It’s the Oct. 30 edition of Tepper’s Take, and they’re doing the monster mash.

FIRST WORD

It’s the scariest time of year, and not because of Halloween.

No, now is the time when the men are proverbially separated from the boys. It’s crunch time in high school football, and with just weeks remaining in the regular season, seasons and dreams are on the line.

Told you it was scary.

But the terrifying situations vary from team to team, stadium to stadium, and even player to player. All of them, though, could be cause for fans to scream.

For a number of area teams, this weekend presents an opportunity – and perhaps a final one – to claim a coveted spot in the postseason.

Hebron could use a win over Southlake Carroll to vault into the playoffs. Irving MacArthur and Irving face difficult games necessary to their postseason hopes against South Grand Prairie and Duncanville, respectively. Carrollton Creekview’s game against Lake Highlands and Carrollton Ranchview’s game against Fort Worth Castleberry are perhaps the most critical of the season.

Other teams are looking to solidify their already strong playoff chances this weekend.

The winner of the Mound Showdown between Flower Mound and Marcus will be in the driver’s seat for a spot in the postseason. The same goes to the newest rivalry in Frisco, when Liberty takes on Wakeland for a stranglehold on new life in the playoffs. And Coppell can all but lock up a playoff spot with a win against Lewisville.

But it’s not just the games themselves that are scary. Many of the players themselves are going to be giving opposing players and coaches nightmares throughout the weekend.

Hebron will be faced with the daunting task of slowing down Southlake Carroll running back Tommy Avers, a truly frightening assignment. Irving will have to slay Duncanville’s two-headed monster at wide receiver, Darrin Brown and Jalen Parker.  And it’s hard to envy Flower Mound’s job of slowing down Marcus running back Stephen Hopkins.

The costumes will be spooky, and the dark night will cause some fear this weekend.

But the true terrors could be under the lights on the football field.

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Much, much more to get you ready for the weekend after the jump.

GAMES I’D TIVO IF THEY WERE ON

Plano East at Allen

7:30 p.m. Friday at Eagle Stadium

Don’t you just love this time of year? No, not for the matchups between winless teams, but for games like this. The winner clinches at least a share of the District 8-5A title, and while both teams are locked into playoff spots, this one means much, much more. It’s a nice battle of quarterbacks (Allen’s Matt Brown, Plano East’s Ryan Foster), but I’m more interested in the battle of the coaches. Allen’s Tom Westerberg and Plano East’s Johnny Ringo are two of the savviest coaches around, and will no doubt try to outscheme each other. Could be a classic, but I’m expecting Allen to have too much firepower.

Give me: Allen 49, Plano East 31.

Frisco Wakeland vs. Frisco Liberty

7:30 p.m. Friday at PizzaHutPark

The newest rivalry in Frisco could also be the most talented this year. The Wakeland Wolverines have been one of the area’s surprise teams behind quarterback David Robason, but Liberty has matched them step for step in district with running back Jay Ajayi leading the way. But this is more than a rivalry game tonight on FC Dallas’ turf: there are significant playoff implications. Wakeland can clinch a spot in the postseason with a win, and Liberty can get extremely close to one with a win. The loser could be in serious trouble, with McKinney lurking right on their tail.

Give me: Frisco Wakeland 28, Frisco Liberty 24.

Flower Mound vs. Flower Mound Marcus

8 p.m. Friday at UNT’s Fouts Field

This is the first time in a long time that the Mound Showdown has been this important. Flower Mound quarterback Paul Millard has been lights out this season, while Marcus running back Stephen Hopkins is going to Michigan for a reason. Flower Mound can clinch a playoff spot with a win, and Marcus can get extremely close to one with a victory. So…yeah, emotions will be high.

Give me: Flower Mound Marcus 24, Flower Mound 23.

MEAST WATCH

This week, the Meast Watch falls upon Keller running back Kelo Webster. Consider this: Webster, the team’s leading rusher, has 18 touchdowns on the ground and another two receiving scores. And the dude will not even sniff 1,000 yards (unless he blows up in the last two games). That’s effective running, and effective playcalling. Sometimes stats are overrated, and this is one of those times. Score a couple of touchdowns tonight, Keller Battering Ram, and we’ll elevate you to the level of Meast.

SONG TO GET YOU FIRED UP FOR THE WEEKEND

“Noah’s Arkestra” by Mountains in the Sky. Mountains in the Sky is basically one dude: John Lee from Australia. The psychedelic experimental pop artist hit it big with this song when the NBA decided to use it in its promos for the 2006 playoffs. Sometimes, you don’t need words to get your blood pumping.

PRE-GAME MEAL OF THE WEEK

I highly recommend stopping by Ole’s Tex Mex in Coppell, located at 600 E. Sandy Lake Road. It’s sort of a hole in the wall, and it takes some effort to find, but it’s worth it. Everything is made very fresh, the service is terrific, and the queso is out of this world. Do yourself a favor.

BYE WEEK DISTRACTION

No game this weekend, or your team already out of the race? Stay home and watch my co-workers make fools of themselves for the sake of your entertainment. Lewisville/Flower Mound editor Ruth Haesemeyer, Frisco editor Emily Goldstein and reporter Lindsey Bever recently went to a Thriller dance class, and the results were…um…well, you should just watch it. Thank me later.

RANDOM, OFF-TOPIC THOUGHT

I’m trying all sorts of different apples these days, and while I can’t definitively say which are the best, I can definitely say which are the worst: red delicious. The old garde of apples has absolutely disappointed me for the last time. Mushy and nearly tasteless, it’s not even worth picking up anymore. Instead, reach for a honeycrisp, a pink lady, a fuji or a Jazz apple. Far superior.

YELL AT ME

E-mail me at gtepper@neighborsgo.com.

Twitter me @tepper

Facebook me at facebook.com/gregtepper.

Call me at 972-436-5551 ext. 3006.

FINAL WORD

For the third consecutive year, I have to urge you: please drive slowly if you are going to be out on Halloween. There are tons of little kids hopped up on sugar and excitement; let’s keep it fun for them by keeping them safe.

See you next week!