Weatherford vs. Arlington Lamar

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Kangaroo Stadium

Type: non-district, season opener

Last year’s result: Did not play.

Arlington Lamar Vikings (1-0)

Last season: 6-4 overall, 3-4 in District 4-5A

Last week: Beat Fossil Ridge, 41-30

Players to watch: LB Doubarah Konugah (6-3, 240, 4.8), WR David Acker (6-4, 180, 4.6), QB Michael Poynter (6-2, 190, 4.7), RB Jefarian Douglas (5-11, 175, 4.5).

Weatherford Kangaroos (0-1)

Last season: 3-8 overall, 3-4 in District 4-5A

Last week: Lost to The Colony, 22-16

Players to watch: RB Chris Fielder (5-10, 182, 4.5), QB/RB Mitchael Rucker (5-11, 185, 4.6), WR Dakota Abernathy (6-3, 200, 4.6) and DL Cory Matlock.

Game notes: After a special teams lapse in the opening kick-off last week, the Kangaroos dominated The Colony, on both sides of the ball, for the balance of the first half. Weatherford’s fortunes turned in the second half, as they were unable to move the ball with the proficiency of the second quarter and had a tough time holding down the Cougar’s run game. The Roos line will need to free up Fielder and Rucker to run as successfully as they did in the opening half against the Colony. Matlock and the rest of the defensive crew will also need to recapture the first half magic to shut down Lamar’s balanced offensive attack.

Lamar’s offense put together a balanced attack against Fossil Ridge on the legs of running back Douglas, who finished with 150 rushing yards, and the arm of quarterback Poynter, who threw for nearly 200 yards. Though Ridge is generally known for its passing game, Lamar forced them to remain so, limiting the Panthers to 32 total yards in 21 rushing attempts. The Vikings will pit their run-conscious defense against Weatherford’s triple option ground game.



Springtown vs. Wichita Falls Hirschi

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Wichita Falls

Type: non-district

Last year’s result: Did not play.

WF Hirschi Huskies (0-1)

Last season: 3-7 overall, 0-4 in District 5-3A

Last week: Lost to Clyde, 35-7.

Players to watch: LB Demtrion Cooper (6-1, 180, 4.5), WR Marquise Wiley (6-1, 175, 4.5), RB Tevin Thomas (6.0, 185, 4.4), OL Louis Garcia (6-10, 300, 5.30).

Springtown Porcupines (1-0)

Last season: 4-7 overall, 4-2 in District 6-4A

Last week: Beat Western Hills, 34-13..

Players to watch: LB Matt Pierce (6-2, 180, 4.5), OLB Trace Pawelek (6-1, 195, 4.5), DL R.J. Wilson (6-0, 220, 4.7) and OL Chad Hoffman (6-0, 320, 5.5).

Game notes: Springtown, plagued with slow starts the past couple of seasons, looks to continue the turn-around as they take a solid week 0 performance north. RB Dylan Gathings and WR receiver Chad Cooper provided offensive punch against Western Hills and head coach Brad Turner and crew hope for more of the same against a suspect Hirschi defense that yielded 35 points last week. The Springtown defense gave up more than 350 yards to the Cougars but limited Western Hills scoring.

Hirschi’s backfield has an abundance of speed, but will need to find a way to convert all that swiftness into points. Giving up four lost fumbles in its last outing, Hirschi will need every error-free possession it can muster. The defense will have its hands full in trying to slow down a Pojo offense that got off to a running start last week. The Huskies will look to the home field advantage to help turn the tide.



Aledo vs. Grapevine

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Grapevine

Type: non-district

Last year’s result: Did not play.

Aledo Bearcats (1-0)

Last season: 11-3 overall, 5-2 in District 8-4A

Last week: Beat Stephenville, 24-20.

Players to watch: LT Daniel Meyer (6-4, 290, 5.5), CB Joel Hasley (6-0, 191, 4.6), RT Christian Miller (6-5, 295, 5.5) and QB Tanner McDonald (6-3, 195, 4.8).

Grapevine Mustangs (0-1)

Last season: 6-4 overall, 5-2 in District 5-5A

Last week: Lost to Flower Mound Marcus, 55-3.

Players to watch: QB/RB John Munday (6-2. 194, 4.6), LB Alex Klingbiel (5-10, 205, 4.8).

Game notes: Aledo may be guarding against a let down after the thrilling, last-minute win over the Yellowjackets at Tarleton State last Saturday. In a game that left little doubt that it was the opener for both teams, it featured turnovers on both sides of the ball which figured into much of the scoring. But it WAS Stephenville and the Bearcats came away with a victory.

Grapevine had a very rough opener in a shelacking handed out by the Flower Mound school last week. Playing at home may help, as Aledo finds themselves on the road and driving in the opposite direction, for a second straight week. The young team will need to learn quickly from their early-season experiences to be competitive.



Millsap vs. Rio Vista

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Rio Vista

Type: non-district

Last year’s result: Rio Vista won, 39-7.

Rio Vista Eagles (1-0)

Last season: 4-6 overall, 0-5 in District 15-2A

Last week: Beat Tolar, 34-9

Players to watch: OL Nathan Clinkscales (6-4, 215, 5.1), DB Josh Homesley (5-8, 140, 4.9), QB Chaz Clinkscales (6-1, 160, 5.1)

Millsap Bulldogs (0-0)

Last season: 2-8 overall, 0-5 in District 10-2A

Last week: Bye

Players to watch: LB Matt Varnado (5-5. 145), RB/LB Jacob Young (6-2, 175)

Game notes: Enjoying an extra week of practice before its season begins due to a bye in week 0, Millsap hopes to gear up and do well against a Rio Vista team that beat them soundly last time around. With returning all-district performer Matt Varnado anchoring the defense, the Bulldogs hope to take advantage of the Eagles’ sophomore quarterback. On offense, the Bulldogs, led by Trey Matthews and running backs Chris Hicks and Young, look to increase their production over last year’s results.

Rio Vista looks to its home opener after traveling to Tolar last week and ringing up 34 points. The Eagles’ defense gave up a lone touchdown and field goal and hope to stifle Millsap’s running game, as well.