) 8-2, Class 6A-DII, 2 p.m. Saturday
After back-to-back state championships in 2013-14, Cedar Hill does not want a 2015 repeat of a bi-district defeat. Receiver Charleston Rambo, an Oklahoma pledge with 934 yards and 16 touchdowns, will try to keep it from happening. Midway, under new head coach Jeff Hulme, relies on the passing of junior Tanner Mordecai and the running of sophomore James Fullbright.

8. Longview 8-2 at West Brook (Beaumont) 9-1, Class 6A-DII, 7 p.m. Friday
Longview, coming off a 62-point, 600-yard offensive explosion in Week 11, will try to extend a streak of 10 consecutive bi-district wins. West Brook sophomore quarterback L'ravien Elia threw for 309 yards and five touchdowns in the Bruins' signature win, 60-53 at Lufkin.

9. Odem 9-1 vs. Poth 8-2, Class 3A-DII, 7 p.m. Thursday
Odem senior quarterback Michael Everett has thrown for 3,406 yards and 47 touchdowns. The Poth defense has held opponents to seven points or less in four games.

10. May 10-0 vs. Bryson 8-2, Class IA-DI, 7:30 p.m. Thursday
May is one of only three unbeaten teams remaining in its division. The Tigers average 61.8 points per game. Bryson will challenge with a pair of juniors, passer Brayden Houser (2,014 yards) and rusher Ethan Robinson (1,097 yards).