Lots of storylines unfolded across North Texas high school football this past week. From shocking losses and unexpected upsets to dominant performances and a few games that were a little too close for comfort, Week 8 gave us plenty to talk about. With the regular season winding down, every district matchup carries more weight, and the race for playoff positioning is heating up.

Our Texas Preps Game of the Week featured Southlake Carroll taking on Keller, with Carroll coming away with a 40-28 victory. While the scoreline suggests a competitive game, Carroll showed why it remains a serious contender in North Texas. Could this team be a dark horse in the race for a state championship? If the Dragons continue to build momentum, don't be surprised if they make a deep playoff run.

Of course, it wouldn't be district football without a few blowouts. Allen and Mesquite each put up 60-point victories, while North Crowley handled business with a 40-point win. Lakeview Centennial delivered a shutout victory by 30 points, and several other programs made their presence felt on the scoreboard, including Lewisville, Guyer, Waxahachie, Euless Trinity, South Oak Cliff, and even L.D. Bell.

DeSoto may be rounding back into playoff form after delivering a statement performance against Mansfield Summit. The Eagles shut out Summit 54-0 in a revenge game that showed just how dangerous they can be when everything clicks. Lone Star continued its winning ways, while North Forney once again came out on top in the Battle of Forney, extending its bragging rights over its cross-town rival.

But not every result was as convincing as the final score might suggest.

Duncanville defeated Crowley by two scores, but the Panthers left room for questions. For a program with championship aspirations, the expectation is to dominate games like these. With Waxahachie coming up next, Duncanville will need to be sharper if it wants to make a statement against one of the area's toughest opponents.

Meanwhile, Coppell suffered a surprising district loss to Lake Highlands. What does that mean for Coppell's playoff outlook, and can the Cowboys bounce back before the postseason arrives? One unexpected result can completely change the conversation in a competitive district.

Timberview also stayed in the win column with a 10-point victory over unranked Joshua. The Wolves got the job done, but the relatively close margin raises another question: was this simply an unusually slow night, or is there reason to be concerned as the playoffs approach?

We'll start getting those answers this week.

We're entering the part of the season where every Friday night can reshape the playoff picture. District standings are tightening, contenders are trying to establish their identities, and teams on the bubble are running out of opportunities to make their case.

Will the established powerhouses continue to separate themselves from the competition? Will another underdog pull off a shocking upset? And which teams are about to prove they're legitimate threats to make a deep postseason run?

This week's slate has plenty of games that could help answer those questions.

North Crowley hits the road from Funkytown Fort Worth to South Dallas to take on Skyline. Allen faces Dallas Jesuit in another opportunity for the Eagles to keep rolling, while DeSoto and Cedar Hill meet in a matchup featuring two programs with plenty of history.

Elsewhere, Flower Mound faces No. 3 Lewisville in a crucial test against one of the area's top teams. Lake Ridge and Red Oak meet in a district matchup with significant playoff implications, while Argyle takes on a hot Colleyville Heritage team dealing with a major setback at quarterback after UIL ruled its QB1 ineligible earlier this week.

Southlake Carroll faces Byron Nelson, Arlington Martin takes on Lamar, and the schedule continues with meaningful matchups across the Metroplex.

With so much on the line, there's no shortage of opportunities for teams to make a statement. Let's take a look back at last week's predictions before breaking down our picks for Week 9.

Week 8 Predictions: How Did We Do?

  1. Southlake Carroll over Keller — Correct. Won by fewer than 20 points.

  2. North Crowley over Lake Ridge — Correct. Won by 30+ points.

  3. Allen over Rock Hill — Correct. Won by 40+ points.

  4. Forney over North Forney — Incorrect. Picked the wrong winner, but correctly predicted a margin under 20 points.

  5. Lewisville over Hebron — Correct. Won by 30+ points.

  6. Duncanville over Crowley — Correct. Picked the winner, but missed the predicted margin of 20+ points.

  7. Waxahachie over Red Oak — Correct. Won by 30+ points.

  8. Coppell over Lake Highlands — Incorrect. Picked the wrong winner and missed the predicted margin.

  9. Argyle over The Colony — Correct. Won by 20+ points.

  10. Guyer over Little Elm — Correct. Won by 20+ points.

  11. Longview over Rockwall-Heath — Correct. Picked the winner, but missed the predicted margin under 20 points.

  12. Timberview over Joshua — Correct. Picked the winner, but missed the predicted margin of 40+ points.

  13. DeSoto over Mansfield Summit — Correct. Picked the winner, but missed the predicted margin under 30 points.

  14. Martin over Bowie — Correct. Won by 20+ points.

Another strong week for the prediction column! We got the winners right in 12 of our 14 games, continuing to build consistency as the season progresses. While a few point-margin predictions didn't go our way, the overall results show that we're getting a clearer picture of where these teams stand heading into the postseason.

The goal is simple: identify the winners, understand the matchups, and see how close we can get to calling the final margins.

Can we put together an even better week?

Week 9 Predictions

1. Waxahachie over Duncanville — by fewer than 30 points

This is arguably the biggest test of the week. Duncanville has the talent and reputation to compete with anyone, but its performance against Crowley wasn't as convincing as expected. Waxahachie has an opportunity to take advantage, and we're leaning toward the Indians in what should be a hard-fought matchup. Don't expect a runaway either way.

2. North Crowley over Skyline — by 40+ points

North Crowley has consistently shown the ability to overwhelm opponents, and Skyline faces a difficult challenge this week. The Panthers have the firepower to take control early and turn this into another lopsided district victory.

3. Allen over Dallas Jesuit — by 40+ points

Allen has been rolling, and the Eagles have shown just how explosive they can be when their offense gets going. Jesuit will need to find a way to slow down the pace, but we're expecting Allen to control this one from start to finish.

4. DeSoto over Cedar Hill — by 30+ points

DeSoto's 54-0 shutout of Mansfield Summit was the kind of performance that can build serious momentum heading into the playoffs. If the Eagles carry that same energy into this matchup, Cedar Hill could have a long night ahead.

5. Lewisville over Flower Mound — by 20+ points

Lewisville continues to look like one of the area's most dangerous teams, and this matchup presents another opportunity to prove it. Flower Mound will have to play a complete game to keep pace, but we're backing Lewisville to create separation as the night progresses.

6. Lake Ridge over Red Oak — by 10+ points

This district matchup could have major implications for the playoff picture. Lake Ridge gets the nod, but Red Oak shouldn't be overlooked. Expect a competitive game where execution in key moments could determine the outcome.

7. Argyle over Colleyville Heritage — by fewer than 30 points

This matchup just got a lot more interesting. Argyle will be without star quarterback Hayes Hackney, who was ruled ineligible for the remainder of the season following a UIL residency ruling. Hackney has been a major part of the Eagles' offensive success, making his absence a significant challenge as they face a Colleyville Heritage team that's been playing hot football. We're still leaning toward Argyle, but without its QB1, this game could be much closer than originally expected.

8. Lone Star over Reedy — by 30+ points

Lone Star has continued to handle business, and we're not expecting that trend to change this week. The Rangers have the potential to establish control early and keep Reedy on its heels throughout the game.

9. Southlake Carroll over Byron Nelson — by 20+ points

Southlake Carroll's victory over Keller reinforced the Dragons' status as a team to watch. Byron Nelson presents another challenge, but Carroll appears to be building momentum at the right time. We're expecting the Dragons to come away with a comfortable win.

10. Guyer over Hebron — by 20+ points

Guyer has the talent to make another statement this week. Hebron will need to find answers on both sides of the ball to keep this close, but we're backing the Wildcats to take control and secure the victory.

11. Martin over Lamar — by 20+ points

7-0 Martin has an opportunity to continue building momentum as the regular season winds down. Lamar will look to make things difficult, but we're expecting Martin to have the upper hand and pull away before the final whistle.

12. Lancaster over Burleson Centennial — by fewer than 20 points

This is one of the closer calls on our slate. We're giving Lancaster the edge, but Centennial has the opportunity to keep things competitive. Don't be surprised if this one comes down to a few critical possessions late in the game.

13. Rockwall over Forney — by fewer than 30 points

Forney has already had its share of meaningful district battles, but Rockwall presents another difficult challenge. We're leaning toward the Yellowjackets to get the job done, although Forney has the potential to keep this closer than some might expect.

Week 9 brings another round of matchups that could reshape the North Texas high school football landscape. Some teams are fighting to strengthen their playoff positions, others are looking to prove they're legitimate contenders, and a few are simply trying to keep their seasons alive.

Our Week 8 picks were strong, but the real test is whether we can carry that momentum into another unpredictable Friday night. With district races heating up and the postseason getting closer, every result matters.

Thirteen games. Thirteen chances to get it right.

Will we finally deliver a perfect week of predictions, or will North Texas football have a few more surprises waiting for us?

We'll find out Friday night. Stay locked in with Texas Preps for more North Texas high school football coverage, game predictions, and everything you need to know as we head toward the playoffs.