Here in the Year of COVID-19, the high school football season is underway.
Crowd sizes are restricted. Fans, coaches and even some players are sporting the now-familiar masks as a precaution against coronavirus. It has taken some adjustments, but schools across the state have adapted, and football continues.
Here are the Week Two matchups in North Texas:
ARGYLE (1-0) at TEXARKANA PLEASANT GROVE (0-0) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
Two of the state's top Class 4A programs get together in one of 2020's most-anticipated matchups. The two schools have combined for seven state championship appearances since 2010. Each has won at least one state title. Texarkana Pleasant Grove has played for a state championship each of the last three years, and is the defending champion in 4AD2. Since Argyle is in 4AD1, it's not possible to see these two face off in the playoffs, so that makes this regular-season showdown even more tasty. Argyle dominated a solid Decatur team in their opener, 56-9. Sr. CJ Rogers took over at quarterback for the graduated Bo Hogeboom and was 11 of 14 for 187 yards and five touchdowns, all in the first half. This is the season opener for TPG.
ALVARADO (0-1) at DECATUR (0-1) - 7 p.m. Friday
Each team looks to break into the win column after falling big to state-ranked opponents last week. Alvarado lost to 4AD2 #10 Graham, 50-14. Decatur dropped its opener to 4AD1 #2 Argyle, 56-9.
LAKE WORTH (1-0) at SANGER (1-0) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
These two schools look to keep the momentum going, after each posting wins last week. Lake Worth survived a 47-43 showdown with McGregor, while Sanger came back to beat Clifton, 25-14. Sanger's Creed Carter returned a late interception 42 yards for a TD, while RB Tallyn Welborn ran for 142 yards and 2 TD.
GRAHAM (1-0) at SPRINGTOWN (0-1) - 7 p.m. Friday
Graham was very impressive in routing Alvarado, 50-14. Springtown dropped its opener to Glen Rose, 27-13. The tough early schedule continues this week for the Porcupines.
LINDALE (1-0) at MIDLOTHIAN HERITAGE (1-0) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
We have to keep reminding ourselves that Midlothian Heritage is a "newer" program that's playing only its fifth varsity season. Last week's win was the 44th in school history. All indications are that the Jags will be a force to be reckoned with again in 2020. Heritage opened the season with a 42-14 win over Wichita Falls Hirschi, as QB Daelin Rader was 18 of 24 for 219 yards and two TD. Rader also ran for two scores. Lindale beat Kaufman last week, 32-27.
ATHENS (1-0) at WAXAHACHIE LIFE (0-1) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
Athens beat Brownsboro in the opener, 42-28. Waxahachie Life was hurt by six turnovers last week, and lost to Godley, 50-27.
BENBROOK (0-1) at FERRIS (0-1) - 7 p.m. Friday
Both teams look to break into the win column. Benbrook fell to China Spring, 42-21. Ferris lost to Maypearl, 20-6.
PILOT POINT (1-0) at FORT WORTH CASTLEBERRY (0-0) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
Pilot Point is the smaller school in this matchup, but will be favored. They defeated Plainview in the opener, 30-20. This is the season opener for Castleberry.
FORT WORTH WESTERN HILLS (0-0) at WEST (0-1) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
This is another instance of a Fort Worth 4A taking on a smaller opponent in 3A West. This is the opener for Western Hills. West fell to Lexington last week, 25-14.
ANNA (0-1) at WICHITA FALLS HIRSCHI (0-1) - 7 p.m. Thursday
Anna's Coyotes dropped a tough one to Hillsboro in their opener, 21-14. RB Davonte Davis ran for 55 yards and a score. WF Hirschi fell to Midlothian Heritage last week, 42-14. RB A'marion Peterson is a standout for Hirschi. He ran for 128 yards and 2 TD last week in the loss.
KAUFMAN (0-1) at TYLER CHAPEL HILL (1-0) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
A late rally fell short for Kaufman last week, as they lost to Lindale, 32-27. Kaufman QB Ladamian Bailey was outstanding in the opener, with more than 300 total yards (164 pass, 139 rush). Bailey accounted for 2 TD. Tyler Chapel Hill can be explosive on offense, as they showed in last week's 65-33 win over Splendora.
SUNNYVALE (0-1) at MELISSA (1-0) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
Sunnyvale will be looking to ratchet up its run defense, after allowing 592 rushing yards to Waco Connally in the opening 46-25 loss. Sunnyvale works several quarterbacks into the offense, but Jake Taylor took the majority of snaps last week. Melissa opened with an impressive 32-20 win over 4AD2 #6 Celina, 32-20.
CELINA (0-1) at PARIS (1-0) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
After falling to Melissa last week, 32-20, Celina faces another tough early opponent as the Bobcats try to avoid an 0-2 start. Paris opened the season with a 34-14 win over Tulsa Metro Christian, which was a 15-0 state champion last year in Oklahoma.
TERRELL (1-0) at KILGORE (0-1) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
Terrell's Tigers opened the season with a 59-0 romp over Wills Point. Terrell RB Terry Jackson ran for 98 yards and 2 TD, while the defense allowed just 161 total yards. Kilgore lost to 4AD2 #1 Carthage last week, 27-7.
BRIDGEPORT (0-1) at BOWIE (1-0) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
Bridgeport's Bulls hope to break into the win column against a smaller opponent this week, after losing the opener to Paradise, 35-13. Bowie was impressive in its 2020 debut, dispatching Nocona, 35-6.
GODLEY (1-0) at MINERAL WELLS (0-1) - 7 p.m. Friday
Godley hung half-a-hundred on Waxahachie Life in last week's 50-27 victory, and they could be primed to light up the scoreboard again this week. Mineral Wells fell to Boyd in Week One, 64-40. Godley RB Kolby Bartlett ran for 201 yards and 2 TD last week, while Sr. QB Caden Burke threw for 255 yards and three scores.
MAYPEARL (1-0) at VENUS (0-1) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
Maypearl will be the smaller school in this matchup. They opened the season with a 20-6 win over Ferris. QB Jaxson Emerton threw for 148 yards and 2 TD. Venus fell to Peaster last week, 34-0.
AUBREY (1-0) at WHITESBORO (0-1) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
After dismantling Burkburnett 55-7 last week, Aubrey will be favored to move to 2-0 against 3A Whitesboro. Aubrey RB Braylon Colgrove ran for 136 yards and 2 TD in the opener. Whitesboro fell to Bells last week, 20-6.
KRUM (1-0) at HILLSBORO (1-0) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
Both schools look to stay unbeaten in this Denton County vs. Hill County matchup. Krum beat Paris North Lamar last week, 49-20. Hillsboro opened with a hard-fought 21-14 win over Anna.
NEVADA COMMUNITY (0-1) at BROCK (1-0) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
After dropping the opener to Pottsboro last week, 42-13, things don't get any easier for Community. They now face the state's top-ranked 3AD1 team in Brock. The Eagles opened with a 55-7 win over Bushland. All-state RB Cash Jones picked up where he left off last year, with 241 rushing yards and 4 TD. Brock, which currently gets the nod over two-time defending state champion Grandview from Dave Campbell's Texas Football, rolled up 659 total yards and averaged 12.2 yards per play last week.
NOCONA (0-1) at PARADISE (1-0) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
Nocona opened with a 35-6 loss to Bowie, while Paradise defeated Bridgeport last week, 35-13.
PONDER (1-0) at WICHITA FALLS CITY VIEW (0-1) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
Ponder beat Valley View in a shootout, 44-34. WF City View looks for its first victory of the season after falling 16-3 to Frederick, Okla.
GRANDVIEW (1-0) at SALADO (1-0) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
For the second straight year, Grandview was able to prevail in a dogfight with Malakoff. This time, the Zebras came out on top 31-24 in overtime. As second-ranked Grandview continues their quest for a third straight 3AD1 state title, 4A Salado should be an interesting test. Salado defeated Troy in their opener, 46-27.
PALMER (1-0) at GRAND SALINE (0-1) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
Palmer looks to remain unbeaten after defeating Kemp last week, 35-7. Grand Saline is still looking for its first points of the season. They were shut out by Cooper, 54-0.
CHILTON (1-0) at ITALY (1-0) - 7:30 p.m. Friday
This early-season matchup features a couple of talented defenses. Chilton beat Rice in their opener, 14-8. Italy pitched a shutout last week in beating Scurry-Rosser, 23-0.