WEATHERFORD —  

Weatherford at 

Arlington Martin

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Cravens Field

        1400 W Lamar Blvd., Arlington

Type: District 3-5A match

Last year: Martin 57, Weatherford 7

Arl. Martin Warriors (2-2, 1-0)

Last season: 12-2 overall, 6-1 in District 4-5A; 

                    Class 5A, D-I, Region I finalist.

Last week: Beat Arlington High, 38-28

Players to watch: RB Kyle Hicks (5-11, 195, 4.4), S Matt Waller (5-11, 200, 4.7), DL Ty Smalley (5-11, 230, 4.9), LB Jordan Avery (5-10, 200, 4.6), K Ben Grogan (6-1, 175, 4.7)

Weatherford Kangaroos 

(1-3, 0-1)

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

Last week: Lost to Arl. Bowie, 55-3

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:  Arlington Martin may well resemble Bowie, the team Weatherford played last week, except the Warriors will not throw as much and instead of seeing a lot of different running backs with the ball, the Roos will see all of those runs bundled into a package named Kyle Hicks. 

The Texas commit called his own number for 30 rushes last week in Martin's come-from-behind win over Arlington High, piling up more than 210 yards in the process, while scoring four touchdowns. 

With his modest passing yards (38), Hicks nearly equalled the Colts' entire offensive production. In fact, Hicks is responsible for roughly two-thirds of the Warriors' offensive yardage on the year. So the task is simple, right? Stop Hicks and you stop Martin.

While its start has been below Martin's season expectation's, they are still a capable team, and should give Bowie a run for the district title.

The Roos' opening defensive series against Bowie last week provided a glimpse of efficiency vs. speed, but Weatherford's defenders were put in too many bad situations (and short fields) to hold back the Vols ground game for long.

With senior Colton Mallory healed up, WHS has ventured back to the quarterback time-share system, with Mallory and junior QB Grant Werts halving the snaps, approximately a quarter at a time in the last contest. While the Roo offense managed just 200 total yards against a quick and active Bowie defense, Mallory did get off a couple of pretty effective runs. Jeuqwan Brownlee had the most carries of any Weatherford back, but had trouble penetrating the Vols' middle. 

The recurring theme for Weatherford against most of the Arlington contingent — error-free football. And this week:  Contain Hicks and complete lengthy drives. 

Aledo at FW South Hills

Time: 7 p.m., Thursday

Site: Handley Field

         6201 Craig Street — Fort Worth

Type: District 7-4A match

Last year: Did not play

South Hills Scorpions 

(2-2, 0-1)

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

Last week: Lost to Granbury, 41-20

Players to watch: WR Antwan Roberson, WR Anthony Avery, QB Anthony Blake, RB Trenton Rawson, OL Quandre Scott.

Aledo Bearcats (3-1, 1-0)

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

Class 4A, DII state champions

Last week: Beat Arlington Heights, 45-2.

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: South Hills becomes the latest Fort Worth entry in a queue of others who are tasked with trying to tame the "Beast from East (Parker County)." 

The Scorpions tout a potent offense, averaging nearly 40 points per game, though they did get off to a slow start in their district opener at Granbury last week.

QB Anthony Blake will throw 12-15 time a game under "normal" circumstances, and likes to play catch with wideout Antwon Roberson, who has more than 400 yards receiving, thus far.

Blake and RB Trenton Rawson see the most touches in South Hill's ground game, which is balanced pretty well with the passing attack. The Scorpions have a habit of testing the deep waters on passing routes, and had some success last week, albeit in their losing effort against the Pirates.

Aledo defenders, true to past district-season form, began its campaign with a shutout of the Arlington Heights offense, last week. The Bearcats held the Jackets to 100 yards of offense and forced Heights into 10 punts on the night. 

QB Pate Davis has been the picture of consistency while running the offense. The passing attack continues to impress, with favored targets of Willie Gibson and Taco Anderson. Gibson caught just three of Davis' 14 completed passes last week, but totalled 85 yards in the process, including a 54-yard scoring catch-and-run. 

Millsap vs. Tolar

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Site: Bulldog Stadium

Type: District 6-2A match — Homecoming

Last year’s result: Tolar 51, Millsap 0  

Tolar Rattlers (3-1, 1-0)

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

Last week: Beat Dallas Life Oak Cliff, 61-12

Players to watch: LB Zayne Gumler (6-1, 200, 4.9), RB Cory Soloman, QB Corbin Wood, FS Zack Hasegawa.

Millsap Bulldogs (0-4, 0-1)

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: The Tolar Rattlers suffered through a couple of years, adjusting to its new 2A classification after being very successful in Class 1A. It appears the Rattlers are making headway, as they sport a 3-1 overall mark and had their way with Life Oak Cliff last week to begin district play.

Junior quarterback Corbin Wood is also settling into the position nicely, throwing three TD passes and running for another in the blowout.

Millsap returns home after Jekyll-n-Hyde halves resulted in its loss at Rio Vista last week. Pulling ahead by an extra point in the second quarter after a Bradley Bottoms run, the Bulldogs were unable to answer the Eagles’ 25-point assault after the break.

Millsap is making defensive plays to give themselves a chance to succeed, evidenced by Dylan Burton’s eight solo tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries, but still struggles to put up points enough to keep close late in the ball game. The Bulldogs hope home cooking and Homecoming Night will be a winning recipe, this week.