A handful of major contenders to be featured over the final two weeks of the regular season
DALLAS — The remainder of the 2024 regular season slate on Friday Night Football has been set, as we approach the final two weeks of the regular season, and it features a bonus game on the docket.
Friday Night Football on WFAA+ has featured some of the premiere games across North Texas over the course of the 2024 season, including the heavily anticipated clashes between Duncanville and Desoto, and Denton Ryan and Aledo. Now the final three broadcasts of the regular season are set.
November 1st — Prosper Walnut Grove at Melissa
Walnut Grove is a brand new program, playing in their first year as a playoff-eligible program, and they are very likely destined for the postseason right out of the gates, racing out to a 7-1 start to the year behind freshman star quarterback Hayes Hackney and running back Cam Newton (yes, that really is his name). Walnut Grove upset state-ranked Lovejoy this past Friday night. Now they look to sew up a district title with a win on November 1st against Melissa. But the Cardinals, a perennial power in 5A-Division II, will stand in their way. Melissa is led by dual-threat QB Noah Schuback, who has combined for 28 touchdowns on the year, and has accounted for over 2,000 total yards of offense. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m., this coming Friday night on WFAA+
November 7th — Rowlett at Sachse
A rivalry matchup to round out both team’s regular seasons is our bonus broadcast on Thursday night, November 7th. This will mark the 20th meeting between the programs since 2024, and Rowlett holds a 10-9 edge in those last 19 meetings. Sachse will look to pull even in that recent history, behind superstar wide receiver Kaliq Lockett. Lockett is a five-star recruit committed to Texas, after receiving 31 scholarship offers. He’s rated the #2 wide receiver in the country in the senior class.
Rowlett is fighting for the last playoff spot in the district and will be scrapping for wins these last two weeks of the season. Running back Kelin Cottrell leads the way for the Eagles, with nearly 600 yards of total offense on the year.
Sachse also features another wide receiver by the name of Hek’ma Harrison, Jr. — the son of Friday Night Football color commentator Hek’ma Harrison, Sr., which will make this night and this broadcast a little extra special.
November 8th — Highland Park at Midlothian
Depending on what happens in Week 10, this may be an outright district championship game, between two of the top teams in 5A-Division I in North Texas. Highland Park has been state-ranked all year long and is led by quarterback Buck Randall. Randall has 21 touchdown passes on the year and has spread the wealth to his receiving corps, with nine different players catching a touchdown pass this season. Midlothian is led by their quarterback Beau Wendel, but in a very different way. Wendel leads a Panthers offense that averages more than 260 rushing yards per game and has scored 30 of their 37 offensive touchdowns on the ground this season.
We also plan to bring you a number of playoff games on Friday Night Football. Those games, dates, and times will be announced as available, once the playoffs begin.