Schools in classes 4A through 1A hit the midway point of their seasons, while many 6A and 5A teams — save for the San Antonio ISD — are launching their campaigns this weekend.
Here’s a rundown of what to look for:

Spotlight game
Brandeis vs. Harlan, 7 p.m. Saturday at Farris Stadium: Welcome to Class 6A football, Harlan. The Hawks will make their foray into the UIL’s highest classification against an opponent that has played in the last two Region IV-6A Division II final. Harlan should be well equipped for the move with quarterback Kannon Williams (2,410 passing yards), running back A.J. McDade (2,092 rushing yards) and wide receiver Endreas Spriggs to build around. Brandeis’ defense, paced by lineman Josh Green and defensive backs Jalen Rainey and Aiden Inesta-Rodriguez should provide a stiff test.

Notable games
Seguin at New Braunfels, 7:30 p.m. Friday: These teams will meet for the 108th time in one of the state’s oldest rivalries. New Braunfels has won seven straight and 12 of the past 13 and leads the all-time series 65-39-3. Seguin hasn’t defeated the Unicorns since 2013.

Kerrville Tivy at Corpus Christi Calallen, 7:30 p.m. Friday: The longtime foes meet for the 11th time, having split the previous 10 meetings. Eight of the encounters were in the playoffs. Tivy lost its season opener last week to Dripping Springs 14-0, the first time they’ve been held scoreless since a 35-0 loss to Boerne Champion on Oct. 21, 2016, a span of 41 games.

Hondo at Comfort, 7:30 p.m. Friday: These unbeaten teams get their final tune-ups before opening district play. If form holds, expect a high-scoring affair. Comfort (5-0) is averaging 41.2 points a game, while Hondo (4-0) has scored at least 40 in each of its past three outings.

Holy Cross at Antonian, 7:30 p.m. Friday: The Apaches look to continue its mastery of the series, having won six of the past seven meetings, but must slow down Holy Cross QB Jordan Battles, who a week ago rushed for 306 yards and five TDs in a 49-26 win vs. Austin Hyde Park. Antonian dominated the middle quarters to race past Floresville 48-25 in its opener.

Cole at Randolph, 7:30 p.m. Friday: The Alamo City’s version of Army (Cole) vs. Air Force (Randolph) adds another chapter. Randolph (3-1) has scored a combined 110 points in the two games since losing to Devine. Cole (0-1) fell to McCamey last week in its season opener.

Tale of the tape
Judson offensive line vs. DeSoto defensive line: The longstanding theory that football games are won at the line of scrimmage will be put to the test when these state-ranked teams square off in DeSoto in a contest that MaxPreps has labeled as one of the nation’s top 10 this week. Judson center Robert Rigsby (6-foot-4, 310 pounds), tackle Kamron Scott (6-5, 302) and guard Jared Campos (6-1, 280) will be tasked with opening lanes for tailback De’Anthony Lewis (1,864 rushing yards and 27 TDs in 2019) and protecting projected first-time starting QB Michael Burroughs against DeSoto defensive end Shemar Turner (6-3, 280) and defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (6-2, 255). Turner, a four-star prospect and Texas Football magazine’s Class 6A preseason defensive player of the year, has reportedly narrowed his college choices to Alabama, defending national champion LSU, Georgia, Texas and Texas A&M. Murphy is a Baylor pledge. DeSoto is ranked No. 38 nationally by MaxPreps.

Reagan RB Carson Green vs. Steele LB Christian Garza: While far from the only offensive threat for the Rattlers, Green rushed for nearly 1,100 yards and nine TDs as a freshman in 2019. Garza had 21 tackles, including five for loss, in Steele’s season-opening 26-14 loss to Life Christian Academy from Virginia. Reagan and Steele meet at 7 p.m. Saturday at Heroes Stadium.

Number crunching
10: Consecutive losses for New Braunfels Canyon before defeating Medina Valley 28-7 last week. The Cougars registered their first victory since a 49-21 decision vs. San Marcos on Nov. 9, 2018, and seek to win back-to-back games since opening the 2018 campaign with victories over Kyle Lehman and Georgetown East. Canyon faces Clark at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Farris Stadium.

672: Rushing yards that Roosevelt and East Central combined for a year ago in the Rough Riders’ 50-35 win. The teams amassed 49 first downs, 852 yards of total offense, 62 second-half points — 36 in the fourth — and two 200-yard rushers. Roosevelt and East Central play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Heroes Stadium.