Lake Highlands football will meet South Grand Prairie in the first round of the playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday at the Gopher-Warrior Bowl in Grand Prairie.
Lake Highlands football celebrates after its 27-0 win versus South Grand Prairie in the first round of the 2024 playoffs at Wildcat-Ram Stadium. Courtesy of Mike Duhon Photography.
Prior to Friday’s game, the Wildcats (8-2, 6-1 District 7-6A) and the Warriors have faced off in the bi-district round for five consecutive years, dating back to 2020. In these matchups, Lake Highlands leads the series 3-2, including a 27-0 shutout last season.
South Grand Prairie’s 32 returning seniors from last year’s team will certainly remember that game and look to get their revenge.
The Warriors have been on a mission this season, losing only in their season finale against Arlington Bowie en route to an 8-1 season. That record is the school’s best since 2006, when they finished 10-2 and made it to the second round of the playoffs.
“They’ve played a really good schedule. They score a lot of points. (They have a) really good linebacking core (with) athleticism in the secondary,” Wildcat coach Cory Campbell said on the Boneyard Podcast on Monday. “And then obviously, they’re special at the skill positions on offense.”
Running back and San Diego State commit Josiah Lucas has been at the forefront of South Grand Prairie’s offense this year. On the season, Lucas ranks sixth in points for Dallas-area players with 126. He has also amassed over 1,000 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns.
The success of the running game has opened up the field for the Warriors’ receivers. Cade Wallace, who is committed to continuing his football career at Stephen F. Austin, has recorded 28 receptions for 586 yards and seven touchdowns. Wallace has also had two carries this year, good for 72 yards and another score.
Lined up opposite Wallace is Cash Clark. Clark is the team’s leading pass-catcher with 32 receptions on the season for 498 yards and six touchdowns. He has also been involved in the ground game, receiving 18 carries for 122 yards in the regular season.
Those three weapons, combined with quarterback Daylon Brooks, who has pledged to play baseball at the University of Texas at Arlington, have formed a formidable offense. South Grand Prairie has averaged 388 yards and 48 points per game.
The defense isn’t to be trifled with, either. The Warriors have given up an average of 265.22 yards per game, the 14th least of Dallas-area high schools.
Spearheading that defense is outside linebacker Jedrick Russell. Russell recently picked up an offer from Missouri State to play at the next level.
They will be in for a challenge, though, as Lake Highlands boasts one of the most potent offenses in Dallas. The Wildcats’ average of 444.8 yards per game ranks sixth in the area, led by quarterback Chuck Smith.
Smith ranks fifth of Dallas-area quarterbacks in passing yards with 2,569 and his 29 passing touchdowns are tied for first.
Lake Highlands’ top point-scorer with 96 this season, and one of Smith’s favorite targets, is Franklon Evans. Evans has accumulated 901 total yards this season and leads the team with 16 touchdowns.
“They’re a really good team as well, with only one loss on the season,” Evans said. “I know they got a good defense, so it’s gonna be a great game.”
The passing game for Lake Highlands is supported by running back and SMU commit Christian Rhodes, whose gravity makes life easier for the Wildcat offense. Rhodes has added 1,197 yards and 10 scores on the year.
Ranked No. 20 out of Dallas-area teams by SportsDay, Lake Highlands will need to come correct if the Wildcats want to steal a victory on the road against No. 17 South Grand Prairie.
“We’ve just been working hard at practice, adding new plays. I see our defense going hard every day at practice,” Evans said. “Also, not walking on the field — running to our spot, being quick.”
“We gotta take them seriously. Just because we shut them out last year doesn’t mean we can’t shut them out this year.”
The game kicks off at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Gopher-Warrior Bowl.
