Marquee game
Brandeis vs. Johnson, 7 p.m. Friday at Heroes Stadium: These two schools have been linked since each opened in 2008 and quickly forged a rivalry.

Most of their matchups have been non-district season openers, with playoff encounters in the previous eight seasons mixed in. The schools were realigned into District 28-6A by the UIL in February 2020.

On Friday, each seeks to remain unbeaten. Brandeis (4-0 overall, 2-0 in district) is coming off a 45-35 come-from-behind win vs. Clark. Johnson (4-0, 2-0) has been on roll offensively, averaging 51.6 points in their past three outings.
Running back Ben McCreary has rushed for more than 450 yards and eight touchdowns to pace Johnson.

Notable games
Burbank vs. Brackenridge, 7 p.m. Friday at Alamo Stadium: First place in District 13-5A-I will be on the line when these clubs square off. Brackenridge (3-1 overall, 2-0 in district) has won three in a row after a season-opening loss to Somerset. Burbank has won two straight since a Week 2 loss to Southwest Legacy.

Alamo Heights at Wimberley, 7:30 p.m. Friday: No one can argue that the unbeaten Mules (4-0) will be battle-tested for District 15-5A-II play. Alamo Heights has already faced Boerne, Churchill, Central Catholic and Canyon Lake in non-district and now faces 2020 Class 4A Division II state semifinalist Wimberley (3-1) on the road.

Judson vs. Clemens, 7 p.m. Friday at Lehnhoff Stadium: These teams have the same record but are trending in the opposite directions heading into a District 27-6A matchup. Clemens earned its first win last week — a 41-7 decision vs. South San — after opening the season with consecutive losses to Madison, Brennan and San Benito.

Judson clipped De Soto 35-28 to open the season but has lost three in a row, including a 24-21 setback to New Braunfels a week ago. The Rockets have lost three straight games during a season for the first time since 2000.

The key to victory likely will come down to which one of the teams’ offenses can produce. Clemens’ 41 points vs. South San were nearly twice as many as it had totaled in the previous three games combined (22). Judson’s usually high-powered offense has struggled since the De Soto game, with 21 points being the most it has tallied in any of its past three contests.

Somerset at Cuero, 7:30 p.m. Friday: The Bulldogs (4-0) look to extend their hot start when they hit the road for a non-district affair vs. Cuero (3-1), which is coming off a 29-27 loss to Navarro. Somerset has flexed its balance thus far, winning games at times with offense and with a tough defense.

Tale of the tape
Steele’s defense vs. Wagner’s rushing attack: Perhaps the biggest question mark for the Knights (4-0 overall, 1-0 in District 27-6A) entering the season was how it would replace four-year starting quarterback Wyatt Begeal. A stingy defense has thus far made it a moot point. Steele is yielding only 8.5 points per game and has allowed only a touchdown or less in three straight games.

Wagner’s flexbone attack is averaging 338 yards per game. The Thunderbirds (2-2) had a two-game winning streak snapped a week ago during a 42-14 loss to Smithson Valley. The contest was tied at 14 before Smithson Valley exploded for 28 unanswered points.

Steele and Wagner meet at 7 p.m. Friday at Rutledge stadium.

terrence@terrencesports.com
Twitter: @sa_terrence1