FRIDAY

Burbank (2-3, 1-0) vs. Jefferson (0-5, 0-1) at Wheatley Heights Sports Complex, 7:30 p.m.

The key to this game may be what happens when Burbank’s offense goes against Jefferson’s defense. Those are the two biggest variables for both teams.

The Bulldogs offense made positive strides last week in a 43-21 upset of Highlands, although Burbank also scored on a fumble return, an interception return and a safety. Last year’s quarterback Daniel Tello is expected to return from a concusion to claim his old position, which would allow Jeremy Sanchez to return to a receiving position. There, Sanchez is likely to create mismatches the Bulldogs can exploit.

Jefferson’s defense has yielded 45.6 points a game this year. Brackenridge rolled to 601 total yards last Friday in a 55-11 win over the Mustangs. They gave up four touchdowns of 35 yards or more.

Burbank doesn’t have the quick strike ability of its rival Brack, but the Bulldogs should be a stronger running and passing team with the addition of Tello – and Sanchez and Marcos Luna have the ability to stretch a defense.

The Bulldogs’ defense was solid down-to-down last week, but also became opportunistic when it was apparent that Highlands wouldn’t be taking to the air. As Jesse Flores has developed as a running threat, Jefferson has shown some versatility offensively. Mustangs quarterback Weston Redding will need to bounce back from a tough outing against Brackenridge.

Jefferson has won the last five games in the series, which began in 1976, although the teams met in the postseason in 1957 and 1960. The Mustangs lead the series 27-4. Burbank’s last on-field win was 2007. The Bulldogs also won in 2008, but had to forfeit the win later. 2012 score: Jefferson 44, Burbank 13.

Floresville (3-1, 1-0) vs. Harlandale (4-0, 1-0) at Harlandale Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.

Much was made of the Harlandale-Medina Valley game last week, but this could be the true battle to ultimately decide first place in District 29-4A.

If nothing else, Floresville has been the most consistent team in the district not named Harlandale since being surprised by Highlands in its season opener. The Tigers recorded an impressive 26-21 win over Brackenridge – a team somewhat comparable to Harlandale – the following week and rolled past their next two opponents. Floresville blitzed McCollum 42-7 last week.

Harlandale, No. 23 in the TexasHSFootball.com statewide Class 4A rankings, were challenged only until halftime against Medina Valley. The Indians outscored the Panthers 6-0 in the second half after taking a 27-14 lead just before the half.

The passing and leadership of Indians quarterback Brandon Ramon should be Harlandale’s big edge in the game. Ramon went over 1,000 yards for the season with 246 against Medina Valley. He utilized five receivers.

Running back Nick Martinez has been rock solid in his second season as a Harlandale starter.

The key to Floresville’s offense is back Gilbert Ortiz, who ran for 170 yards against McCollum and has  498 yards for the season. Tigers quarterback Koby Wilkerson is both a running and passing threat, but he’s probably most effective carrying the ball.

Defensively, Floresville has been somewhat inconsistent, but limited McCollum to 144 total yards and Brackenridge’s high-powered offense to 291. It will be interesting to see if the Tigers can be the first team to slow down a Harlandale offense that has averaged 35 points a game.

Harlandale, which leads the series 4-3, will have the revenge factor in mind. The Indians last won in 2009, before a three-year break in the series. 2012 score: Floresville 24, Harlandale 21.

Lanier (0-4, 0-0) vs. Highlands (2-3, 0-1) at SAISD Sports Complex, 7:30 p.m.

Lanier surprised Highlands last year. That’s going to be a tougher assignment for the Voks to pull off Friday, although they are the only team to stay within 10 points of Harlandale so far this year.

Quarterback Nicholas Garcia threw for more than 200 yards in that game. He only threw for 36 in a 34-12 loss to Floresville Sept. 20. The Voks had a bye last week.

Through the non-district season, Lanier cycled through its backs trying to find a consistent running threat. Senior Joshua Esquivel has seemed to emerge as the primary back, but junior Johnny Glover stepped forward with 39 yards against Floresville.

Defensively, Lanier has struggled mightily. The Voks have allowed an average of 425 yards a game.

Although Highlands doesn’t have quite the explosiveness of Voks opponents Harlandale and Somerset or the yardage-eating ability of Floresville, the Owls can strike quickly with quarterback Jordan DeLuna (845 passing yards). DeLuna was hurt in the second quarter against Burbank, which opened the door for the Bulldogs’ comeback for a 43-21 Highlands loss.

The Owls will feel like they have something to prove after that game, although they got off to a flying start on the season. Since then Highlands has incurred bad losses to Uvalde (48-21 in Week 1) and Burbank. It also has gone scoreless in the second half of its last two games, including a 28-25 loss to Central Catholic.

So, this game will be a gut check for the Owls.

They’ll be looking for four consistent quarters, offensively and defensively. Fewer turnovers and a more effective ground game also will be important. Rotating Quindon Boston and De-Morriay Richardson-Jackson may be the answer to the latter.

Highlands had won the previous 16 games before the 2012 upset. The Owls lead the series 20-3 overall. 2012 score: Lanier 28, Highlands 24.

Medina Valley (2-2, 0-1) vs. Kennedy (3-1, 0-1) at Frank Mata Stadium, 7 p.m.

Kennedy was undefeated before its district opener at Uvalde last Friday. The Rockets return home Friday and will need to be at their best to avoid a losing streak.

It doesn’t help them that Medina Valley is coming off a 33-14 home loss to Harlandale and, therefore, will be looking not just to win, but to make a statement.

As proven by the loss in Uvalde, Kennedy needs to be able to move the chains consistently behind the running of senior Matthew Avalos to be effective offensively and prevent its defense from spending too much time on the field.

The Coyotes limited Avalos to 22 rushing yards in the 25-6 loss. He had averaged 184 yards through the first three games.

Blade Alvarado had his first extensive playing time at quarterback and ran for 46 yards, but with two interceptions.

Kennedy had a winning formula going previously with an opportunistic defense and a ball-control offense. It will be tough to make that work against Medina Valley’s defense unless the Rockets connect on passes in some key situations.

Offensively, the Panthers maintained their offensive balance although Harlandale limited their leading rusher Nathan Stein to 12 yards. Bradley Griggs picked up the slack with 93 rushing yards.

Medina Valley committed three turnovers against the Indians, which could be an equalizer for the Rockets if the Panthers don’t hang onto the ball this week.

The Panthers have won all three games in the series. 2012 score: Medina Valley 41, Kennedy 14.

Sam Houston (1-4) at Gonzales (3-1), 7:30 p.m.

Sam Houston concludes its non-district gauntlet.

Like most of the other teams the Hurricanes have faced so far, Gonzales puts a lot of points on the board. The Apaches scored 55 against Austin Lanier and 60 in their opener against Victoria East.

The Hurricanes mustered 45 points in their win against Southside, but have averaged just 11.3 in their losses. Their opponents have averaged 44.2 in the five games.

Gonzales is coming off a 45-37 shootout win over College Station last Friday.

Sam Houston lost 54-12 at Navarro last Friday. Leading rusher Erin Mack (yards) didn’t carry the ball in the game, but caught one pass for 16 yards. Sam Houston rushed for just 76 yards in 24 tries.

Raymonte Prime threw for 160 yards, but made three interceptions as the Hurricanes committed three turnovers for the second-straight week. 2012 score: Gonzales 61, Sam Houston 6.

Uvalde (2-2, 1-0) at Southside (0-4, 0-1), 7 p.m.

Uvalde got the jolt of adrenaline last Friday that Southside has been looking for. Coming off a loss, the Coyotes made big plays when they needed them to pull away to a 25-6 win over Kennedy last Friday in their District 29-4A opener.

Memorial monopolized the big offensive plays against Southside. The Cardinals didn’t score their only offensive touchdown until the fourth quarter, while the Minutemen recorded three touchdowns of 25 yards or more.

Southside gained 271 total yards to Memorial’s 283, but couldn’t overcome four turnovers. The Cardinals moved the ball well in the decisive third quarter, but couldn’t capitalize. However, sophomore back Timmy Rodriguez had his best game of the season with 116 rushing yards.

The Cardinals have thrown 13 interceptions this year and have seemed to limit their passing. Unfortunately, that left them a bit predictable. They’re still looking for the right mix offensively.

The Coyotes used a 71-yard run from Zach Sanchez and a 62-yard pass from Jerry Almaraz to Trae Garcia to separate themselves from Kennedy. Uvalde ran for 294 yards, including 162 from Sanchez.

Defensively, the Coyotes held the Rockets to a season-low 121 total yards and shut down their rushing attack. So, Southside will need to pick its spots and improve its passing efficiency.

Uvalde leads the series 11-2. Southside’s last win was in 2007. 2012 score: Uvalde 39, Southside 20.

SATURDAY

Brackenridge (3-2, 1-0) vs. Brennan (5-0, 1-0) at Farris Stadium, 7 p.m.

There’s no doubt that Brackenridge is the best of the rest in District 28-4A. The question is how the Eagles compare to the unquestioned district favorite, Brennan.

Brackenridge has a more explosive offense than any the Bears’ superb defense has faced this year, featuring quarterback Ramon Richards and a bevy of weapons.

The Eagles have shown steady improvement in their ground game in recent weeks. Whether it has developed to the point that it can allow Richards to go to play-action passes when he needs them is a key to watch for Brack. It also will need to run the ball to sustain drives, something the Bears have routinely prevented their other opponents from doing.

Brennan quarterback Da’Shawn Key has similar traits to Richards’ (speed, poise and a solid throwing arm), but they’ve been honed by a couple of extra years of experience.

The Bears, No. 3 in the TexasHSFootball.com statewide Class 4A poll,  can score quickly, either with long runs or pass plays. They also have shown an ability to grind out drives, particularly when they need to run the clock.

Where Brackenridge might be able to capitalize is in converting turnovers into short fields and, hopefully, points. Although the Bears have shut out every team they’ve played except East Central, they’ve committed at least one turnover in each of the last three games. They made two against Edison last week in a 62-0 win and three against the Hornets.

On the flip side, the Eagles have coughed up eight turnovers in their last three games, compared to Brennan’s six. They’ll need to play error-free, or close to it, to have a chance of springing an upset.

Brennan won the only game in the series thus far, 42-21 last year. 2012 score: Brennan 42, Brackenridge 21.

TMI (3-1, 0-1) vs. Holy Cross (2-2, 1-0) at Harlandale Memorial Stadium, 3 p.m.

Holy Cross notched the kind of win it needed last Friday in its TAPPS District 3-II opener, defeating San Antonio Christian 22-14 on the strength of two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

The eight-point margin was a notification that the Knights were back on target to be a district contender, but the fact that they outgained the Lions by more than 100 total yards said more.

Texas Military Institute, on the other hand, took a punch to the chin that night, getting walloped 50-0 by undefeated Austin Hyde Park Baptist. Not only were the Panthers undefeated prior to the game. They had beaten their first three opponents by a 30-point average.

Holy Cross fortified itself by playing powerful Antonian and Navarro in the non-district schedule.

Back Greg Scott had a season-high 144 rushing yards against San Antonio Christian. The Lions didn’t allow quarterback Cisco Flores outside the pocket much, but he threw for 122 yards, completing 14 of 19 passes.  Greg Kelly and David Sanchez each made five catches.

Defensively, Holy Cross limited the Lions to 222 total yards.

TMI mustered just 97 total yards against Hyde Park, while allowing 447. Markell Henderson accounted for 53 of the Panthers’ 89 rushing yards. Still, TMI was within 14-0 at halftime.

Panthers quarterback Chuy Suday has thrown for 422 yards this year, but didn’t attempt a pass against Hyde Park. Will Cruse handled the passing. 2012 score: Holy Cross 42, TMI 6.