Previews and Predictions for the Best Week 10 Texas High School Football Games of 2024

El Paso Eastlake (5-3, 4-0) vs El Paso Pebble Hills (5-3, 4-0): The district title is on the line in District 1-6A, as locals are expecting a full house at the Student Activity Center for this matchup. In a tough battle last week, Eastlake escaped El Paso Franklin, 21-14, as QB Luke Lomeli tossed three first-half touchdowns to stake the Falcons to a 21-0 lead. Then, the defense managed to hang on late for the key win. After losing three of their first four games under first-year head Ryan Warner, Pebble Hills has gotten things rolling with four straight wins after last week’s 55-26 win over El Paso Socorro. RB Zerian Quarles had a pair of touchdown runs, while sophomore QB Joe Fernandez continues to play well after he tossed three touchdown passes and ran for two scores. LB Dorian Jaramillo is one of the top defensive playmakers in West Texas and will lead the Spartans' defense. On paper, these two are evenly matched. The difference is experience at the QB spot, where Eastlake has a three-year starter and Pebble Hills is starting a sophomore. Stepp’s Pick: El Paso Eastlake by 6

Wolfforth Frenship (7-1, 3-0) at Odessa Permian (7-1, 2-1): Frenship is continuing its assault on defenses in Class 6A out west, as the Tigers blasted Odessa High, 56-7, a week ago. WRs Chase Campbell and Texas Tech commit WR Leyton Stone each hauled in a pair of touchdown receptions, while RB Ethan DeLeon ran for three scores. The Tigers' defense put together its best four quarters of the season in the victory. Permian rattled off seven straight wins to open the season but stumbled last week against rival Midland Legacy in a 49-38 loss. QB Jakob Garcia threw a pair of touchdown passes, while RB Gavin Black ran for two scores and eclipsed 150 yards in the win. Permian’s defense was lit up by a fast improving Legacy offense that’s getting healthy at the right time. Don’t be surprised if the explosive Frenship offense puts up a similar effort this week, as the Tigers can put up half-a-hundred in the blink of an eye. Stepp’s Pick: Wolfforth Frenship by 16

North Forney (6-2, 4-0) at Longview (6-2, 4-0): Surprising North Forney, under first-year head coach Marcus Shavers, will look to take a big step toward a district title with a win in East Texas, but winning at Lobo Stadium is no easy task. North Forney rolled past Royse City with ease, 62-23, a week ago, as RB Andikan Asuquo ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns. QB Legend Bey added 182 yards and three scores on the ground, as the Falcons almost exclusively stuck with the ground game in the win. After three straight impressive performances, Longview needed some late breaks down the stretch last week to avoid the upset bug with a 20-15 win over Rockwall-Heath on the road. RB Kelvin Washington ran for 124 yards and a touchdown and added a 10-yard touchdown catch to lead the offense. As great as Washington's been this year, as a junior, Longview’s going to have to develop other weapons as we move late into the season. Freshman WR Jaden Hurndon could be that weapon, as he’s shown flashes of brilliance in his first few varsity games. The difference in this game is Longview’s defense, which has been playing elite football lately, and that will be the key at home. Stepp’s Pick: Longview by 8

Tomball (8-0, 6-0) at Klein Cain (7-1, 5-1): Bragging rights in the wild 15-6A race will be on the line, as a Tomball win will clinch the outright district title, while a Klein Cain victory would put the ‘Canes in position to win the district title in Week 11. Tomball slipped past a feisty Magnolia squad, 29-17, last week. The Cougars were led by RB Oswaldo Morales, who had a big game and has had a monster season, topping 100 yards rushing in eight straight games. Cain kept its district title hopes alive last week with a hard-fought 45-35 win over Klein Collins. QB Zack Johnson tossed six touchdown passes, with four going to Maxwell Hendrick. The key for Cain was a 17-0 late game stretch where a 35-28 late third-quarter deficit turned into a 10-point victory. Tomball is unbeaten, but lacks a signature win as a resume builder and a win on the road against Cain would be a huge confidence boost heading into the postseason. Klein Cain, in my view, is the most complete team in the district, and the ‘Canes put themselves in position to win the district next week. Stepp’s Pick: Klein Cain by 3

West Mesquite (8-0, 6-0) at Carrollton Smith (7-1, 6-0): For all intents and purposes, the 5-5A Division I title is on the line Friday night in Carrollton, as West Mesquite looks to clinch the outright district title. After knocking off unbeaten Carrollton Creekview, 48-21, a week ago, West Mesquite will look to wrap up the district title this week against a strong Newman Smith squad that has won seven straight. The Wranglers rolled up 529 yards of offense, led by a pair of 100-yard rushers. Damarian Robinson ran for 119 yards and a touchdown and Kamari Carter had 114 yards and two scores on the ground. WMHS averaged over 8 yards per carry and the defense forced three turnovers. Newman Smith handled Dallas Adams, 37-7, last week, as RB Alijah Harrison ran for 122 yards and three scores and added a 55-yard receiving touchdown. Carrollton Smith’s had some injuries at key skill spots, and although Harrison is an elite talent and can carry the offense, West just has too much talent and depth on both sides of the ball. Stepp’s Pick: West Mesquite by 21

College Station (8-1, 6-1) at Pflugerville Weiss (7-1, 5-1): A home playoff game is on the line in this one, as the winner likely wraps up the second seed out of 12-5A Division I. College Station rolled to an easy 56-10 win over Lockhart last week, as QB Cade Corocoran tied a school record with six touchdown passes in the easy victory - the Cougs fifth straight since their loss to A&M Consolidated. Weiss has also rattled off five straight wins since opening up district play with a close loss at home to A&M Consolidated. The Wolves had last week off after handling Lockhart, 42-0, two weeks ago. Freshman QB Jaxon Schad continues to improve every week, with eight starts under his belt, and he no longer looks like the freshman QB who struggled in the first half of the A&M Consolidated game in September. WR Adrian Wilson, a Colorado commit, is an absolute force on the outside for Weiss. If teams pay too much attention to him, the Wolves have other guys who can make teams pay. This is a coin flip game, but Weiss has two key advantages going into this Thursday night showdown - the game is at home and Weiss has had two weeks to gear up for this one. Winner hosts a playoff game, and I think it is Weiss who gets the College Station ISD split with a win this week. Stepp’s Pick: Pflugerville Weiss by 4

Prosper Walnut Grove (7-1, 5-1) at Melissa (5-3, 4-2): The peaks and valleys in this 4-5A Division II game are immense. For Walnut Grove, a win keeps it alive for a possible outright district title, while a loss likely drops it down to the four seed. The stakes may be even higher for Melissa. With a win, the Cardinals likely grab the district’s second seed and host a playoff game. However, a loss for the Cardinals could shockingly have them out of the postseason picture. Walnut Grove got its biggest win in its young history a week ago, as the Wildcats stunned state-ranked Lovejoy. Freshman QB Hayes Hackney introduced himself with a sensational performance by throwing for 358 yards and three scores. RB Cam Newton chipped in 210 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Melissa put its season in major peril last week, as the Cardinals fell 38-35 to a desperate Frisco Emerson squad. QB Noah Schuback led the Cardinals with 258 yards passing and three touchdowns, but Melissa’s defense struggled to contain Emerson QB DJ Shelton, who accounted for all five Mavericks touchdowns. Melissa’s defensive line is among the best in the DFW area when it's locked in, and that unit will need to dominate for the Cardinals to put themselves out of danger. I believe, at home and with everything on the line, Melissa flexes its muscle. Stepp’s Pick: Melissa by 9

Waco University (6-2, 2-1) at Brenham (7-1, 3-0): A win this week for Brenham will clinch the top playoff seed out of 10-5A Division II, but it won’t be an easy task as a talented Waco University squad comes calling. A week ago, University blasted Waco High, 50-3, as the Trojans were led by WR Keandre Brooks' two touchdown receptions, as six different Trojans found the end zone. That's impressive, considering University's two biggest stars, WR London Smith and RB JD Bell, were held out of the game with injuries. Brenham got the offense rolling in a big way last week, as they rolled past Killeen Ellison, 50-28. In that game, sophomore RB Jacolby Dixon ran for four touchdowns and added a kickoff return to open the second half and bust the game open. Brenham’s defense did a good job containing one of the region’s most explosive offensive attacks at Ellison. Brenham’s physicality up front, on both sides of the ball, is the key difference in this showdown, and the Cubs get the win to lock up the top seed and a home playoff game. Stepp’s Pick: Brenham by 14

___

QUICK PICKS

Mansfield (7-1, 3-1) at North Crowley (8-0, 4-0) Stepp’s Pick: North Crowley by 38

Euless Trinity (7-1, 5-1) at Justin Northwest (6-2, 4-2) Stepp’s Pick: Euless Trinity by 12

The Woodlands (7-1, 5-1) at Conroe (7-1, 5-1) Stepp’s Pick: The Woodlands by 18

Bridgeland (7-1, 5-0) at Cypress Ranch (6-2, 4-1) Stepp’s Pick: Bridgeland by 13

San Antonio Churchill (5-3, 3-2) vs San Antonio Johnson (7-1, 5-0) Stepp’s Pick: San Antonio Johnson by 13

La Porte (5-3, 5-0) at Angleton (8-0, 5-0) Stepp’s Pick: Angleton by 7

Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (6-2, 5-1) at Weslaco East (6-2, 4-2) Stepp’s Pick: Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial by 3

Lubbock Cooper (7-2, 4-1) at Abilene Wylie (6-1, 4-0) Stepp’s Pick: Lubbock Cooper by 6

Huntsville (5-3, 3-2) at Nederland (7-1, 5-0) Stepp’s Pick: Nederland by 7

Bastrop (6-2, 5-0) at Pflugerville (6-2, 3-2) Stepp’s Pick: Bastrop by 11

___

Last Week: 13-7 65.0%

Season: 121-39 75.6%