By 5ATexasFootball.com August 13, 2010

Top 5 – Texas vs. Out of State:

1. Abilene vs Tampa Plant (FL), September 16th

Plant High School
Mascot: Panthers
Location: Tampa, Florida
2010 Preseason: #1 (RivalsHigh), #2 (PrepNation.com), #2 (ESPNRise)
2009 5A State Champions (won 4A state championship in ’08)
Arguably the top 2011 recruit in the nation, RB James Wilder Jr.

2. Euless Trinity vs. Shiloh Christian (AR), September 6th

Shiloh Christian High School
Mascot: Saints
Location: Shiloh, Arkansas
2010 Preseason: #22 (RivalsHigh), #25 (ESPNRise), #39 (PrepNation.com)
2009 4A State Champions, including win over Evangel Christian (LA)
Returns 16 starters (8 off, 8 def)

3. Dallas Skyline vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (FL), September 6th

St. Thomas Aquinas High School
Mascot: Raiders
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2010 Preseason: #7 (PrepNation.com), #23 (ESPNRise), #36 (RivalsHigh)
5 time State Champions (’92, ’97, ’99, ’07, ’08)
D1 athletes all over the field…similar to Skyline.

4. Abilene vs. Franklinton (LA), September 4th

Franklinton High School
Mascot: Demons
Location: Franklinton, Louisiana
2009 4A State Finalists
2010 Preseason: #44 (RivalsHigh), #59 (PrepNation.com)

5. DeSoto vs. Miramar (FL), September 11th

Miramar High School
Mascot: Patriots
Location: Miramar, Florida
2009 6A State Champions

Top 5 – Non-District:
#1 Euless Trinity @ #12 Tyler Lee (Week 0) - Defenses usually rule early in the season and these are two of the best. Expect this to be a tough, hard-fought game. Can REL carry over the momentum from the second half of last season?

#4 Austin Westlake @ Lake Travis (4A) (Week 0) – Lake Travis had it’s way with the Chaps in the opening game of last season. Westlake went on to barely miss out on a 5A D1 state championship while Lake Travis won the 4A D1 state championship.

#6 Katy @ #19 North Shore (Week 0) – Katy returns to GPISD where they came away with a 10-6 loss in the opener of ’08. Last season, the Tigers won 9-7 at home. The scorelines tell it all, a defensive battle between two heavyweights is expected once again.

#3 RR Stony Point @ #7 DeSoto (Week 3) – This will be a statement game early for both teams. The offensive talent and experience on display in this one is second to none. Stony Point holds the edge defensively.

#2 Abilene @ #11 Longview (Week 4) - This is one heck of a matchup at the end of an already tough non-district schedule for both. As far as quality, it’s similar to a state game following a tough playoff run and will demonstrate exactly what both are made of.

Top 5 – District:
#9 Lufkin @ #5 The Woodlands (Week 6) – Lufkin is 5-1 against the Highlanders in the last six seasons. The Woodlands won last season’s contest, 31-21. Both teams look to be very evenly matched heading into the season and it should come down to the 4th quarter once again.

#24 SA Reagan @ SA Madison (Week - This could be the game that determines if Reagan three-peats as champs in one of the most competitive districts in the state. Madison has had the better of the series, but Reagan is coming on strong looking for their 3rd straight win over the Mavs.

Abilene Cooper @ #2 Abilene (Week 9) – Abilene has won six straight against Cooper including last season’s 49-37 win. However, Cooper brings a talented and experienced team back to 5A and rivalry games can bring about the unexpected.

#11 Longview @ #7 DeSoto (Week 10) – This game is likely to determine the champion of what is arguably the state’s toughest district. Both teams will be battle tested by this point of the season, and the winner will gain extra momentum for a deep playoff run.

#6 Katy @ #16 Cinco Ranch (Week 10) – Although the Tigers have won 9 of 10 match-ups in the KISD rivalry, the last two games were split and came down to late game dramatics. In ’08, Cinco beat Katy to win their first district title 27-21 in overtime. Last season, Cinco missed two chances at a last second field goal in a 21-20 Katy win.