Video: Top 10 Games of the Week Two Texas-sized clashes highlight the nation's 10 best games.
Preseason practice has drawn to a close and kickoff for the 2019 football season in Texas is close.
Here are the 10 best games for Week 1, not including the great traditional battle of
Denison versus
Sherman for the 121st time on Friday. (MaxPreps Texas Top 25 ranking included).
MaxPreps Top 10 Texas Games of the Week
When: Thursday, 8 p.m. (All time local)
Where: North Shore
Why it matters: Texas
high school football is back and one of the best games of the year is
going down on Thursday night on ESPNU. They meet for
the 10th time since 2008 and Katy holds the slight edge winning five of
the previous nine but the Mustangs swept the two game set last season.
Some of the best talent in the state will be on display, including North Shore running back
Zachary Evans (5-11, 200), quarterback
Dematrius Davis Jr. (5-11, 190) and wide receiver
Shadrach Banks (6-0, 205). Katy counters with such standouts as quarterback
Bronson McClelland (6-0, 210), corner backs
Hunter Washington (5-11, 180) and
Bryan Massey (6-0, 170) and running back
Ronald Hoff (5-9, 170).
No. 25 Cedar Hill at No. 3 AllenWhen: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Eagles Stadium
Why it matters: Cedar Hill has won three state titles
since 2006 and Allen has made it to the state semifinals seven straight
years. They have also won five state championships since 2008. Allen senior quarterback
Raylen Sharpe (5-8, 150), an SMU commit, gets the keys to the car and has already drawn the nickname "Little Kyler" for his
playmaking abilities similar to the Arizona Cardinals current quarterback, an Allen alum. Other top threats for Allen are wide receivers
Bryson Green (6-1, 205) and
Blaine Green (6-2, 205), running back
Celdon Manning (5-9, 180) and defensive end
Cole Latos (6-5, 250). Cedar Hill features quarterback
Kaidon Salter (6-1, 180), running back
Corie Allen (5-11, 185), safety
Dedryc Hutchins (5-10, 180), wide receiver
Quin Bright (5-9, 170) and offensive lineman
Courtland Ford (6-6, 305).
7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Bobcat Stadium
Why it matters: A 6-6 campaign in 2018 was out of character for Guyer, but with 17 returning starters, expectations are high. Aledo returns its most important playmakers along with Tim Buchanan to the sideline, the head coach when the Bearcats began their current run of seven state titles in the last 10 seasons.
No. 9 Highland Park (Dallas) at No. 12 RockwallWhen: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Wilkerson-Sanders Memorial Stadium
Why it matters: Highland Park, three-time defending 5A-D1 state champion, owns the state's longest winning streak at 31. The last team to beat the Scots was Rockwall, a team known for a high-powered offense, in the 2017 season opener.
No. 8 Longview at LufkinWhen: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Abe Martin Stadium
Why it matters: It will be the 83rd meeting of the East Texas powerhouse programs and thanks to a recent string of wins, defending Class 6A-D2 state champion Longview leads the series 41-37 with four ties.
No. 21 Cy-Fair (Cypress) at The WoodlandsWhen: 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Woodforest Stadium
Why it matters: Both are the preseason choice to win their respective nine-team districts. Cy-Fair, coming off a 6A-D2 state title in 2017, followed it up by going four rounds deep in the playoffs. The Woodlands return 16 starters from the team that advanced three playoff rounds a year ago.
Steele (Cibolo) at O'Connor (Helotes) When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Dub Farris Athletic Complex
Why it matters: The two San Antonio-area powers made surprisingly early playoff exits last year. O'Connor, after a 10-0 regular season, lost in the opening round. Steele was eliminated in the second round. O'Connor, a 21-14 winner over Steele in last year's opener, returns 14 starters and Steele returns 11.
Cedar Park at Vandegrift (Austin)When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Ed W. Monroe Memorial Stadium
Why it matters: The standard has been set pretty high by coach Carl Abseck, so Cedar Park is eager to rectify last year's 8-4 mark. Quarterback
Ryder Hernandez is capable of doing just that. Vandergrift won its first 12 games last year and figures to be strong again on defense with linebacker
Jax McCauley joined by five more returning starters on the unit.
Glen Rose at GrandviewWhen: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Zebra Stadium
Why it matters: Grandview opens defense of its 2018 3A-D1 title, the school's first, against a 4A-D2 Glen Rose squad coming off its best season (11-2).
Lamar (Houston) at Westfield (Houston)When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Planet Ford Stadium
Why it matters: Both sides are coming off district titles a year ago and even after graduating a combined 26 starters, both are favored to repeat.
Aledo vs. Guyer, seen from last season, is among the 10 best in Texas on Opening Week.
File photo by Rob Nerpel
