The top story lines and matchups in this week’s first round of the football playoffs.
It’s playoff time in Texas, as hundreds of teams begin a six-week march to NRG Stadium for the UIL state championships. Each week, the Chronicle will look at five story lines, games and players to watch.
Story lines
Home sweet home
The UIL adopted a pilot program for the opening round of the 6A playoffs this year, giving the higher-seeded team the option to host its bidistrict game or agree to a neutral site. The majority chose to play at home.
Teams like La Porte and Pearland will open on campus. And teams like Arlington Bowie, Midland and Copperas Cove will travel up to five hours.
Repeat?
Allen has won the last three Division I championships in the state’s largest classification. And the state’s top-ranked team in 6A could make it four.
It isn’t alone. Cases to repeat can be made for nearly all of the 11-man 2014 champions.
Navasota (Div. I-4A) and Canadian (Div. I-2A) are No. 1 in their classes, while Gilmer (Div. II-4A) and Bremond (Div. II-2A) are second.
Starting fresh
A year ago, Scarborough became the first 0-10 football to make the UIL playoffs. The Spartans are back in the postseason, but this time at 1-9 after ending their 59-game losing streak.
A bigger playoff field means more chances teams with losing records get in. Thirteen 6A teams have losing records, as do six 5A teams.
Salado (Div. II-4A) and Plains (Div. I-2A) are also 1-9.
Mojo magic
This year marked the 25th anniversary of “Friday Night Lights,” the famed best-seller from Buzz Bissinger, who followed the 1988 Odessa Permian Panthers as they eventually reached the state semifinals.
“Mojo” can make its first deep playoff run in seven years. The Panthers, at 9-1, likely won’t face a powerhouse until the third round.
Canutillo, Part 2
A year ago, Canutillo became the first El Paso football team to reach the state semifinals.
This year’s version could be El Paso Eastlake. The Falcons went 9-4 a year ago (like Canutillo) and were competitive in the third-round loss (like Canutillo).
The team also finished 9-1 (like Canutillo) and has a winnable region — Div. II-5A’s Region III is the one bracket without a team ranked in the state polls at some point.
Games
Cedar Hill (9-1) vs. Southlake Carroll (8-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dragon Stadium, Southlake
The two-time defending champions have their hands full. Playing Southlake Carroll, an eight-time state champion, is hard enough, but Cedar Hill has to do it on the road.
Atascocita (9-1) vs. Klein Collins (9-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Klein Memorial
One of the state’s better first-round matchups could lean toward Klein Collins and its dominant ground game or Atascocita with its high-octane offense.
Longview (8-2) vs. Lufkin (7-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Rose Stadium, Tyler
In these rivals’ last two meetings, Longview beat Lukfin 43-42 to open the 2014 playoffs and blocked an extra point to win the 2015 opener 21-20.
West (9-1) vs. Troy (8-2), 7 p.m. Saturday, Waco ISD Stadium
West is still recovering from a fertilizer plant explosion that killed 15 and damaged or destroyed three of its four schools. The new high school is expected to open in 2016.
Mercedes (7-3) vs. Mission Sharyland (6-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Thomson Stadium, Mission
It’s a family affair in the first round. Roger Adame Jr. is in his second year at Mercedes and will face cousin Ron Adame, who is 39-8 in four seasons at Sharyland.
Players
Quardraiz Wadley, RB, Kennedale (vs. Dal- las Carter, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Cedar Hill)
Simply put, Wadley’s numbers are outstanding. He has 190 carries for 2,220 yards, which comes out to 11.7 yards per rush. And he’s recorded 43 touchdowns.
Tren’Davion Dickson, WR, Navasota (vs. Columbia, 7 p.m. Friday, Waller)
Last year’s MaxPreps National Junior of the Year hasn’t slipped, catching 66 passes for 1,191 yards (18 yards per receptions) and 20 touchdowns.
Zach Smith, QB, Grandview (vs. Little River Academy, 1 p.m. Saturday, Waco ISD Stadium)
Dating to his Stephenville days, Baylor’s Art Briles has the Midas touch when it comes to quarterbacks, so Smith’s verbally committing says plenty.
Dee Anderson, WR, DeSoto (vs. Coppell, 7:30 p.m., DeSoto)
The West Mesquite transfer was ruled ineligible but received a temporary restraining order and played last week. Is it worth playing the LSU pledge in the postseason?
Trevor Speights, RB, McAllen Memorial (vs. Laredo United South, 7:30 p.m. Friday, McAllen ISD Stadium)
Speights, who set the Rio Grande Valley’s alltime rushing mark early this season, is hoping to become the exception to the rule for South Texas football.