North Crowley (1-0) at DeSoto (1-0)

It’s a big-time showdown in DeSoto as two Top 5 teams in the state of Texas at the 6A level meet up in an early-season litmus test. North Crowley got a much tougher than expected test last week against Lancaster in a 29-21 win. North Texas commit QB Chris Jimmerson connected with WR Quentin Gibson for three touchdown passes and the North Crowley defense had a pair of goal line stands that proved to be the difference in a close game. DeSoto had no trouble last week while blasting an overmatched team from Georgia with a 70-0 rout on Saturday to open the season. QB Kelden Ryan, a Virginia Tech commit, led the DeSoto attack by throwing for 175 yards and two scores and running for 79 yards and two scores. DeSoto’s defense was in midseason form, holding Creekside to just 25 yards on the ground and just 122 yards of offense. North Crowley had a lot of penalties and was plagued by poor execution at times last week, and they must play a clean game if they want to pull the upset at DeSoto. That’s a lot to ask for North Crowley against a DeSoto squad riding a 23-game winning streak - the longest in the state at the 6A level.

Stepp’s Pick: DeSoto by 13