District title hopes and postseason pursuits highlight the high school football schedule across the Houston area this week. Can Travis maintain its momentum against Hightower? Who will stay perfect between state-ranked district foes Friendswood and Angleton? Can Langham Creek clinch its first playoff spot in nearly a decade? We will soon find out. Here are some of the top games to watch in Week 9.
Hightower (5-2, 4-0) at Travis (6-1, 4-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday, Mercer Stadium
What to know: The race for the District 21-6A title has essentially become a three-team race with three games remaining in the regular season. No. 5 state-ranked Ridge Point (7-0, 4-0) should be considered the favorite, but Hightower and Travis are both still in contention with unblemished résumés. Travis will be looking to hold off Strake Jesuit for the top seed in the Division I playoff bracket out of the district down the stretch, so securing a win here against Hightower would certainly be helpful in that endeavor. The Tigers, led by first-year head coach Kendrick Crumedy, suffered their only loss of the season in their non-district finale against Cypress Falls. Travis ranks fifth in the district on offense at 284.7 yards per game. They have the third-ranked defense at 238.7 yards allowed, but the team has a minus-3 turnover ratio with only seven takeaways in seven games. Sophomore running back T.J. Dorough has been the catalyst offensively with 666 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior edge rusher Joshua Ochelli, a UTEP commit, is near the top of the Houston-area sack leaderboard with eight.
Hightower has the No. 1-ranked defense in the district at 181.5 yards allowed per game and is surrendering just 81.5 passing yards per outing. The Hurricanes also have the best turnover ratio in the district at plus-8 with 13 takeaways on defense, including 11 interceptions. The offense has been productive as well at 415.5 yards per outing, ranking second behind Ridge Point (421.7). The Hurricanes have one of the top quarterbacks in the Houston area with senior three-star Oklahoma State commit Carson White, who has accounted for 1,708 total yards and leads the district in rushing at 814 yards with 11 touchdowns. He also has 10 touchdown passes with five interceptions. Senior outside linebacker Champ Anthony is one of the team's defensive leaders with 75 tackles and three interceptions.
Hightower leads this series 11-3 since 2008, but Travis won 46-40 in overtime last season.
Poorman's prediction: Hightower 35, Travis 28
Friendswood (8-0, 6-0) at Angleton (7-0, 5-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Wildcat Stadium
What to know: Just like 21-6A, this district has become a three-team race to the finish. Friendswood, Angleton and No. 3 state-ranked Randle (7-0, 5-0) are all in the mix for the District 11-5A Division I title, and all three will play one another over the final three weeks of the regular season. The fun begins this week with No. 10 state-ranked Friendswood getting its toughest test of the year thus far. The Mustangs are enjoying one of the best starts in program history and are eyeing their first undefeated regular season since 2001. After going 6-5 last season, fourth-year coach Jordan Johnson and his group have already cleared that win total and then some. Friendswood ranks third in the district on both offense (401.6 yards per game) and defense (263.3 yards allowed per game), trailing Randle and Angleton in both of those categories, respectively. Senior quarterback Josh Brister has posted some impressive numbers this season, completing 63.4% of his passes for 2,070 yards and 31 touchdowns with just one interception. Sophomore receiver Jackson Owens has emerged as his favorite target with 29 catches for 835 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Angleton, ranked No. 4 in the state, is averaging 52.4 points per game, which is right on pace with last year's team for the program record. Only Randle (55.8) and Friendswood (53.3) are scoring at a higher rate in the district. Senior running back Jayden Moore is third in the district in rushing at 740 yards with 11 touchdowns, despite getting just 66 carries. He is averaging 11.2 yards per attempt for the season and 12.3 yards per attempt in district games. Senior three-star Duke commit Kasen Jammer is one of the top players in the district and has 11 touchdowns between his work on offense and as a return specialist. He is averaging 23.4 yards per punt return with two scores.
Angleton leads this series 13-3 since 2006 and rolled to a 41-6 victory last season.
Poorman's prediction: Friendswood 38, Angleton 34
Lamar (5-2, 5-0) at Memorial (7-0, 5-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Tully Stadium
What to know: Lamar has won five consecutive district titles, and Memorial is looking to make it two straight after winning its first since 2009 last year. While neither team can technically clinch the league crown with a win this week, the matchup between the Texans and Mustangs could certainly be the de facto 20-6A championship game. Lamar has been outstanding on defense this season, leading the district in yards allowed per game at 198.5. The Texans have posted two shutouts and allowed just 21 total points in their four district games played on the field. One of the team's wins came via forfeit after Bellaire had to cancel due to a staph infection outbreak. Coming off a 38-0 victory against Stratford, Lamar held the Spartans to just 58 total yards and 1.1 yards per play. Senior quarterback Jayden Robins leads the way for the Texans' offense. He's second in the district with 1,412 passing yards and has completed 60% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and just four interceptions.
Memorial has been the most potent offense in the district by a wide margin. The Mustangs are averaging 483.4 yards per outing, almost 100 more than any of their league foes. Senior running back Conrad Bennett has put together a strong season and is leading the district in all-purpose yards at 1,102 with 21 total touchdowns. He is averaging 10.2 yards per carry and needs just 26 yards to reach 1,000. Senior safety/outside linebacker Jackson Van Wie is one of the primary playmakers for a Memorial defense allowing just 216 yards per game. Van Wie ranks third in the district with 47 tackles, including two for loss, and has two interceptions and two pass breakups.
This will be the first meeting between these program since Lamar earned a 39-7 victory in the 2020 playoffs.
Poorman's prediction: Memorial 24, Lamar 21
C.E. King (6-1, 4-0) at North Shore (7-0, 4-0)
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Galena Park ISD Stadium
What to know: One of the most anticipated matchups of the season in the Houston area has finally arrived, and the District 17-6A title could very well be decided as these two state-ranked team clash. No. 7 C.E. King has won five straight games since losing on a last-second field goal against Cypress Ranch in Week 2. The Panthers have the top offense in the district by a wide margin, averaging 474.1 yards per game. That's about 65 more yards per game than North Shore, which ranks second at 409. Junior four-star recruit Dillon Mitchell has been one of the most productive players in the district this season with 943 all-purpose yards. He is third in the district in receiving yards at 477 with four touchdowns and is averaging 19.8 yards per catch. He has scored two of his 10 touchdowns on punt returns. Senior quarterback Khylan Davis has accounted for nearly 1,600 total yards with 20 total touchdowns. The Panthers recently got a big boost on defense with five-star Texas A&M edge rusher commit Zyron Forstall transferring from IMG Academy in Florida. He had three tackles for loss and a sack during the team's victory against Humble a couple weeks ago.
While C.E. King certainly has a lot of firepower, the Panthers will be facing a North Shore defense that has been playing at a very high level throughout the season. The No. 2 Mustangs have far and away the top unit in the district in terms of yards allowed per game at 155.1. That's about 113 yards per game better than Summer Creek, which ranks second at 269. During its four district games, North Shore is allowing just 126.7 yards per outing. Senior quarterback Ja'Voris Taylor has stepped up as a first-year starter, completing 68.7% of his passes for 1,053 yards and 10 touchdowns without an interception. The Mustangs are averaging 409 yards per game offensively.
North Shore leads this series 10-0 since 2016, including a 42-27 victory last year.
Poorman's prediction: North Shore 27, C.E. King 20
Langham Creek (6-1, 4-0) at Cypress Falls (6-1, 3-1)
When/where: 11 a.m. Saturday, Pridgeon Stadium
What to know: District 16-6A has been in somewhat of a whirlwind over the past few weeks with some surprising results that have directly impacted the playoff picture. After winning six games all of last season, Langham Creek has already matched that win total and is the lone team still unbeaten in the standings with three games remaining. The Lobos are seeking their first playoff berth since 2018, and a win this week against Cy Falls would secure that. Langham Creek has the top offense in the district at 422.7 yards per game, and senior Jace Williams has been among the most productive quarterbacks with 1,735 yards and 15 touchdowns with just three interceptions. Camarre Palmer has been his top target with 29 catches for 514 yards and eight touchdowns, and fellow junior Ethan Robison has been a big-play threat at 24.4 yards per reception with four touchdowns. Four-star Texas Tech linebacker commit Jhadyn Nelson has been leading the defense with 53 tackles and three sacks.
Cy Falls leads the district in total defense, surrendering 239.4 yards per game. The Golden Eagles also lead the way in turnover ratio at plus-11 with 16 takeaways on defense, including 11 fumble recoveries. Four-star Texas A&M edge rusher commit Kaden McCarty is having another big season with 47 tackles (17 for loss), nine sacks, 19 quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles. Junior running back Deron Simpson leads the district with 584 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, and senior quarterback Christian Ndujiuba has 17 touchdown passes against just two interceptions. Sophomore receiver Karzell Davis is second in the district with 685 all-purpose yards.
Cy Falls leads this series 11-7 since 2004. This will be the teams' first meeting since 2023.
Poorman's prediction: Cy Falls 28, Langham Creek 24
Poorman's predictions
Last week: 4-1 (.800)
✅ Madison over Westbury
✅ Shadow Creek over Manvel
✅ Dickinson over Barbers Hill
✅ La Porte over Baytown Sterling
❌ Cy-Fair over Cypress Lakes
Overall: 27-13 (.675)
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There’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Texas high school football: Five Houston-area games to watch in Week 9.