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.
Find more high school sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Sign up for our FREE HS newsletter.
The Waco Bridge is a nonprofit local news organization supported by The Texas Tribune, reporting on Waco government, education and community. Sign up for the Bridge’s free newsletter here.
Jim Wallingsford drove his white Chevy truck one morning last month down North Walnut Street in Lacy Lakeview, dodging potholes on his way to inspect a repair project on a sewer lift station.
As public works director for this Waco suburb of 8,000 residents, Wallingsford is always triaging the city’s needs: Cracked and cratered streets, aging pipes and pump stations and the old water tower, which needs a $1 million facelift.
“I want to be a good steward of the City of Lacy Lakeview with the money I’m given to spend,” he said. “So I give everything a weighted scale and I base it off of the likelihood and consequences of failure.”
Lacy Lakeview, population 8,000, is typical of many small Texas towns that lack the resources to keep up with streets and pipes that are wearing out. Most of that infrastructure in Lacy Lakeview was installed more than 50 years ago. And the longer maintenance is deferred, the faster it deteriorates.
Mayor Chuck Wilson has pointed to the city’s maintenance backlog to justify the pursuit of a data center. He wants to partner with Infrakey to develop and annex a proposed $10 billion data center north of town near Ross.
That development represents tax base that would increase Lacy Lakeview’s tax base enough to increase city tax revenues from $6.5 million to $50 million a year. But the project has drawn a backlash from neighbors of the Infrakey site, as well as from some Lacy Lakeview residents, who just elected data center opponent Amy Gage to the City Council.
As Wallingsford sees it, the city needs new development, or the existing taxpayer and utility ratepayers will be on the hook for improvements.
“Everything that we purchase is going up, literally,” he said. “The only other solution is that we have to have a rate increase just to be able to keep up.”
Wallingsford stopped his truck at the Meyers water pump station, which was under repair after it was observed to be leaking.
“The consequence of them failing is pretty high but their issues aren’t critical and they continue to operate,” he said. “The city only needs one pump to operate and we have three, so there’s a backup.
“At the end of the day when something fails, we go back and work off of the plan.”
Wallingsford, a former city of Waco staffer, said utility infrastructure like this typically has a 50-year lifespan, and the ideal practice in public works is to set aside 2% of the system’s cost each year for replacement.
“I haven’t worked for a city that’s ever done that,” he said.
Even more visible is the wear and tear on Lacy Lakeview’s 30 miles of city streets. Asked which ones need to be repaved, he didn’t hesitate.
“All of them,” he said. “They all need to be done. I’d say we have about 15 critical streets” that need to be repaved.
The city is now repairing and reconstructing streets using a $9.5 million bond issue that voters approved in 2024. To save money, the city is using its own workers and equipment to grind up and recycle pavement, which is then compacted and resealed.
Among the most critical projects is Walnut Street, which is being reconstructed along with replacement of water, sewer, fiber optic and gas utilities under the street. That project is to be completed in February 2027.
This article first appeared on The Waco Bridge.
Source link
Texas
Houston-area raids expose Texas loophole allowing illegal game rooms to reopen, costing taxpayers
HARRIS COUNTY, TX – On a February afternoon, 2 Investigates showed up to a North Harris County strip mall.
Minutes earlier, deputies raided what law enforcement described as an illegal gaming room operating in plain sight. The operation to shut down the room ended quickly, as one person was arrested and more than 80 gaming machines were seized. The scene was littered with evidence, including cash and a firearm.
However, what 2 Investigates uncovered was a bigger component after the raid: this was not a new location.
“We’ve been here a couple of times,” said Lt. Jeffrey Lee with Harris County Constable Precinct 4, referring to the same location being raided in September of last year.
Law enforcement officials, from investigators to prosecutor, we spoke with over the course of our investigation say these operations have become increasingly common across the Houston area and Texas.
“It’s extremely common. We run these operations numerous times,” Lee said.
Why authorities say these operations matter
Every member of law enforcement, from the courts to the streets, we spoke with during our months-long investigation made it clear that illegal gaming rooms create more than just gambling concerns.
“At its base, these gaming operations prey on the vulnerable members of our community-those on a fixed income, older people-promising these huge payouts that never materialize,” said Lee, who went on to add, “At its wider angle, these are funding operations for much more serious criminal enterprises like human trafficking, drug trafficking, and things like that.”
Criminal defense attorney Rick Detoto, who has experience with these cases, said the locations for these rooms can also become magnets for violent crime
“They are targets.” Detoto went on to add, “There is a lot of cash there, their security is minimal at best, and they go in there and they rob them and people get shot and there are capital murders and aggravated robberies and all kinds of stuff that come out of those game rooms.”
Houston police raid Lucky J Social Club in Midwest Houston, arrest several in illegal gambling bust
In February, an illegal game room in Southwest Houston was the site of the shooting death of a security guard during a robbery.
The “8-Liner” loophole
At the center of the gaming controversy are machines commonly known as “8-liners.” These are not unfamiliar machines for Texans, as many can be found inside gas stations, convenience stores, or small strip mall businesses. Under Texas law, certain gaming devices may legally operate if they are considered entertainment-only machines and do not provide illegal cash payouts. In some cases, stores may offer small prizes or store credits instead.
However, critics and elected leaders have asked for clarification from the state, saying some operators exploit a gray area in the law centered around whether a machine is considered a “game of skill” or a “game of chance.”
What is the difference between a game of skill and a game of chance?
As Detoto explained, “A game of chance [is] you press a button and there is a computer program that randomly picks the numbers or the fruit or whatever and you win, compared to a game of skill where it’s based on memory or perception or your timing, where you are kind of playing a game and you have to remember things. That’s the loophole that these people are exploiting, and it’s allowing some of these games to be legally put into these stores.”
Warrants executed at 20 locations around Hitchcock believed to be involved in illegal gambling operation
Investigators say some operators allegedly go beyond the legal boundaries by offering cash payouts either privately or openly. 2 Investigates found one machine advertising as much in Fort Bend County.
Detoto said the machines are becoming more common throughout everyday neighborhoods, including his. “I’ve started to notice them every time I get gas,” he said. “I go in to get a Coke or something to drink, water-there are three 8-liners there that weren’t there before.”
Raids, auctions, and recycled machines
Authorities say shutting down illegal game rooms can become expensive for taxpayers due to investigations, raids, manpower, and evidence storage. However, another issue emerged during our investigation: many confiscated machines are not destroyed after they are seized. Instead, there are law enforcement jurisdictions that auction them off.
Investigators confirmed to us that some of those machines seized by other agencies eventually make their way back into circulation because they’ve been made available again, “We do see reintroduction of machines and the equipment that come from these game rooms back in again,” Lee said.
Lee’s constable office does not engage in the practice of auctioning off machines.
How did Detoto describe the system? “It’s a revolving door of law enforcement seizing the machines, waiting until a case gets resolved, selling them, making a profit for the asset funds, and doing it over again.”
Multiple sources interviewed for this story questioned whether current enforcement efforts are actually deterring illegal operations.
Detoto said criminal prosecutions tied to 8-liners are relatively rare.
“I’ve never seen, in my experience, anyone go to jail for these 8-liners.” The Houston-based defense attorney added, “The prosecutors don’t have the time to deal with these cases. They are not the most important case on their docket.”
Lee agreed that stronger oversight and penalties may be needed: “There is room for improvement with regards to the oversight, the laws, and the stuff that concerns these gaming rooms-that we could actually enact some stiffer penalties to discourage this behavior.”
When 2 Investigates asked whether Texas lawmakers need to do more, Lee responded: “We would like to see some improvements, yes.”
Calls for legislative change
Texas State Senator Bob Hall, who represents Senate District 2, said the current system leaves too much room for abuse. “We need to do more to make sure that we can shut down and stop the operation of the illegal game rooms,” said Hall, who added, “There is no question about that.”
During an interview at his Dallas-area office, Hall acknowledged that changing the law could prove to be difficult. “It will be a challenge because it will depend on our local law enforcement doing its job the way it should be done,” Hall said.
Bottom line for Hall regarding a problem hiding in plain sight? “There is no reason for a gambling machine to exist in Texas.”
Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
Source link
The oil and gas industry is king in Texas, but it still doesn’t have enough power to save Republican incumbents.
The state’s largest oil producers couldn’t stop hard-right activist Bo French from winning the Republican runoff Tuesday for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission — despite pouring money into the campaign of incumbent Jim Wright. An oil and gas fundraising advantage also wasn’t enough to keep four-term Sen. John Cornyn from losing his Senate primary to Texas Attorney General and MAGA darling Ken Paxton.
The twin losses are animating Democrats, who see an opening for a spot on Texas’ powerful oil and gas regulatory commission — and for a Senate seat that could help decide which party controls the chamber come 2027.
“While Republicans are facing their nightmare scenario… Democrats are one step closer to winning a Senate majority,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
-
Fitness6 minutes agoHow busy women can realistically hit 10 hours of exercise a week – and unlock the biggest health benefits
-
Movie Reviews18 minutes agoThe Breadwinner (Christian Movie Review) – The Collision
-
-U43648517271Shc-1440x752@IlSole24Ore-Web.jpg?r=1170x507&w=400&resize=400,240&ssl=1 "War breaking news. Trump postpones decision: nothing after two hours in Situation Room")
-U43648517271Shc-1440x752@IlSole24Ore-Web.jpg?r=1170x507&w=80&resize=80,80&ssl=1 "War breaking news. Trump postpones decision: nothing after two hours in Situation Room")
World30 minutes agoWar breaking news. Trump postpones decision: nothing after two hours in Situation Room
-
News36 minutes agoJudge Tosses Citizenship Law Aimed at New Voters in New Hampshire
-
Politics42 minutes agoVideo: Trump’s Counterterror Strategy Focuses on the Left
-
Science54 minutes agoVideo: Crowds Flood New York City Streets for First Day of Manhattanhenge
-
Lifestyle1 hour agoTrump’s name must come off of the Kennedy Center, judge rules
-
Technology2 hours agoAcer’s launching a Linux handheld for streaming your PC games
