Waxahachie Life vs. Carthage Where: Eagle Stadium, Lindale (North Stadium Drive, Lindale 74771)

When: 7 p.m., Thursday

Records: Waxahachie Life (5-4, 2-3); Carthage (10-0, 5-0)

Last Week’s Results: Waxahachie Life 28, Quinlan Ford 14; Carthage 48, Kilgore 23

Last Year’s Result: Did not play Next Up: Class 4A Division I Region III Area: Winner of Thurday’s game vs. winner of Thursday’s Huff man Hargrave vs. Houston Furr game at a site and time TBD.

Quick Slant: Carthage opened the season ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason poll and ended the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record and still ranked No. 1. The two-time defending 4A Division I state champions have won 36 games in a row. And in 11 seasons under Coach Scott Surratt, the Bulldogs are 47-5 in the playoff s. … Waxahachie Life enters the playoff s averaging 33 points per game, 379.6 yards per game (63.4 passing, 316.2 rushing). … QB Gage Mayfield is the Mustangs’ leading rusher with 1,130 yards on 123 carries (125.6 ypg). He has rushed for more than 100 yards on five occasions and has thrown for 436 yards (32 of 73) with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Following Mayfield’s rushing lead is Sir Michael Veasley (63-725, 7 TDs) and FB Logan Blake (81-462, 7 TDs). The leading receivers are J’Lon Sanders with 14 receptions for 202 yards and four touchdowns, and Tony Evans (11-150, 2 TDs). … Carthage’s defense is allowing just 16.4 ppg, 134.9 rushing yards per game and 112.1 passing yards per contest. The ‘Dawg defense has 25 takeaways (10 fumble recoveries and 15 interceptions). The unit is led by LB Rayvon Ingram with 93 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and an interception, followed by Cole Whitlock (78 tackles, 8 TFL, 1 sack) and DE Quan Brown (61 tackles, 12 TFL, 2 sack, 1 INT). CB Jacorey Ware has five interceptions, and DT DJ Hicks joins Ingram with two interceptions. … Waxahachie Life’s leading tacklers have been MLB Rayshawn Guy, who has 93 tackles and six TFL, DE Kenneth Richardson (56, 7.5 TFL, 5.5 sack, 1 FR), and LB Trenton James (56, 6 TFL, .5 sacks, 1 FR). … The Mustangs’ task will be slowing a potent ‘Dawgs off ense that has featured the passing of QB Gunner Capps, who has thrown for 2,431 yards (170 of 272) and 28 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Mason Courtney and Tucker Smith have split the rushing duties down the middle. Courtney has 647 yards on 87 carries, while Smith has 646 on 112 attempts. Capps’ leading receivers are Kelvontay Dixon (51-769, 10 TDs), Kel Williams (33-568, 3 TDs) and Smith (29-421, 6 TDs).

— Joe Hale