Friday night marked the opening round of the Texas high school football playoffs, and two of the state’s top programs continued their perfect runs. Allen defeated Hebron 73‑0, and a night later North Crowley shut out Lake Belton 55‑0. Both results gave Barber Ball Banter hosts Matt Steigerwald and Louis Darrouzet II plenty to discuss about their first‑round picks.
First‑Round Results and Analyst Records
Steigerwald had backed Duncanville, which beat Midway 63‑42 on November 13, while Darrouzet had selected the upset‑prone Midway. Duncanville’s win leaves Steigerwald at 6‑0 across the six first‑round games he has tracked, a 100 % success rate. Darrouzet sits at 5‑1, an 83.3 % accuracy for the same sample.
Rockwall’s 66‑48 victory over Wylie does not factor into the comparison because the episode’s transcript does not clearly indicate each host’s final selection for that game. The totals therefore reflect only the six matchups explicitly covered in the discussion.
Unbeaten Teams Remain in Contention
Steigerwald praised North Crowley’s defense as “unreal,” calling the Panthers “legit.” The Panthers improved to 11‑0 with the playoff shutout, matching Allen’s 11‑0 record after its opening win. Both schools remain unbeaten and are positioned as strong contenders for their respective state titles.
Allen competes in Class 6A Division I, while North Crowley plays in the Division II bracket, meaning the two programs cannot meet this season. Each division will crown its own champion.
Additional Context from the Show
Outside the six‑game tracker, Steigerwald also highlighted Cedar Park’s unbeaten regular season. However, Cedar Park’s postseason run ended with a 44‑41 loss to Waller on November 13, leaving the Timberwolves at 10‑1 and ending any chance of a championship matchup with North Crowley. Because Cedar Park’s game was not part of the six‑game comparison, it does not affect either host’s record.
Upcoming Matchups
The next round presents new challenges for the surviving teams. Allen will face Euless Trinity, North Crowley meets North Forney, and Duncanville takes on Rockwall. All three contests will further test the accuracy of the analysts’ early predictions.
Barber Ball Banter’s Role in the Community
Barber Ball Banter continues to provide a local platform for high‑school sports analysis, offering fans insight into playoff expectations and fostering community conversation around Texas football. The show’s focus on detailed game breakdowns and transparent tracking of picks helps families and fans stay informed about the progress of their favorite teams.
As the playoffs advance, the hosts will keep updating their records, and local supporters can follow the action through school district communications and regional sports coverage.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
