WEATHERFORD —  

Weatherford vs. 

Arlington High

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Kangaroo Stadium

Type: District 3-5A match

Last year: Arlington 57, Weatherford 7

Arlington Colts (4-1, 1-1)

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

                Class 5A, D-II, Region I bi-district finalist.

Last week: Beat Arlington Lamar, 50-17

Players to watch: LB Sammy Douglas (6-3, 195, 4.6), CB Devin Harris ((5-9, 175, 4.5), WR Dontha Robinson (5-8, 165, 4.5)C Daireck Hicks (6-2, 255, 5.0), QB Connor Huffman, RB Brandon Washington.

Weatherford Kangaroos (1-4, 0-2)

Last season: 3-7 overall, 2-5 in District 4-5A

Last week: Lost to Arl. Martin, 59-7

Players to watch: OG Hayden Davis (6-1, 250, 5.4), OT Jordan Gray (6-3, 286, 5.6), C Sammy Stephens (6-2, 253, 5.6), DE Slade Hodge (6-2, 200, 4.8), DT Kent Sanner (6-1, 232, 4.9), DT Andrew Cape (5-11, 270, 4.9), QB Grant Werts, RB Jeuqwan Brownlee, RB Fred Brownlee.

Game notes: After the loss to Arlington Martin put a damper on its district title aspirations,  Arlington could still be in the hunt if they can knock off Bowie later in the schedule, while hoping the Bowie Vols can sneak up on Martin. Year-in, year-out, its a common triangle for the three Arlington schools. 

The Colts tout perhaps the district's most lethal passing combination in Connor Huffman to Dontha Robinson (420 yds, 5 TDs). Arlington balances its passing game well, with the tandem punch of running backs Brandon Washington (380 yds) and Raymond Sheard (340 yds).

Weatherford's misplaced generosity dug a pit early in the Martin game, against a team they could ill afford to help out with offensive and special teams miscues.

Finally near the end of a brutal three-game stretch, the upset-minded Roos are still looking for the flawless effort coupled with a handy  opponent lapse to kick off a potential run heading into a slate featuring significantly weaker opposition.

A  more frequent WHS quarterbacks to Tony Rodriguez passing combination looks to be the best air weapon for the Roos,  and getting a consistent ground game going should net even more big-play opportunities for T-Rod. 

Aledo vs FW O.D. Wyatt

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Bearcat Stadium

Type: District 7-4A match - Homecoming

Last year: Did not play

Wyatt Chaparrels 

(2-3, 0-2)

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

Class 4A Div.II Bi-district finalist

Last week: Lost to Granbury, 21-7

Players to watch: QB Ladell Marshall (6-1, 196, 4.4), ATH Deon Daniels (6-1, 185, 4.5), OL Charles Brown (6-4, 315, 5.4), RB Javonte Adams. 

Aledo Bearcats (4-1, 2-0)

Last season: 14-2 overall, 7-0 in District 5-4A ,

Class 4A, DII state champs

Last week: Beat South Hills 49-0

Players to watch: LB Gunner Johnson, WR Willie Gibson, FS Shea Wood, SS Clayton Lowe, LB Jordan Mittie, QB Pate Davis, RB Caleb Frysinger, RB  Jess Anders.

Game notes: Wyatt QB Ladell Marshall is one of the biggest, and fastest signal callers in District 7-4A, and would likely be one of the most imposing offensive forces if he had a better supporting cast. Responsible for two-thirds of the offense, there is just not enough of Marshall to go around,making him an attractive target every time the Chaps snap the ball. Still, with 4.4 speed and weighing in at nearly 200 pounds, merely keeping an eye on him is not enough.

The dimensions of the Aledo offense grow with each week. The Bearcats first score against South Hills featured a Pate Davis to John Whatley 15-yard pass, with the tight end splitting out wide and easily beating his single coverage. Between receivers Whatley, Willie Gibson and Taco Anderson, the productive elements of the Aledo offense keep growing, as they hope to display on Homecoming Night vs. the Chaps.

Springtown at Kennedale

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Wildcat Stadium, 

        699 Tree Point Road, Kennedale

Type: District 6-3A opener

Last year: Did not play

Kennedale Wildcats

(3-2, 0-0)

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

Class 3A Div.II Area finalist.

Last week: Idle.

Players to watch: LB Brett Wade (6-1, 220, 4.7), TE Dalton Vondra, QB/S Zac Michener, RB Juwan Washington, K Tabor Key. 

Springtown Porcupines 

(2-3, 0-0)

Last week: Idle.

Players to watch: DE/TE Bryson Burtnett (6-5, 225, 4.6), QB Colby Moore, RB Tyler Robertson, DL Kolyn Waldrop, WR Caleb Whiteman, P/K/ WR Javier Reynoso

Game notes: Kennedale took heavy losses to graduation, sporting just three returning starters to the 2012 roster. The defense was hurt the most, and may not yet be up to normal Wildcat calibre just yet, giving up nearly 38 points per game. The long-used Wing-T offense, despite the Kennedale youth continues to produce, albeit 92 percent on the ground.

Pojo would love to trip up the Wildcats to get a big-bang start on its district slate. Starting QB Colton Moore returns to the no-huddle this week after an injury sidelined him during the Gainesville affair, but the Porcupines have padded the depth chart at quarterback after a good showing by freshman Landry Turner in the Graham loss. 

Millsap vs. 

Corsicana Mildred

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Bulldog Stadium

Type: District 6-2A match 

Last year’s result: Did not play.  

Mildred Eagles (4-1, 2-0)

Last season: 13-1 overall, 5-0 in District 6-2A

    Class 2A Div.II Reg. II State semi-finalist.

Last week: Beat Rio Vista, 56-7

Players to watch: QB Nic Shimonek (6-3, 190, 5.0). RB/S Draylon Sterling, LB/TE Jonathan Harrison, CB/RB Jeremy Ballard, LB Mikey Muncey. 

Millsap Bulldogs (0-5, 0-2)

Last season: 3-7 overall, 1-5 in District 4-2A

Last week: Lost to Rio Vista, 31-7

Players to watch: OL/DL Payton Vandeveer, WR/DB Shawn Harper, OL/DL Mitchell Coker, WR/DB Daulton Thomas, RB Kristian Martinez

Game notes: Millsap's young roster gets no break this week, as Mildred travels from Corsicana looking for its third-straight district win. 

The Bulldog defense, led in tackles last week by Dylan Burton and Dalton Norris, is tasked with slowing an Eagles' offense as prolific in the air as on the ground.

Most pressing for Millsap, if not for an improved record but at least a confidence boost, is to get its offense on track by putting more points on the board. The Bulldogs have struggled to perpetuate and close drives with a positive conclusion, which has resulted in recording  less than a touchdown per game. Getting accustomed to crossing the goal line will net some wins down the stretch.