Texas
2024 Texas high school football playoff predictions: Best bi-district matchups
Our panel of high school football experts — Greg Riddle, Myah Taylor, Ronald Harrod, and Colin Capece — break down each playoff region featuring Dallas-area teams.
Other playoff predictions
6A Division I Region I
Best first-round matchup
Taylor: Allen vs. Lewisville. For the third straight year, Allen and Lewisville will meet in the first round of the playoffs. Lewisville won 43-18 in 2022, and Allen pulled out the 18-17 win in 2023 before making a run to the regional finals.
Harrod: North Crowley vs. Trophy Club Byron Nelson. North Crowley leads area 6A teams in total offense, averaging 556.4 yards per game, while Byron Nelson ranks 14th in scoring defense, allowing 22.6 points per game. North Crowley quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr. has a region-best 42 passing touchdowns and leads the No. 4 passing offense with an average of 262.9 yards per game.
Riddle: Prosper vs. Coppell. Coppell has one of the best passing games in the area, averaging 274.3 yards per game with Baylor pledge Edward Griffin throwing for 2,721 yards and 38 touchdowns and Harry Hassmann catching 34 passes for 1,054 yards and 16 touchdowns and averaging 31 yards per catch. Prosper has one of the best offensive lines in the state and averages 42.8 points as Leo Anguiano has run for 862 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Capece: Allen vs. Lewisville. These two teams will meet in the bi-district round for the third consecutive year. Allen is ranked No.5 in The Dallas Morning News’ final regular season rankings, and Lewisville is No.11. Friday night’s game could be a classic.
6A Division I Region II
Best first-round matchup
Taylor: Rockwall vs. Sachse. Sachse picked up its second consecutive District 9-6A title and rides a nine-game winning streak into the playoffs. Its offense has been mostly powered by three-star Boise State commit Brendon Haygood, who has rushed for 1,500 yards and 17 touchdowns. Rockwall quarterback Brent Rickert has passed for 2,327 yards and 36 touchdowns.
Harrod: Waco Midway vs. Waxahachie. Waxahachie boasts a top defense among area 6A teams, ranking No. 16 in rushing (127.4 yards allowed per game) and No. 19 in scoring (23.5 points allowed per game). On offense, Waxahachie quarterback Jerry Meyer III has thrown for 2,465 yards with 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Riddle: Rockwall vs. Sachse. Five-star wide receiver Kaliq Lockett, committed to Texas, and Boise State-bound running back Brendon Haygood (1,500 yards, 17 touchdowns rushing) are a prolific duo for a 9-1 Sachse team that averages 37.1 points. Rockwall’s offense has been even better, averaging 41.7 points as Brent Rickert has 36 touchdown passes and Triston Gooch and Camron Marsh have combined for 108 catches for 1,792 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Capece: Sachse vs. Rockwall. The Mustangs steamrolled everyone in 9-6A on the ground this season with running back and Boise State commit Brendon Haygood, and Texas-bound Kaliq Lockett gives them an elite home-run threat at wide receiver. Rockwall had a down year after winning 9 regular season games last season, but they still boast a top-five rusher in Jamir Wilson. Sachse is ranked 11th in The News’ final regular season rankings, and Rockwall is ranked 19th.
6A Division II Region I
Best first-round matchup
Taylor: Prosper Rock Hill vs. Hebron. Both teams snuck into the playoffs this season, with Rock Hill qualifying for the postseason for the first time in program history. Hebron made the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Harrod: McKinney vs. Denton Guyer. McKinney ranks fifth in area 6A rushing defense, allowing 94 yards per game, while Denton Guyer is 12th, giving up 119.2 yards. Both teams lean on strong front sevens, with Denton Guyer’s Xavier Ukponu ranked as the No. 2 defensive lineman and McKinney’s Riley Pettijohn the top-rated defensive recruit in the Dallas area.
Riddle: McKinney vs. Denton Guyer. Guyer four-star Oklahoma pledge Kevin Sperry is the No. 2-ranked quarterback in the Dallas area. McKinney four-star linebacker Riley Pettijohn, committed to Ohio State, is the No. 1-rated defensive recruit in D-FW.
Capece: Guyer vs. McKinney. The Wildcats enter the bi-district round with some momentum after taking care of business against Denton Braswell, while the Lions suffered a surprising loss to Prosper Rock Hill. Denton Guyer quarterback and Oklahoma commit Kevin Sperry will look to stay hot after throwing for 255 yards last week, but McKinney’s defense is among the 6A leaders in passing yards per game. Guyer is ranked 13th in the most recent rankings, and McKinney is not ranked.
6A Division II Region II
Best first-round matchup
Taylor: Forney vs. Wylie East. Forney secured a playoff berth last week with its 56-46 come-from-behind win over Rockwall-Heath. A newcomer to Class 6A, Forney was a Class 5A Division I state semifinalist last season. One-loss Wylie East was the District 9-6A runner-up in 2024.
Harrod: Forney vs. Wylie East. Wylie East’s Michael Henderson, a Texas Tech commit, faces off against a Forney defense led by Texas A&M commit Kelvion Riggins. Henderson has rushed for 972 yards and 10 touchdowns on 104 carries. Forney’s defense has held two opponents under 20 points this season.
Riddle: Forney vs. Wylie East. Forney is just 5-5 and had to rally from a 26-7 third-quarter deficit to beat Rockwall-Heath 56-46 in the regular-season finale to make the playoffs. But after reaching the state semifinals in 5A Division I last year, and with an offense led by four-star running back Javian Osborne (21 rushing touchdowns this year), don’t be surprised if Forney beats 9-1 Wylie East.
Capece: Wylie East vs. Forney. The Raiders were the runner-ups to Sachse in 9-6A, which means they’ll meet a talented Forney team that snuck into the playoffs in the last week of the regular season by beating Rockwall-Heath. Forney was a 5A Division I state semifinalist last year and is dangerous on the ground with four-star prospect Javian Osborne.
5A Division I Region I
Best first-round matchup
Taylor: Richland vs. Fort Worth Arlington Heights. Richland went three rounds deep in the postseason last year and should be on pace to make another long run, which starts against 9–1 Arlington Heights. Senior quarterback Drew Kates has accounted for 37 all-purpose touchdowns for Richland this season and is the team’s leading rusher.
Harrod: Denton Ryan vs. Fort Worth Paschal. Denton Ryan is one of the most balanced 5A teams in the Dallas area, ranking No. 8 in total offense with 424.6 yards per game and No. 6 in scoring at 46.4 points per game. Defensively, they are No. 5 in total defense, allowing just 87.1 yards per game, and No. 6 in scoring defense, giving up 17.7 points per game.
Riddle: Richland vs. Fort Worth Arlington Heights. These teams are a combined 17-3, but expect Richland to dominate behind quarterback Drew Kates, who has accounted for 37 touchdowns and is the team’s leading rusher.
Capece: Richland vs. Fort Worth Arlington Heights. Richland enters the bi-district round having lost two of its last four, but the Royals are never out of any game with quarterback Drew Kates. The senior is second in class 5A in passing yards and has also stepped up to lead his team in rushing, after an early-season injury to four-star Baylor commit Michael Turner. Richland is looking to improve on its playoff success from last season, when it reached the regional round.
5A Division I Region II
Best first-round matchup
Taylor: West Mesquite vs. McKinney North. After finishing 3–7 last season, West Mesquite is undefeated entering the playoffs. A McKinney North team that went 5–3 in District 5-5AI — with Frisco Lone Star, Frisco Reedy and Frisco Wakeland — should be a test for the resurgent program.
Harrod: Frisco Reedy vs. Carrollton Creekview. This matchup features one of the top passing teams against one of the top rushing teams in the area. Frisco Reedy quarterback Jake Ferner has completed 114 of 193 passes for 1,987 yards, tallying 22 touchdowns and three interceptions. Carrollton Creekview’s DeAndre Richardson has rushed for 964 yards and 15 touchdowns on 124 carries.
Riddle: Leander Rouse vs. Highland Park. This region includes three teams ranked among the top 10 in the state – No. 4 Highland Park, No. 8 Frisco Lone Star and No. 10 Georgetown. Six-time state champion Highland Park opens the playoffs against a Rouse team that has won its playoff opener four years in a row and went three rounds deep in 2020 and 2021.
Capece: Frisco Lone Star vs. White. Lone Star has been the best Frisco school all season long. After an upset loss to Wakeland in Week 9, it has won back-to-back games and looks primed to make a run at a state title. They face a tough test in the bi-district round against W.T. White, but don’t expect the Rangers to stumble.
5A Division II Region I
Best first-round matchup
Taylor: Colleyville Heritage vs. Anna. The 2023 4A Division I state champion, Anna lost its first two district games this season but ran the table to clinch District 4-5AII’s third seed. Colleyville Heritage was a regional finalist in 2023 and was the District 3-5AII runner-up behind Argyle this season.
Riddle: Frisco Emerson vs. Argyle. Emerson reached the state semifinals last year in its second season of varsity football, then followed that up with a 7-3 regular season in arguably the toughest 5A district in the state. Its reward is a first-round matchup against Argyle, ranked No. 4 in the state this year and a state semifinalist two years ago.
Capece: Anna vs. Colleyville Heritage. The loser of this first-round game will likely feel like it could have accomplished a whole lot more this year. In 2023, Anna won the 4A Division I state title, and Colleyville Heritage was a 5A regional finalist. Both teams are ranked in the top-15 of the most recent 5A poll.
5A Division II Region II
Best first-round matchup
Taylor: Hillcrest vs. Kaufman. Hillcrest finished second in District 5-5AII behind South Oak Cliff and Kaufman went 5–2 in District 6-5AII.
Harrod: South Oak Cliff vs. Terrell. After falling to Port Neches-Groves in the 5A Division II state championship, South Oak Cliff has bounced back with eight straight wins against 5A opponents. South Oak Cliff boasts the top-ranked defense among area 5A teams, allowing just 121.2 yards per game. Terrell, which finished fourth in its district, features the ninth-ranked rushing attack in the area, averaging 231.6 yards per game.
Riddle: Nederland vs. Texarkana Texas High. Texas High, 10-0 and ranked No. 3 in the state, opens the playoffs against a Nederland team that beat defending 5A Division II state champion Port Neches-Groves.
Capece: Anna vs. Colleyville Heritage. The loser of this first-round game will likely feel like it could have accomplished a whole lot more this year. In 2023, Anna won the 4A Division I state title, and Colleyville Heritage was a 5A regional finalist. Both teams are ranked in the top-15 of the most recent 5A poll.
4A Division I Region II
Capece: Kimball vs. Aubrey. Two teams ranked in the top-5 in the most recent 4A poll will meet in this first round game. Kimball won District 8-4AI, while Aubrey finished fourth in District 7-4AI. Kimball moved from Division 5A Division II to 4A Division I this year.
4A Division II Region II
Capece: Sunnyvale vs. Caddo Mills. Sunnyvale is ranked fifth in the most recent 4A poll and is looking to go further in the playoffs this year. It won its bi-district game last season, but lost to eventual state champion Gilmer in the next round.
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – MAY 27: Democratic Senate Candidate James Talarico speaks at a rally at Rich’s Houston on May 27, 2026 in Houston, Texas. Talarico held the rally after the primary runoff and to explain his plan on how he will take on Republican nominee Ken Paxton. (Photo by Danielle Villasana/Getty Images)
Texas has reported 48 cases of Cyclospora, a foodborne illness caused by a parasite that health experts say can lead to severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
Dr. David Winter, an internal medicine physician with Baylor Scott & White, said cyclospora infections typically increase during the summer. However, he said the current increase affecting several states could become the worst in years.
At least 20 people nationwide have been hospitalized with symptoms that can last for weeks.
“It’s really bad disease right now and sometimes you get in your intestines and that gives you these horrible cramps and gurgling and then diarrhea. In fact, the diarrhea is so bad, they call it explosive diarrhea,” Winter said.
Cyclospora is caused by a parasite rather than a virus or bacteria. Winter said the parasite multiplies inside the intestines, contributing to recurring symptoms.
“It’s a parasite. It’s not a virus, it is not bacteria. So the parasite, once it gets in your intestine, it starts to multiply. And then when it builds up a certain amount, then it comes out with this explosion, and then it starts multiply again,” Winter said.
The illness spreads through food or water contaminated with infected feces and is rarely transmitted from person to person.
The source of the current outbreak is unknown. Previous outbreaks have been linked to fresh fruits and vegetables, including basil, cilantro, raspberries and snow peas.
Doctors recommend thoroughly washing fresh produce before eating it to help reduce the risk of infection.
For many people, symptoms can be managed at home, and antibiotics are also effective, according to Winter.
He said patients with severe diarrhea should let their doctor know about their symptoms because many routine stool tests do not automatically screen for cyclospora.
“Most stool tests in laboratories don’t look for this. So you want to be sure and tell your doctor, I’ve got this, quote, explosive diarrhea. I’m cramping, I feel like hell, I have all this fatigue,” Winter said.
While the infection is uncommon, Winter said it can be especially difficult for those who become sick.
“It’s rare, but boy when you get it, it is tough,” Winter said.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.
Published On 8 Jul 2026
The family of a man killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Texas has called for an investigation into the incident.
The appeal on Wednesday came a day after the ICE agent fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston during a traffic stop, the most recent high-profile killing by immigration enforcement agents amid the administration of US President Donald Trump’s mass deportation drive.
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Salgado Araujo’s family said he was working at the time he was killed, driving a crew to a home build in the area. They said he may have been scared that the individuals in the unmarked vehicles that stopped him were trying to steal his tools.
They further said the Mexican national had lived in the US for 35 years and was working towards getting legal status. He had no criminal record and worked tirelessly to support his three US sons, all US citizens.
“He did not deserve to die. He did not deserve to be reduced to a headline of ‘Mexican man shot and killed by ICE’,” son Ronaldo Salgado said during a news conference.
“He deserved to live a quiet life as Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a husband, a father and a job creator for dozens of men who also wanted the American dream,” he said.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has said Salgado Araujo attempted to ram an ICE agent, who opened fire in response. Prior to that, they said Salgado Araujo’s car had struck an ICE vehicle.
No video or images of the incident have been released, although a bystander recorded its aftermath.
DHS said Salgado Araujo had been targeted by the agents because he was living in the US without documentation.
While the Trump administration had initially said it would only target criminals in its mass deportation push, it quickly said that it considered anyone in the US without documentation a criminal. Irregularly entering the US is a civil, not a criminal, violation.
Rights groups have accused immigration agents of using “dragnet” techniques under pressure to meet detainment quotas. The Trump administration has denied such quotas exist.
Speaking at the news conference on Wednesday, League of United Latin American Citizens President Roman Palomares said the immigration crackdown has created a country where it is “open season on Latinos” by officers who think they can “shoot and explain later”.
The initial details of the Texas killing resemble the killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis, Minnesota in January. DHS officials initially said that Good, a US citizen, was attempting to ram an ICE agent when she was fatally shot, although video appeared to show her steering around the agent, who opened fire after stepping to the side of her vehicle.
Just days later, 37-year-old Alex Pretti was fatally shot by a Border Patrol agent and a Customs and Border Protection officer as he sought to document immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis.
Little has emerged from federal probes into the killings, which came amid an enforcement surge in the city. In a rare move, the Department of Justice declined a separate civil-rights probe into Nicole Good’s killing.
‘Working to give us the American dream’
Speaking at the news conference on Wednesday, Ronaldo Salgado recounted frantically looking for his father at his job site after his mother had been told something bad had happened.
At some point during the search, he was shown the video of his fatally wounded father.
“I recognised him, not from his appearance but from his voice crying for help as he lay on the street,” Salgado said.
“After nearly 35 years of working to give us the American dream, he made the choice to begin the process of obtaining his American dream through a work permit,” Salgado said.
“We dotted every I, crossed every T, filled every document, and attended every appointment. He was close to obtaining his legal status.”
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum also condemned the killing, saying she was considering legal measures or an appeal to the United Nations.
“There has been another tragic death of one of our compatriots in the United States due to detention issues, even though their only ‘offence’ is not yet having proper documentation,” Sheinbaum said.
The shooting was at least the eighth known death during an encounter with federal immigration officers since the start of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.
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