Dragons Looking to Topple Another Greater Houston Team

Southlake Carroll's matchup with GP North Shore among top area games

By ADAM BOEDEKER

Updated 7:15 AM CDT, Thu, Sep 24, 2009

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With Week 4 kicking off tonight, there are many big games on the schedule that will leave options wide open for area high school football fans.

As usual, I'll break down a few of the area's top games today, then discuss the game of the week on Friday.

Southlake Carroll vs. Galena Park North Shore, 6 p.m., Saturday at Corsicana -- The Dragons have made a little tradition out of playing teams from the Houston area, and this year's lucky team is North Shore. Carroll is up to No. 3 in the Class 5A state poll and appears to be a legit state title contender again. North Shore is ranked No. 9 in the same poll. Wondering if this is a big game? Well, it's going to be televised on Fox Sports Southwest following the Texas-UTEP game on Saturday. Prediction: Carroll 38, North Shore 28.

Carrollton Newman Smith at Highland Park, 7:30 p.m. Friday -- This game has the potential for an upset, though I'd be more inclined to pick it if it were being played at Standridge Stadium instead of Highlander Stadium. The Scots took a hit to their egos when they lost to Coppell earlier in the season, and Newman Smith is on a roll after losing to Class 4A No. 2 Denton Guyer in a nailbiter to open the season. The Trojans are loaded at the skill positions with RB Randall Joyner and WR Al Lasker and have a dual-threat QB in Aldo Quiroga. Still, the high-flying Scots offense led by Luke Woodley will likely be too much. Prediction: Highland Park 41, Newman Smith 28.

Wylie at McKinney Boyd, 7:30 p.m. Friday -- From watching Wylie this season, it's hard to believe they were a state finalist just a season ago. The Pirates have been decimated by mistakes and turnovers this year. McKinney Boyd, on the other hand, is a program on the rise once again after moving up to 5A and struggling for a while. Boyd is led by QB Jonovan Griffin, who was my top beast of the week after accounting for eight touchdowns against McKinney last week. Prediction: McKinney Boyd 38, Wylie 24.

Last week's record: 2-2. Season record: 10-5.

Adam Boedeker is a sports writer/award-winning blogger for the Denton Record-Chronicle. He's winning The Dallas Morning News' high school pick 'em line, and doesn't care what Matt Mosley has to say about it.