ESPN

It looks all but certain that a quality team will get left out of the playoffs in District 8-5A – again.

During nondistrict play, the eight 8-5A teams went a combined 18-6, better than any other district in the area in Class 5A.

The only team to beat an 8-5A team by more than a touchdown is powerhouse Arlington Martin, which beat both Flower Mound (56-41) and Plano West (45-7) handily.

But don’t expect the sparkling records to last in what may be the deepest district in the state. With so many good teams, there are bound to be more than a few surprising final scores, and more than one playoff spot might get decided in Week 10.

Allen, Flower Mound Marcus and Plano are all undefeated at 3-0, while Hebron, Plano East, Plano West and Lewisville are 2-1.

Even Flower Mound (1-2), the only team in the district with a losing record, is a legitimate threat to make the playoffs as the Jaguars lead the area in total offense.

The only sure thing in the district may be No. 1 Allen. The Eagles looked absolutely dominant en route to their perfect record, registering quality wins over Cedar Hill (28-13) and at Longview (42-23), a team with a great home-field advantage.

The first weekend of 8-5A play features plenty of salty matchups, headlined by Allen at Plano on Friday. Plano East hosts Marcus, Lewisville hosts Plano West and Flower Mound hosts Hebron.

Denton Guyer looks like it’s here to stay.

Many were understandably skeptical of Guyer’s long-term outlook after the team lost a loaded Class of 2011 that included standout quarterback J.W. Walsh.

But through three games, Guyer (2-1) has played well against strong 5A competition, and it has room to grow, too.

The young team had its best showing of the season last Friday against Mesquite Horn. Despite pouring rain, Guyer played mistake-free football en route to a 31-23 win over Horn (1-3), which is a much better team than its record indicates.

New quarterback Jerrod Heard certainly had the best game of his career. The sophomore threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite his youth and a host of new Wildcats on offense, Heard has played beyond his years, throwing just one interception to seven touchdowns through three games.

Junior receiver Ellis Jefferson has emerged as one of his favorite targets. He had a breakout game against Horn, catching six balls for 161 yards.

Guyer opens District 7-5A play at Justin Northwest on Friday.

College football scouts are no doubt double-checking their notes for information on Lafrontae Conkelton.

The 6-foot, 240-pound Irving Nimitz senior rushed for 236 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings’ 28-17 win over Hurst L.D. Bell on Friday.

Conkelton’s season total through four games has grown to 728 yards and five touchdowns on 103 carries.

There’s a reason Conkelton’s name is unfamiliar for those paid to know about such players.

He’s playing high school football for the first time.

“He was a soccer player,’’ Nimitz coach Steven Hohenberger said. “We were always trying to persuade him to play football, and in the spring he decided to come out.’’

Hohenberger said Conkelton’s teammates liken the running back’s style to Earl Campbell. Not the speediest ball carrier around, but not the easiest to bring down, either.

“His legs are as big as oak trees,’’ the coach said. “He’s never lifted weights, but he’s the strongest guy on the team. And he just turned 17 last week.’’

Hohenberger said his running back is still learning on the job. So are many Vikings. Nimitz plays seven sophomores, and junior quarterback Austin Huckaba missed most of last season with injuries.

Nimitz (2-2, 1-1 in District 6-5A) rebounded from a 37-0 loss to Colleyville Heritage to whip Bell (2-2, 1-1) on the road. The Vikings proved they are tough when backed in a corner in 2010 when they dropped their first three district games, only to rally for a playoff spot.

Conkelton and the Vikings host Haltom (1-2, 0-1) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Irving Schools Stadium.

The performance of Hassan Ridgeway in Mansfield’s most recent victory convinced coach Jeff Hulme that his star defensive end is on track to have a big senior season.

“He took a big step forward in that game against Mansfield Summit,’’ Hulme said. “He started to show why he is so highly regarded.’’

Ridgeway, a 6-5, 245-pound University of Texas commit, is just 16 years old and may not yet be finished growing.

Mansfield (3-0), coming off a bye week, opens District 5-5A play against Mansfield Timberview (3-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Vernon Newsom Stadium in Mansfield.

After playing well in the opener, Hulme said Ridgeway sat out the second game with a chest ailment and the Tigers allowed a season-high 27 points to Keller.

But he was back, wreaking havoc, two weeks ago in a 46-15 victory over rival Summit. Summit was held to 33 yards rushing on 20 carries in a 46-15 rout.

Hulme said it isn’t uncommon for the Tigers to move Ridgeway around to take advantage of favorable inside matchups.

So far, the Mansfield offense has taken pressure off its defense by scoring at least 40 points in all three wins.

But with talented Timberview quarterback Charles Taylor this week and Cedar Hill and Duncanville down the road, Ridgeway and the defense know more difficult tests await.