Texas high school football: Five Houston-area games to watch in Week 6

Kinkaid running back Wayne Shanks Jr. will lead the Falcons against rival Episcopal. (Courtesy of David Shutts) The biggest open week of the Texas high school football season is upon us. According to Greg Tepper of Dave Campbell's Texas Football, 38.9% of all UIL teams across the state are off. But there are still plenty of meaningful matchups in the Houston area, including some key rivalry and district games that could have serious implications. Here are five to keep an eye on.

Klein Collins (4-1, 3-0) at Klein Cain (4-0, 2-0)When/where: 7 p.m. Thursday, Klein Memorial Stadium

>What to know: Klein Cain made its debut in the Class 6A state rankings at No. 25 after improving to 4-0 with a 58-7 victory over Magnolia West. The Hurricanes' offense has been rolling, averaging 50 points per game. They have scored at least 42 points in all four outings and 113 points in their first two games of District 15-6A play. Junior quarterback Jace Hanks has completed 65% of his passes and has averaged 9.7 yards per attempt. He has eight touchdown passes and four more on the ground. Senior running back Eyan Johnson is averaging 120.8 rushing yards per game with eight touchdowns and has eclipsed 100 yards in three of four games.

>After dropping its non-district finale against Willis, Klein Collins has rebounded with three consecutive wins to start district play. The Tigers are coming off a 49-0 victory over Klein Forest and are averaging 52.3 points per game against district opponents. Senior quarterback Brylon Jefferson has led the offense, completing 68.1% of his passes for 940 yards with nine touchdowns and just one interception. Klein Collins is also averaging 240.6 rushing yards per game and 7.8 yards per carry as a team.

>Klein Collins leads the series 5-3 since 2018, but the teams have traded wins in the past seven meetings. Klein Collins earned a 49-10 victory last season.

>Poorman's prediction:Klein Collins 38, Klein Cain 31

The Woodlands (3-1, 1-0) at College Park (2-2, 1-0)When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Woodforest Bank Stadium

>What to know:The War of the Woods has serious district title implications as the crosstown rivals meet for the 21st time. After dropping its season opener against Bridgeland, The Woodlands has reeled off three consecutive wins against Klein Oak, Humble and Caney Creek. The Highlanders have been led offensively by junior quarterback Kaden Copelin, who passed for 307 yards and five touchdowns against Caney Creek last week. Through four games this season, Copelin has completed 80.8% of his passes for 988 yards and 16 touchdowns without an interception. He is also averaging 12.6 yards per attempt.

>College Park also has a talented quarterback orchestrating its offense. After losing back-to-back games against Cy-Fair and C.E. King, the Cavaliers responded with a resounding 63-28 road victory over Willis last week. Camden Hughes passed for 202 yards and five touchdowns in that contest, while Clemson commit Julian Cromartie had four catches for 135 yards and three touchdowns. Cromartie, the son of former NFL cornerback Antonio Cromartie, is averaging 24.9 yards per catch this season with six touchdowns.

>The Woodlands leads the series 17-3, but College Park pulled out a 37-31 victory last season. That ended a four-game winning streak for the Highlanders.

>Poorman's prediction: The Woodlands 41, College Park 34

Kinkaid (2-3) at Episcopal (3-2)When/where:7 p.m. Friday, Simmons Field

>What to know: Each of the past eight SPC 4A championships has been won by either Kinkaid or Episcopal, and there's certainly a chance one of them continues that streak this year. Kinkaid has played a tough schedule thus far, so its sub-.500 record is a little misleading when compared with its SPC contemporaries. The Falcons' losses have come against Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Dallas Parish Episcopal and St. Thomas, which have combined for 10 victories already. The biggest threat for Kinkaid is three-star Arizona commit Wayne Shanks Jr., who has been one of the top running backs in the Houston area and piled up 287 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns a few weeks ago against Austin Regents.

>Episcopal has been up and down this season as well, but the Knights are coming off a 49-20 victory over Second Baptist. Junior quarterback Donovan Warren passed for 308 yards and four touchdowns in that contest and has 14 touchdown passes through five games. Tyler Williams, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound junior receiver, has been the go-to target with 22 catches for 424 yards and seven touchdowns this season, including seven catches for 122 yards and two touchdowns against Second Baptist.

>Often playing each other twice per year - once during the regular season and again in the SPC championship game - Episcopal leads the series 19-14 since 2005, according to MaxPreps. Kinkaid, seeking a third consecutive title this season, won both meetings last year, 28-24 and 31-21.

>Poorman's prediction:Episcopal 28, Kinkaid 24

Manvel (4-0, 2-0) at Pearland (5-0, 3-0)When/where: 7 p.m. Friday, Pearland ISD Stadium

>What to know:Manvel is off to a dominant start this season, rolling to a 4-0 record for the first time since 2017. The Mavericks have outscored their opponents 195-7 so far, averaging 48.7 points per game and winning all four matchups by at least 30 points. Manvel senior quarterback Brayden Tuiasosopo - an Army commit and the son of former NFL quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo - has passed for 449 yards, rushed for a team-leading 378 yards and accounted for nine total touchdowns. Four-star junior receiver Carter St. Junious also has been leading the way and has shown his big-play ability, averaging 21.9 yards per catch this season.

>The road gets considerably tougher this week against Pearland, which came in at No. 14 in the Class 6A state rankings, one spot ahead of Manvel. The Oilers have been tough on defense, allowing no more than 14 points against any of their five opponents. Pearland is surrendering just 8.2 points per game and picked up its first shutout of the season last week with a 49-0 victory over Pasadena Memorial. Junior Royce Swan has been one of the most productive backs in the Houston area this season, averaging 158 yards per game with 10 touchdowns.

>Manvel leads the series 5-3 since 2012, but the Oilers have won the past two meetings in dominant fashion. Pearland won 42-18 in 2024 and claimed a 66-14 victory last year.

>Poorman's prediction: Pearland 34, Manvel 27

Yates (3-1, 1-0) Wheatley (2-2, 1-0)When/where: 6 p.m. Saturday, Barnett Stadium

>What to know: After going 11-1 last season, Yates is off to another strong start. The Lions' only loss came in a seven-point game against Texas City, but they've been dominant against their other three opponents. Yates outscored Houston Sterling, Madison and Worthing 99-13 in those games. The Lions have been led by senior three-star athlete Jordan Simmons, who rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns against Worthing last week. He has piled up 730 all-purpose yards, averaging 182.5 per game. Yates is averaging 350.3 yards of total offense per game.

>Wheatley started the season 0-2 against Rice Consolidated and Hitchcock, but the Wildcats have rebounded with wins over Northside and Kashmere, games they won by a combined score of 114-6. Wheatley kept Kashmere off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter last week during its 44-6 victory in the Lockwood Classic. The Wildcats' defense held Northside to just 137 yards and more interceptions (three) than passing completions (two) during a 70-0 win.

>Historically called the Turkey Day Classic, the Pat Patterson/Fred Walker Classic between Third Ward and Fifth Ward has been dominated by Yates in recent years. The Lions hold a 17-4 advantage since 2004 and have won four straight, including a 49-7 victory last season.

>Poorman's prediction: Yates 28, Wheatley 14

Poorman's predictionsLast week: 3-2 (.600)

>✅ Cypress Falls over Cy-Fair ❌ Cypress Ranch over Bridgeland ✅ North Shore over Atascocita ❌ Waller over Fulshear ✅ Klein over Magnolia

>Overall: 15-10 (.600)

SubscribeThere’s more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Texas high school football: Five Houston-area games to watch in Week 6.