Galena Park North Shore (13-0) vs. Humble Atascocita (11-2), 2 p.m. Saturday at Pasadena’s Veterans Memorial Stadium: District 21-6A has three teams still remaining in the playoffs and two of those teams meet up in Pasadena to decide the Region III crown in 6A-Division I.

North Shore has had Atascocita’s number recently as the Mustangs have won seven straight against AHS, including wins in the playoffs in 2019, 2021 and 2022.

North Shore rolled to an easy 61-35 win over Atascocita in their meeting on October 27, so Atascocita has a lot of ground to make up.

After a pair of shaky playoff performances, the Mustangs put together maybe their most complete effort of the year Friday by blasting Cy-Fair, 45-9. QB Kaleb Bailey was sharp throwing for 317 yards and four touchdowns, while adding a rushing touchdown, and the Mustangs defense put together maybe their best effort of the season holding a dynamic Cy-Fair attack to just nine points.

Atascocita pulled away from Houston Lamar after a scoreless first half in a 34-14 win as QB Zion Brown had a touchdown pass and a touchdown run, while Tory Blaylock and Cardae Mack added rushing touchdowns.

Atascocita’s defense played their best game of the year as well, holding an explosive Lamar offense to just two scores and the Eagles defense even added a touchdown on their own.

I don’t expect a 26-point North Shore win this week, but it’s hard to pick anyone but the Mustangs, who seem to have Atascocita’s number.

Stepp’s Pick: Galena Park North Shore by 10

Southlake Carroll (12-1) vs. Trophy Club Nelson (13-0), 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Arlington’s Choctaw Stadium: The rematch theme continues this week as Southlake Carroll looks to avenge its regular season loss to 4-6A rival Byron Nelson on Saturday.

The Dragons made quick work of Highland Park last week, 45-14. Davis Penn and Riley Wormley combined for 335 yards rushing and four touchdowns, while Georgia Tech QB commit Graham Knowles added 132 yards passing and two scores.

Byron Nelson got pushed last week against Coppell in a showdown of unbeaten teams. Despite some tense moments down the stretch, the Bobcats held on for a 52-45 win. QB Tom Von Grote led the way with four passing touchdowns and two rushing TDs. The Bobcats defense, which has been a calling card all year, will need to stand up and be accounted for this week, because they’ll need that type of effort to knock off Carroll a second time.

A full-speed Wormely will be key for the Dragons this week and Carroll avenges that regular season loss.

Stepp’s Pick: Southlake Carroll by 3

Humble Summer Creek (12-1) vs. Ford Bend Hightower (12-1), 2 p.m. Saturday at Cypress’ Cy-Fair FCU Stadium: After a bit of a slow start last week, Summer Creek hit the jets late in the second quarter to stroll past Houston Stratford, 52-15.

QB Blake Thomas had two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns, while RB Lloyd Avant ran for three scores to lead the Summer Creek onslaught.

Hightower avenged its third-round playoff loss to C.E. King last week with a hard fought 31-28 win at NRG Stadium. RB Jeremy Payne accounted for 161 yards of offense, a rushing TD and two receiving scores.

There will be plenty of front-line talent in this one as both teams are loaded with playmakers. But Summer Creek’s consistency, especially on defense, will be the key in this low-scoring slugfest.

Stepp’s Pick: Humble Summer Creek by 9

Cibolo Steele (12-1) vs. Dripping Springs (11-2), 7 p.m. Saturday at San Antonio’s Alamodome: For the second week in a row, both Steele and Dripping Springs will visit the Alamodome with both teams having left the ‘Dome with wins last week.

Steele took down unbeaten San Antonio Harlan 48-27 on Friday as the Knights dynamic WR duo of Royal Capell and Jalen Cooper tormented the Harlan defense. Capell had 69 yards receiving and a touchdown and added in a 64-yard touchdown run as well, while Cooper added 81 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Dripping Springs is battling injuries, but the Tigers held off a feisty San Antonio Jay squad last week in a 50-27 win. QB Jack Williams threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns, while sophomore RB Jaceton Gotta ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Dripping Springs attack that rolled up over 560 yards on the night.

Steele’s speed at the skill spots will give Dripping Springs trouble, but the key for the Knights will be finding its missing running game.

Stepp’s Pick: Cibolo Steele by 6

Frisco Emerson (11-2) vs. Colleyville Heritage (12-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Frisco’s Ford Center: Frisco Emerson is one of two second-year varsity programs in 5A-Division II that’s still alive in the regional finals as the Mavericks rolled past Wichita Falls Rider last week, 55-42, in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated.

Oklahoma QB commit Mike Hawkins was lethal again for the Emerson offense as he threw for 208 yards and four touchdowns; he added a rushing touchdown as well. WR Kylen Evans was the recipient of two of Hawkins four touchdown passes.

Colleyville Heritage has quietly put together an outstanding season under first-year head coach Jerry Edwards. Last week the Panthers knocked off powerful Argyle, 38-34, as QB Luke Ullrich threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns and added 140 yards rushing and a score.

The key in this game will be both defenses. Whichever one comes through in clutch time will be the unit that leads their team to the semifinals, and I believe that group will be Colleyville Heritage.

Stepp’s Pick: Colleyville Heritage by 4

South Oak Cliff (11-2) vs. Lovejoy (12-1), 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Arlington’s Choctaw Stadium: For the third season a row Lovejoy will look to take down South Oak Cliff in the playoffs. The past two meetings were SOC wins on the way to back-to-back state titles.

This Lovejoy team may have what it takes to finally take down the Golden Bears, as it appears the Leopards in the trenches have improved. LB Payton Pierce, an Ohio State commit, leads a tough unit that held an explosive Texarkana Texas High offense to just 21-points in a 43-21 win.

RB Dante Dean ran for 102 yards and a touchdown, WR Daylan McCutcheon had two touchdown catches and TE Bear Tenney had a touchdown catch as well for the Leopards. Don’t be surprised if Texas WR commit WR Parker Livingstone tries to play this week after missing nearly the entire season with an injury.

SOC trailed early on against Midlothian Heritage, 14-0, but the Golden Bears roared back in a 42-31 victory. The SOC rushing duo of Danny Green and Khalil Ewell combined for 315 yards on the ground and five touchdowns.

Lovejoy’s run defense will be the key in this one. If Lovejoy’s front can hold up to SOC’s 48 minutes of pounding they can win the game and end SOC’s 15-game playoff winning streak.

I think this is the year Lovejoy gets it done. The Leopards slow SOC enough to pull the upset.

Stepp’s Pick: Lovejoy by 2

San Antonio Pieper (12-1) vs. Liberty Hill (9-4), 7 p.m. Friday at San Marcos’ Bobcat Stadium: After a thrilling Saturday night shootout win over previously unbeaten Alamo Heights, second-year varsity program San Antonio Pieper will look to take down district rival Liberty Hill for the second time this year.

Pieper’s offense was clicking on all cylinders in the 53-46 win as QB Jake South threw for 349 yards and six touchdowns, with junior WR Isaiah Champagne hauling in two touchdown passes and 209 receiving yards.

Pieper’s defense will see Liberty Hill’s vaunted Slot-T offense for the second time this season. They slowed LHHS down enough to get the win in the regular season, but Liberty Hill looks to be peaking at the right time after they knocked off a good Corpus Christi Flour Bluff team, 49-28.

Liberty Hill’s defense will struggle against Pieper, but the Panthers don’t mind getting into shootouts. The key is Pieper’s defense against the Slot-T. I think Pieper with the second game will be even better this week in slowing the Panthers down.

Stepp’s Pick: San Antonio Pieper by 7

Quick Picks

North Crowley (13-0) vs. Allen (9-4), 1 p.m. Saturday at Southlake’s Dragon Stadium Stepp’s Pick: North Crowley by 16

Duncanville (11-1) vs. Spring Westfield (11-2), 3 p.m. Saturday at Round Rock’s Reeves Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Duncanville by 11

DeSoto (12-0) vs. Cedar Hill (8-5), 7 p.m. Friday at Dallas’ Kincaide Stadium Stepp’s Pick: DeSoto by 10

Forney (12-1) vs. Lancaster (8-5), 7 p.m. Friday at Rockwall’s Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Forney by 3

College Station A&M Consolidated (10-3) vs. Smithson Valley (12-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Cedar Park’s Gupton Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Smithson Valley by 13

Port Neches-Groves (12-1) vs. Huntsville (8-5), 7 p.m. Friday at Houston’s NRG Stadium Stepp’s Pick: Port Neches-Groves by 12

Last Week Record: 24-8 75.0%

Playoff Record: 72-24 75.0%

Season Record: 212-84 71.6%