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The competitive nature of the District 9-4A boys playoff race suggested the district would be competitive in the playoffs as well.

It hasn't panned out that way.

District 10-4A went 3-1 against 9-4A in the bi-district round, with 9-4A's one win being Frisco's 54-52 win over Rockwall.

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Even that game went down to the wire despite Frisco being the 9-4A champion and Rockwall being the fourth seed from 10-4A. Frisco won after RJ White connected on a putback at the buzzer.

District 10-4A's wins were convincing. McKinney North took a 68-58 win over Carrollton Creekview, which was enjoying a resurgent season that saw it push Frisco for the 9-4A crown.

McKinney held off a late rally to beat Frisco Centennial 53-51, and Highland Park topped Carrollton Newman Smith 46-34 despite not having its top scorer, David Allen.

Things get tougher for 10-4A as it moves on to face teams from Dallas ISD. Highland Park, which still won't have Allen (who is suspended for the week in compliance with the district's policy regarding arrests and participation in extracurricular activities), faces defending 4A champion Dallas Kimball, the No. 5 team in ESPN Dallas' final Class 4A area rankings.

McKinney North takes on No. 4 Dallas Woodrow Wilson and McKinney gets No. 2 South Oak Cliff. Frisco plays Dallas Lincoln.

Frisco Wakeland had a banner season last year, winning its first playoff game at the Class 4A level.

But with a largely new roster this season, the Wolverines find themselves in a dog fight for the final playoff spot in District 9-4A.

Frisco, Frisco Centennial and Carrollton Creekview have jockeyed for the lead in 9-4A all season, but that trio has left little room for error for other schools in playoff contention, namely Wakeland and Carrollton Newman Smith.

Wakeland (14-14, 7-5) sits a game ahead of Newman Smith (14-14, 6-6) with two games remaining in the regular season. The Wolverines can clinch the final spot Friday with a win and a Newman Smith loss, but that will be a tall order.

Wakeland has to play at district-leading Frisco and dominating post RJ White while Newman Smith hosts a Frisco Liberty team that's won just two district games this year.

The most likely scenario -- the two teams settle things when they meet in a de facto playoff play-in game in the regular season finale at Wakeland.

In their first meeting this year, Wakeland held off a Newman Smith rally to escape with a 63-61 win, a victory that remains the difference between the two teams in the standings.

Frisco Centennial took the pole position in District 9-4A with a 49-46 win over Carrollton Newman Smith on Tuesday.

Missed free throws by Centennial (13-8, 4-0 in 9-4A) gave Newman Smith (11-9, 3-1) a chance to tie the game in the waning seconds, but a half-court prayer rimmed out to preserve a victory that broke a first-place tie in 9-4A.

Centennial hopes to capitalize on its early lead after finishing two games behind 9-4A champion Frisco Wakeland in 2011, but it's likely to be a back-and-forth season in the district.

Resurgent Carrollton Creekview is tied with Newman Smith for second at 3-1, while Frisco and Wakeland are tied for fourth at 2-2. District 9-4A features five teams with overall winning records in addition to Wakeland, which is just a game below .500.

Aside from a blowout win over Frisco Liberty, all of Centennial's victories have been close. Centennial defeated Newman Smith by three, Frisco by four and Wakeland by six.

The Carrollton schools are having a tough time competing against their Frisco ISD counterparts in District 9-4A this season.

Newman Smith (0-5, 0-2), Creekview (0-5, 0-2) and R.L. Turner (1-4, 0-2) have yet to win a game against a Frisco team this season, leaving the five Frisco teams in the top five spots in the standings.

A similar situation developed last year, but Newman Smith rebounded from a slow start to make the playoffs, preventing a sweep of the four 9-4A playoff spots for Frisco ISD.

It may be tougher for Trojans to rebound this year. Aside from their own issues, they face a tougher group of Frisco teams.

While Frisco Liberty (5-0, 2-0) and Frisco Wakeland (3-2, 1-1) may have taken a step back, Frisco (4-1, 2-0), Frisco Centennial (5-0, 2-0) and
Frisco Heritage (2-3, 1-1) have gotten better.

Newman Smith hasn’t played the latter three, but it already lost to Liberty (18-17) and Wakeland (38-24) despite getting quarterback Shawn Holmes back from injury.

This weekend’s games will be telling for the district. Newman Smith takes on resurgent Frisco, and Centennial hosts Liberty in a game that will go a long way toward crowning a 9-4A champion.

And if there’s any consolation for Carrollton ISD fans, they're guaranteed at least one win this week with R.L. Turner hosting Creekview.

FRISCO LIBERTY (3-0) at CARROLLTON NEWMAN SMITH (0-3)
7:30 p.m. Friday at Standridge Stadium

When we saw them last: Nondistrict went very differently for these two teams. Frisco Liberty went undefeated against light competition in Denison, Greenville and Royse City, while Newman Smith got blanked playing one of the tougher 4A nondistrict schedules in the area against Keller Central, Denton Ryan and Keller Fossil Ridge.

2010 result: Liberty trailed in the fourth quarter but scored two touchdowns in the frame to take a 28-19 win en route to the District 9-4A title. Liberty running back Jay Ajayi ran for 266 yards and three touchdowns.

What’s at stake: Both teams are looking to get off to a good start in District 9-4A play, and a good start will be more important than ever with Frisco Centennial and Frisco poised to make a run at a 9-4A title.

Key matchup: Newman Smith’s offense vs. Liberty’s defense. Injuries have taken a toll on Newman Smith’s offense, which struggled through a difficult nondistrict schedule. It may not get any better against Liberty, whose strength is its defense.

Players to watch: Liberty quarterback Zach Smith is the lone returning starter for the Red Hawks offense. He has 360 yards and five touchdowns on the year. Newman Smith running back Jerome Akintunde leads the team in rushing with 246 yards and two touchdowns.

Prediction: Frisco Liberty 24, Newman Smith 21.

No. 1 DENTON RYAN (1-0) at CARR. NEWMAN SMITH (0-1)
7 p.m. Friday at Standridge Stadium

When we saw them last: Denton Ryan clobbered Sulphur Springs, 25-9, on national television behind another strong performance by its defense. Newman Smith couldn’t keep pace with a solid 5A team in Keller Central, losing 33-7.

2010 result: A year after its breakout season, Newman Smith fell into an 0-2 hole thanks to a 42-17 loss to Ryan, which showed no signs of lacking for offense after losing QB Scotty Young and WR Bud Sasser.

What’s at stake: Offensive progress. The question for Ryan again this year is its offense. The unit will need to make strides each week for the Raiders to get back to the state title game. Newman Smith didn’t exactly light it up last week and will face one of the best defenses in the state in Ryan.

Key matchup: Ryan’s running game vs. Newman Smith’s defense. If the Trojans are going to stay in this game, they’ll need to keep Ryan from lighting up the scoreboard.

Players to watch: Ryan QB Kevin Carpenter may be the difference between Ryan being a very good team and being a great team. Newman Smith RB Tripp Abbot does a little bit of everything for the Trojans.

Prediction: Denton Ryan 45, Newman Smith 10.

When a team has the No. 1 recruit in the nation, it will do anything to get him on the field.

Denton Ryan (1-0) certainly is with DE Mario Edwards. Head coach Joey Florence has Edwards lining up at tight end in addition to his duties at defensive end.

Edwards gives Ryan another strong body on the offensive line when the team is in goal-line or short-yardage situations. He can move defenders out of the way in running situations.

“It gives us some power in the running game at the point of attack,” Florence said.

And don’t be surprised to see Edwards go out for a pass from time to time. The Raiders used former defensive end Jarvis Moss, who now plays for the Oakland Raiders, in receiving situations regularly.

Edwards wasn’t the only defensive star seeing time on offense. LB Jordan Richmond, a Texas A&M commit, carried the ball two times for 24 yards.

Ryan plays at Carrollton Newman Smith at 7 p.m. on Friday.

DISTRICT 9-4A

• Carrollton Creekview (2-8, 2-5). Coach: Jay Cline.
• Carrollton Newman Smith (7-6, 4-3) lost in DI regional semifinals. Coach: Paul Ressa.
• Carrollton R.L. Turner (1-9, 1-6). Coach: Tyrone Larkins.
• Frisco (4-6, 3-4). Coach: Vance Gibson.
• Frisco Centennial (6-5, 5-2) lost in DII bi-district. Coach: Mark Howard
• Frisco Heritage (0-10, 0-7). Coach: Che Hendrix.
• Frisco Liberty (12-1, 7-0) lost in DII regional semifinals. Coach: Galen Zimmerman.
• Frisco Wakeland (8-3, 6-1) lost in DI bi-district. Coach: Marty Secord.

THE BIG QUESTION: How will Frisco ISD's expansion affect its football programs?

Nothing wreaks havoc on a high school football program like a school district opening a new school. It can destroy a championship team just as easily and quickly as it can produce it.

Given Frisco ISD's aggressive expansion in recent years, it's hard to project how things will shake out in 9-4A, an eight-school district with five Frisco teams.

Coming off two stellar seasons, Frisco Liberty would be the obvious favorite in 9-4A, but its current senior class was split in half by the opening of Frisco Heritage. Liberty has just one offensive starter returning.

While having a class split has an affect that's easy to predict, but other changes that come with opening schools are more subtle. Zoning lines are redrawn. Players get rerouted to other programs. Growing areas of town may or may not produce football talent.

Who's in line to benefit from Frisco's expansion? Are Frisco Wakeland and Frisco Centennial capable of taking the next step and supplanting Liberty as Frisco's top program? Is Heritage a young program waiting to explode?

One team that's bound to benefit is Carrollton Newman Smith, which can maintain its stability while the Frisco programs deal with change.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB Miquan Robinson, LB Chris Weatherd, WR Stephen Buckner, Carrollton Creekview; DB Shawn Holmes, DE Karl Thomas, WR Tripp Abbott, Carrollton Newman Smith; QB Garon Goodspeed, RB J.P. Patterson, LB Fernando Barrera, Carrollton R.L. Turner; QB Eric Allen, RB Carlos Harris, WR Jordan Anderson, Frisco; LB Nick Bush, DB Austin Schotts, QB Lamar Jordan, Frisco Centennial; DE Elie Nabushosi, RB Brandon Guilford, QB Cole-Bailey Cantwell, Frisco Heritage; QB Zach Smith, DB Izaiah Robinson, RB Alonte Ryan, Frisco Liberty; QB Nick West, WR Brad Sicula, RB Devaughn Childress, Frisco Wakeland.

DID YOU KNOW?

Frisco Heritage hopes to tally its first win in school history after going 0-10 in its inaugural season. Heritage already has a new head coach in Che Hendrix, but he has all 22 starters back to work with. ... Newman Smith reached the third round of the playoffs for the second straight year, no small feat for a program that hadn't made the playoffs since 1983 prior to the two-year run. ... Carrollton R.L. Turner has won two games in the last four seasons.

PROJECTED PLAYOFF TEAMS

1. Carrollton Newman Smith
2. Frisco Wakeland
3. Frisco Centennial
4. Frisco Liberty

SPRING COUNTDOWN

Football's a year-round sport in Texas, so we're rolling out our spring rankings. NO. 10 5A: SGP   | 4A: Mes. Poteet NO. 9 5A: Garland | 4A: Lancaster NO. 8 5A: Plano   | 4A: Newman Smith NO. 7 5A: DeSoto | 4A: Dallas Kimball NO. 6 5A: Coppell | 4A: Liberty NO. 5 5A: SL Carroll | 4A: Everman NO. 4 5A: Cedar Hill | 4A: Wylie NO. 3 5A: Skyline | 4A: Highland Park NO. 2 5A: Eul. Trinity | 4A: Den. Ryan NO. 1 5A: Allen | 4A: Aledo

ESPNDallas.com counts down the top area football teams in our spring rankings.

4A NO. 8: CARROLLTON NEWMAN SMITH

Spring game: 6 p.m. May 20 at Standridge Stadium

Coach: Paul Ressa

2010 record: 7-6, 4-3 in District 9-4A (fourth place)

2010 playoffs: Lost in Division I regional semifinals to Tyler John Tyler, 45-34.

Returning starters: 5 on offense; 5 on defense

Key losses: RB Braxton Bearden, DL Geovanni Geter, LB Zach Smith, LB Jaquel Walker, QB Jose Martinez, OL Mitch Prosser

Key returnees: WR/QB Tripp Abbott, OL Cameron Bryant, DE Karl Thomas, CB/QB Shawn Holmes, DL Pablo Ortiz, LB Allen Melson

Overview: Newman Smith saved what had been a disappointing follow-up to its breakout 2009 season with playoff wins over Rockwall and Dallas Carter in 2010, but with virtually all of the key contributors from 2009 now gone, the 2011 season will test the long-term durability of a program that Ressa rescued from dormancy. ... Newman Smith's junior varsity teams struggled mightily but partly because many of its top contributors were moved to varsity late in the year, something that Ressa hopes will lead to a better start in 2011. ... Ressa has three holes to fill in the secondary but likes the players with which he has to choose. ... Three players are competing to replace outgoing quarterback Jose Martinez -- Zach Rasmussen (JV), Shawn Holmes (athlete, CB) and Tripp Abbott. Rasmussen was Newman Smith's JV quarterback last year while Holmes and Abbott started on the varsity at cornerback and receiver, respectively. ... Ressa believe his team has a chance to be really strong in the trenches on both sides of the ball as four starters return on the offensive line and all four return on the defensive line.

Frisco ISD could send four schools to the playoffs in District 9-4A.

Currently, Wakeland (16-4, 6-0), Centennial (16-8, 4-2), Frisco (15-8, 4-2) and Liberty (11-10, 3-2) occupy the top four spots in 9-4A. The only Frisco school behind any of the three Carrollton schools -- Creekview (10-14, 3-3), Newman Smith (10-13, 2-3) and R.L. Turner (3-14, 1-5) -- is Heritage (3-15, 0-6), which is playing its first varsity season and has yet to win a district game.

Frisco’s dominance of the district has a lot to do with Carrollton losing the head-to-head matchups. Not counting games against Heritage, Creekview is 0-3 against Frisco schools, Newman Smith is 1-2 and Turner is 0-3.

The Carrollton schools have a chance to make up some ground on Friday though when Wakeland hosts Newman Smith, Turner hosts Frisco and Creekview hosts Centennial. Heritage has a bye.

Mesquite Poteet’s fairy-tale season has landed the Pirates in Jerry World.

Poteet, losers of 18 straight games coming into the season, will face the school with the most playoff appearances in Texas, the undefeated Highland Park Scots.

Kickoff for the Class 4A Division II regional playoff is 7 p.m. Saturday at Cowboys Stadium.

Just winning one game was a big deal for Poteet (10-2) when the season started.

For a team picked to finish ninth in the nine-team District 15-4A, it has been quite a ride for first-year coach Randy Jackson and company. The Pirates are in the third round of the playoffs for only the third time in school history and the first time since 1999.

In its 28-19 area playoff victory over Whitehouse, the Poteet defense stopped the Wildcats on downs three times and forced two turnovers (an interception by Josh Meraz and a fumble recovery by Trevon Jackson) in the fourth quarter. Whitehouse was held to less than half of its point average despite gaining over 400 yards.

Highland Park (12-0), in the playoffs for a state-record 52nd season, will test the Pirates’ defense with alternating quarterbacks Jake Howeth and Brady Burgin.

Together, they have thrown for over 3,200 yards and 30 touchdowns. Howeth is the Scots’ leading rusher, averaging 100 yards a game. He’s scored 27 touchdowns.

Half of the Scots’ touchdown passes have gone to Dalton Stogner, who has 58 receptions for 1,135 yards.

The Scots have not survived the third round of the playoffs the last two seasons, eliminated by Waco Midway in 2008 and Waxahachie last year.

More at stake for Wylie-West Mesquite this time

Christian Rios inflicted pain on Wylie when his 21-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining gave West Mesquite a 24-22 victory over the Pirates back on Sept. 3.

REGIONAL OVERVIEW
Watch ESPNDallas.com's Travis L. Brown, Randy Jennings and Jeff Andrews break down the third round of the UIL football playoffs. Class 4A   Class 5A  Interviews: SL Carroll RB Paul Stevenson » Coppell QB Joe Minden » Denton Guyer QB J.W. Walsh » Brackets/scores: 4A DI | 4A DII | 5A DI | 5A DII Others (from UIL website) »

The teams meet for a second time in a Class 4A Division I regional playoff with much higher stakes. Kickoff is 4 p.m. Friday at Cowboys Stadium.

With Trevone Boykin running the show, West Mesquite (10-2) is averaging a remarkable 466 yards per game.

But Wylie (9-3) out-gained West Mesquite in the first meeting, limiting the Wranglers to a season-low 326 yards.

Wylie won both of its playoff games by 28 points. Nico Ramirez threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in last week’s 42-14 area win over Dallas Kimball.

West Mesquite has scored 103 points in its two playoff wins.

Denton Ryan, Waco Midway meet in clash of unbeatens

This Class 4A Division I regional playoff scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at Cowboys Stadium could be the best matchup in the state this weekend.

Denton Ryan and Waco Midway are both 12-0 and have scarcely been tested.

In an era of wide-open football, Ryan’s defense is allowing only 166 yards per game.

That defense will be tested by Midway, which scores at a 42.8-point clip per game.

Frisco Liberty a quick study

In just its third varsity season, Frisco Liberty is in the regional round of the playoffs for the second straight year.

The Redhawks (12-0) face Bastrop (9-3) in a Class 4A Division II regional playoff at 7 p.m. Friday at Cowboys Stadium.

Bastrop, from the Austin area, has scored 55 (against Corsicana) and 58 (Sulphur Springs) in its playoff wins, so it will be important for Liberty running back Jay Ajayi to have a big game and keep the ball away from the Bears.

Ajayi, a Boise State pledge, is averaging over 10 yards per carry.

Carrollton Smith winning at right time

Carrollton Newman Smith isn’t apologizing for its 7-5 record as it advances in the Division I bracket.

The Trojans, who went 26 years without a postseason appearance until last year, are preparing for their sixth playoff game in the last two seasons.

East Texas power Tyler John Tyler (11-1) is the opponent in Saturday’s 2 p.m. Region II semifinal at Waco ISD Stadium.

Running backs carry 5-4A’s Aledo, Birdville

Johnathan Gray of Aledo and Tyler Klutts of Birdville have been instrumental in their teams reaching the Round of 16 in their respective brackets.

Aledo (12-0) meets Hereford (9-3) in Division II regional playoff 7 p.m. Friday in Sweetwater.

Gray, a junior, has amassed 2,558 yards and 48 touchdowns for the defending state champion Bearcats.

Birdville (9-3) takes on Wichita Falls Rider (9-3) in a Division I regional playoff Saturday at Bedford's Pennington Field.

Klutts has gained 1,893 yards and scored 23 touchdowns for the Hawks.

(Click here for Class 4A pairings.)

Denton Ryan (11-0) stood as the only area team with a chance in a weak Class 4A Division I bracket going into the bi-district round. After a first-round route of a good Frisco Wakeland team, Wylie (8-3) has emerged as a team that could make some noise deep.

After a midseason down-to-the-wire loss to Highland Park (11-0), the Pirates caught fire, crushing their next five opponents by no less than 15 points. Quarterback Nico Ramirez led his team offensively against Wakeland despite coming back from a dislocated shoulder he suffered a week before, and he looked as good as new.

However, Wylie has another tough challenge this week against Dallas Kimball (9-2), which beat a fairly good Woodrow Wilson team, 27-7, in the bi-district round. Wylie head coach Bill Howard said he is game planning for a very physical matchup this week.

Playoff matchup reloaded

Does the Carrollton Newman Smith (6-5) vs. Dallas Carter (5-5) game at Irving Schools Stadium sound familiar? It should, because it is the exact same area-round matchup that took place last year, including the location. Smith won last year’s edition, 29-27.

Carter had a down year from the success it has grown accustomed, finishing third in the District 11-4A behind Dallas South Oak Cliff and Dallas Kimball.

The Cowboys' signature win of the season was in the rivalry matchup against Kimball. The Cowboys outmuscled the Knights in a run-happy game for a 14-0 win.

Denton Ryan continues to roll

Ryan continued its undefeated season and quest for a state championship with a 56-17 win over Amarillo Palo Duro. The Raiders travel to Midland to take on El Paso Del Valle (10-1) on Saturday in the area round.

Ryan could potentially face another undefeated team and its toughest test so far, Waco Midway, in the third round. Midway must first beat Fort Worth Boswell, which beat another previously undefeated team in Region I, Fort Worth Arlington Heights.

Best statewide matchup: Kerrville Tivy vs. Austin Lake Travis

The top 4A Division I area-round matchup is the rematch between Kerrville Tivy (10-1) and Austin Lake Travis (9-2), which has won 19 straight playoff games. They met in the second week of the season with Lake Travis winning, 37-33.

Tivy is lead by quarterback Johnny Manziel, who tops the team in rushing yards per game and passing yards per game. Manziel passed for 195 yards and ran for 273 in the game against Lake Travis earlier in the season.

After missing the postseason in 2009, Frisco Centennial clinched a playoff spot in District 9-4A with its 36-15 win over Carrollton Newman Smith last week.

Having a healthy Nick Foster for the entire season has helped the Titans (5-4, 4-2). The quarterback has missed at least a game in every season dating back to his seventh-grade year.

He’s been incredibly efficient in Centennial’s short passing game in 2010, completing 67 percent of his passes with 22 touchdowns and just four interceptions, three of which came off tipped balls.

“Nick is probably a very underrated, unheard of quarterback in the area,” said Centennial head coach Mark Howard. “One of Nick’s strong points is he’s very accurate. We have a real good short passing game, quick passing game, but Nick can throw it down field, too.”

Centennial has also improved dramatically on defense. The team switched to the 3-4 from the 3-3 stack because Howard felt his personnel better suited the 3-4. The Titans are giving up 27 points per game, down from 39.9 a year ago.

“It wasn’t an overnight success, but it definitely has proved to be a lot better and more effective for us, especially as the year’s gone on,” Howard said.

Centennial finishes the regular season against Frisco Heritage (0-9, 0-6) on Friday.

With Frisco Liberty, Frisco Wakeland and Centennial having clinched playoff berths, only one spot remains for either Newman Smith (4-5, 3-3), Frisco (4-5, 3-3) or Carrollton Creekview (2-7, 2-4).

Having beaten Frisco earlier in the year, Newman Smith can clinch the spot with a win over Creekview on Friday, but with multiple three-way tie scenarios, it gets muddy after that. District 9-4A employs the plus/minus 14-point tiebreaker.

Rebound seasons by Frisco and Frisco Centennial have created a tight playoff race in District 9-4A.

Frisco (3-4, 2-2) and Centennial (3-4, 2-2) are tied with Carrollton Newman Smith (3-4, 2-2) and Carrollton Creekview (2-5, 2-2) for third place in the district with Frisco Liberty (7-0, 4-0) and Frisco Wakeland (6-1, 4-0) tied for first.

Frisco is coming off back-to-back winless seasons but has found success running the ball behind quarterback Carlos Harris (785 yards, eight touchdowns) and Austin Allen (436 yards, six touchdowns).

Centennial quarterback Nick Foster may be one of the most underrated signal-callers in the area, helping Titans fans forget about last year’s 3-7 campaign. He has 1,927 yards and 18 touchdowns to just four interceptions.

The two teams will decide who’s improved the most when they play on Friday at Pizza Hut Park.

Of the four teams tied at 2-2, Newman Smith and Centennial have the most favorable schedules. Both have already played and lost to Wakeland and Liberty.

Keller Fossil Ridge could just as easily be undefeated.

The Panthers (0-3) have lost three games in the closing minutes by a combined 10 points.

Last week against Carrollton Newman Smith, the Panthers gave up a touchdown run with 17 seconds left in a 37-30 loss.

Two weeks ago against Ennis, Fossil Ridge scored on a 97-yard drive at the end of the game, only to mishandle the extra point and lose, 28-27.

After returning all but one starter from 2009, Fossil Ridge was considered a darkhorse in District 7-5A, but it will have to learn how to win close games to make the playoffs.

The Panthers open district play against Southlake Carroll (2-1) on Sept. 23 at home.