Marquee game
Reagan vs. Smithson Valley, 7:30 p.m. Friday at Heroes Stadium: Former district foes square off in a Class 6A Division I bidistrict game that perhaps is better suited for a regional final.
Smithson Valley (7-2) leads the all-time series 7-3 and has won three of the previous four playoff matchups — 17-7 in 2015, 21-14 in 2012 and 19-14 in 2008. Reagan (9-1), with current Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond at the helm, won 21-14 in this round in 2014.
Reagan enters the contest on a seven-game winning streak and has scored at least 31 points in each outing. Smithson Valley tuned up for the postseason by defeating Judson 35-32, riding the play of quarterback Jalen Nutt, who passed for more than 200 yards and a touchdown and rushed for three more scores.
The winner plays either Austin Westlake or Round Rock Cedar Ridge in the second round.

Notable games
Roosevelt at Judson, 2 p.m. Saturday: Longtime neighborhood rivals meet for the first time since 2017 and for the first time ever in the playoffs.
This matchup comes on the 25th anniversary of Roosevelt and Judson making state history by becoming the first schools from the same UIL district to win football state championships in the same season.
On Dec. 16, 1995, the Rockets outlasted Odessa Permian 31-28 in a clash of titans at Texas Stadium in Irving to claim the Class 5A (now 6A) Division I crown. Quarterback Guy Anderson passed for 277 yards and three touchdowns, including a state-record 90-yard strike to tight end Wilmer Wade early in the fourth quarter that put Judson in the lead for good, and ran for another score. Anderson is an assistant coach at his alma mater.
A week later at Alamo Stadium, Roosevelt used a stingy defensive performance to silence high-flying Flower Mound Marcus 17-10 to capture the D-II state title. Led by defensive ends Erik Flowers and Dwayne Missouri, who both played in the NFL, interior linemen LeJonta McGowan and Matt Stolze, and defensive back Tim Gardner, Roosevelt recorded four sacks, 18 pressures, two interceptions, two fumbles and two pass deflections and relentlessly harassed Marcus quarterback Chris Sanders.
Sanders, who entered the game with 4,026 passing yards and 40 TDs, was limited to 254 yards and one TD.
Roosevelt running back Richard Shandy ran for one TD and caught a pass for another from quarterback Jacob Rodriguez, who also kicked a field goal.

Medina Valley at Mission Sharyland Pioneer, 7:30 p.m. Friday: The Panthers’ strength is probably its defense. The unit will get a stiff test in this Class 5A Division II bidistrict game when Medina Valley faces off against the 2019 regional finalist Diamondbacks and heralded quarterback Eddie Lee Marburger.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Marburger, who is committed to UTSA, has thrown for 1,913 yards and 19 TDs and rushed for 610 yards and 14 scores in only five contests. A week ago, he passed for 368 yards and four TDs and rushed for 170 yards and four scores in a 59-40 win vs. Mercedes.

Taft at Eagle Pass, 7 p.m. Friday: The Raiders are in the Class 6A Division II playoffs for the first time since 2007. They take on unbeaten Eagle Pass (6-0), which didn’t open its season until Oct. 22.
Taft (6-3), which this season has as many wins as the previous two seasons combined, has won five of its last six games, including three in a row. The Raiders averaged 47.8 points during their three-game winning streak.

Under the radar games
Stevens vs. Laredo United, 7 p.m. Friday at Laredo Student Activity Center: The Falcons hit the road for this Class 6A Division I first-round matchup, where they will tangle with the usually high-scoring Longhorns. United is coached by former Holmes coach David Sanchez and is led by quarterback Sammy Casso and wide receiver Tanner Sanchez.

S.A. Veterans Memorial at Cedar Park, 7 p.m. Friday: The Patriots overcame a 1-4 start in District 12-5A I, including two setbacks because of COVID-19 forfeits, to earn their league’s final playoff spot via points differential. In the postseason for the third time in as many seasons, S.A. Veterans get the daunting task of facing Cedar Park (9-0) and its “Black Rain” defense. The Timberwolves, who have wins over Class 6A playoff teams Austin Vandegrift and Round Rock Cedar Ridge, yield 12.4 points per game, have 99 tackles for loss, 31 sacks, nine interceptions, seven fumbles and have scored three defensive touchdowns.

Tale of the tape
Johnson’s linebackers vs. Wagner’s rushing attack: A big part of the Jaguars’ success this season has been the play of the defense, paced by Parker Meza (71 tackles), Sam Hall (69 tackles) and Justin Kirk (57 tackles). Johnson (8-1) is allowing 171.2 rushing yards per game.
Wagner (4-3), which made the Class 6A Division II playoffs in its first season after being moved up from 5A D-I in the UIL’s realignment and reclassification in February, should present the Jaguars a stiff challenge with its Slot-T offense.
The Thunderbirds average 374.6 rushing yards, led by running back L.J. Butler, who is amassed 835 yards and 18 TDs. Andre Booker (452 yards), Quentin Owens (406), Darrion Thomas (297) and quarterback Isaiah Williams (225) round out the backfield.
Johnson and Wagner face off at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Comalander Stadium.

Reagan QB Britton Moore vs. Smithson Valley DE Trey Moore: A junior, Moore is a threat running or passing for Reagan. He has thrown for 876 yards and seven TDs and rushed for 756 yards and 10 scores, leading a Rattlers attack that averages 38 points and 385 yards.

A 6-2, 240-pound senior, Moore will be crucial to Smithson Valley’s effort to contain the opposing quarterback. He headlines a defense that gives up 13.3 points and 228 yards per contest.

terrence@terrencesports.com
Twitter: @sa_terrence1