# – denotes current San Antonio South Side Sports area ranking

SATURDAY

Floresville (0-0) vs. #7 Highlands (0-0) at Alamo Stadium, 7 p.m.

This should be a good first test for both teams.

Highlands return quarterback John Cervantes, who took the reins when Jordan DeLuna was lost to injury. Cervantes should fortify a ball-controlling ground game, along with De-Morriay Richardson and Quindon Boston.

They’ll run behind a veteran line, led by third-year starter Tristan Zaragoza.

Darian Todd, Denny Peterson and Bruce Moody are candidates to replace a bevy of reliable receivers who graduated.

Owls strong safety Joseph Mangaccat will be tasked with containing Floresville junior quarterback Koby Wilkerson. In his first season as a starter, Wilkerson emerged as a run-pass threat, but was more effective as a runner.

He’ll seek out receiver Troy Hughley. Darnelle Odom and Highlands’ defenders should be effective against a Floresville line that returns just one starter.

The Tigers’ defense has three starters back, including linebackers Preston Taggs and Luke Smith.

Floresville had dominated the series until last year, not only winning the previous three games but winning them by sizable margins. The scales seem to have tilted toward the Owls. 

Series leader (record): Floresville (3-1). 2013 score: Highlands 17, Floresville 14. 2014 favorite: Highlands.

San Antonio Christian (0-0) vs. #1 Holy Cross (0-0) at Alamo Stadium, 7 p.m.

With the Holy Bowl on hiatus, this budding rivalry looms a little larger in the Knights’ hearts and minds, despite the fact that it won’t impact a district race – as it has in the past couple of seasons.

The Lions have stepped up to TAPPS District 2-I while the Knights remain in 3-II. Expect it to remain a tight game and a measuring stick for both programs.

Fans may well see it as a battle of highly-regarded quarterbacks, pitting Holy Cross senior Cisco Flores against San Antonio Christian’s Andrew Hawkins. They are a contrast in styles, but both put up big numbers each game.

Flores and Greg Scott give Holy Cross a big advantage on the ground, while Hawkins aims to fill the air with passes.

The Knights’ defensive front must keep the pressure on Hawkins and prevent him from finding secondary targets. Jeremy Martinez, who had six sacks last year, should lead the charge.

Defensive lineman Jared Ahlstrom and linebacker Hayden Dennis will lead a largely untested defense that will hope to contain Flores and limit his play-action.

San Antonio Christian is coached by former Fox Tech coach Denny Peel.

Holy Cross has won each of the last two seasons, including a 25-23 nailbiter in 2012.

Series leader (record): unknown. 2013 score: Holy Cross 22, San Antonio Christian 14. 2014 favorite: Holy Cross.