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Corbett Smith's notable Week 8 HS football games, predictions

Sherman vs. Lovejoy

Leopard Stadium: Lovejoy (7-0, 4-0 in 13-4A) has been one of the surprises of the season, moving up from Class 3A and straight into the 4A playoffs. Freshman Bowman Sells has been fantastic splitting time at quarterback with senior Zach Saffle. Coming off the bench in last week's 54-30 win over Denison, Sells passed for 345 yards and five touchdowns. With Saffle as the Wildcat quarterback (nine rushing scores) and running back Nick LaSane (865 yards, five TDs), Lovejoy has balance on the ground as well. Sherman (6-1, 4-0) will be Lovejoy's toughest test thus far, with the winner gaining an inside track to the district title. Quarterback Dru Smith has passed for 2,515 yards, 28 scores and just three interceptions. Receiver Joseph Harvey became the school's all-time leader in touchdown receptions (20) last week, catching three against Royse City. Harvey also has the school's receiving records for catches and yards. Sherman 49, Lovejoy 35

Wichita Falls Rider at Denton Guyer

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 C.H. Collins Athletic Complex, 7 p.m. Friday: Only a junior, Heard (6-2, 180) is already used to the spotlight. All he had to do last season, in his first year as a starter at Guyer (5-2, 4-0 in 5-4A), was replace Oklahoma State signee and coach's son J.W. Walsh — a fixture in the program that had made three straight state semifinals. Heard did so nicely, passing for 2,286 yards and 28 scores. Texas — against its normal policy of offering underclassmen — secured an oral commitment from Heard when it offered a handful of juniors-to-be in August. He hasn't been phenomenal passing this year, with 867 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions, but he has made up for it on the ground, scoring 10 times and averaging nearly 9 yards a carry. The game against Rider (6-1, 4-0) had the makings of a classic. But with a season-ending knee injury to Rider QB J.T. Barrett — committed to Ohio State — this game has lost some luster. It still has important playoff significance, with a district title at stake. Guyer 35, Rider 17

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The Colony at Frisco Wakeland

Frisco ISD Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m. Thursday: Bryan Hammond has rushed for 415 yards and five touchdowns in the last two games for The Colony (4-3, 2-2 in 9-4A). Jackson Lamb has passed for at least 187 yards in each game this season for Wakeland (5-2, 2-2). Lamb has two 400-yard games. Wakeland 35, The Colony 17

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Frisco Centennial vs. Frisco

FC Dallas Stadium, 7 p.m. Friday: If it comes down to the final minute, Centennial (6-1, 3-1 in 9-4A) can rely on Austin Shoemake, who's made field goals in six games this season. Frisco (5-2, 4-0) has already clinched a playoff spot, but can take a stranglehold on the district title with a win. Centennial 24, Frisco 21

Allen at McKinney Boyd

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Ron Poe Stadium, TXA-21 (tape delayed at 10:30 p.m.), KHYI-FM (95.3), KLAK-FM (97.5): In his first two starts for Allen (6-1, 2-0 in 10-5A), sophomore QB Kyler Murray has completed 76 percent of his passes and has rushed for four scores. RB Bryan Driskell, a workhorse for Boyd (5-2, 2-0), is averaging over 8 yards a carry this season. Allen 42, Boyd 28

Garland vs. South Garland

Homer B. Johnson Stadium, KHSE-AM (700): Garland (3-4, 3-0 in 11-5A) continues to impress after struggling to a 0-4 start and is on a 13-game district winning streak. South Garland (6-2, 4-0) will rely on RB Marquel McNac, the area's 5A leader in yards (1,329) and carries (192). South Garland 31, Garland 27

Mesquite Horn at Rockwall-Heath

Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium, KXEZ-FM (92.1): Horn (5-3, 3-1 in 12-5A), fresh off its first-ever win over Longview, can clinch a playoff berth with a win. Even with a loss, Rockwall-Heath (4-3, 1-2) will not be out of the playoff hunt, closing the season with North Mesquite (1-2 in 12-5A) and Tyler Lee (0-3). Horn 49, Rockwall-Heath 31

Lancaster at Red Oak

Billy Goodloe Stadium: In its last 14 quarters, Lancaster (7-0, 4-0 in 15-4A) has outscored its opponents 168-37. Red Oak (4-3, 3-1) accrued 500 yards total offense in a crucial district win last week against Mansfield Summit, decided on a fourth-quarter FG by Jose Flores. Lancaster 38, Red Oak 21

Flower Mound at Hebron

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Hawk Stadium: Only twice has Flower Mound (3-4, 1-1 in 5-5A) had 100-yard receivers this season, both coming in the last two games — Cole McKeel and Brendon Ianiero. Hebron (4-3, 1-1), without its star RB Dezmond Wortham, has averaged 132.5 yards total offense in its last two games. Hebron 17, Flower Mound 14

South Grand Prairie at Midlothian

MISD Multi-Purpose Stadium: South Grand Prairie (3-4, 2-2 in 7-5A) and Midlothian (5-2, 2-2) are two of District 7-5A's four 2-2 teams currently tied for third place. A win would give SGP victories over all three other 2-2 teams — Mansfield, Timberview and Midlothian — and put it in good playoff position. South Grand Prairie 28, Midlothian 24

Irving MacArthur at Hurst L.D. Bell

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Bedford's Pennington Field: Jourdan McNeill rushed 30 times against Irving Nimitz in last week's 34-20 win for MacArthur (4-3, 2-2 in 6-5A), gaining 173 yards and scoring five TDs. L.D. Bell (6-1, 3-1) is coming off a 27-9 loss to rival Euless Trinity, despite holding Trinity to 91 first-half yards. L.D. Bell 42, MacArthur 38

FW Nolan at Plano Prestonwood

Lions Stadium: The last three games between Nolan (5-2, 3-0 in TAPPS 1-I) and Prestonwood (7-1, 3-1) have been decided by seven points or fewer, including a 38-35 Prestonwood win in the 2010 TAPPS 1 title game. Prestonwood was outgained 647-627 in last week's loss to TCA-Addison. Nolan 45, Prestonwood 35