The usual suspects were at it again in the USSF Development Academy U16 Texas Division.

FC Dallas and Texas SC DTH got the results they wanted over the weekend, but the competition is hot on their heels as the playoffs approach.

Domination in Dallas: FC Dallas didn’t look sharp out of the gate on Saturday against Classics Elite, but pulled away in the second half to maintain their spot at the top of the Texas Division.

Flavio Guzman was outstanding in the central midfield, connecting all phases of the Dallas attack and leading the way to a 4-goal onslaught in the second half.

Though he didn’t score, Guzman threaded the needle on a through ball to Samuel Coleman for a goal to start the second half. David Robledo and Jairo Villalta followed suit by playing pretty balls to Jonathan Top and Coleman again, respectively, for goals to finish Dallas’ dominant performance.

FC Dallas was boosted by strong performances from youngsters Francisco Rodriguez, Erick Chapa, Mark Hernandez, Jason Machado in the second half. Each is playing a few years up, and will provide Dallas with an outstanding talent base for years to come.

In the present, though, FC Dallas is in good position. They’ve earned a top playoff spot and have a great chance to advance when the playoffs roll around on June 25.  

Patience necessary: Texas SC (Dallas Texans Houston) faced off against Texas Rush on Sunday in a game that might have allowed Texas SC to clinch a playoff berth.

Texas SC took off to an early 2-0 advantage, but Rush scratched and clawed their way back to earn a 2-2 draw and prevent Texas SC from clinching.

Texas SC broke the game open after a scoreless half when central midfielders Christian Duarte and Tony Rocha combined to score a beauty early in the second.

Rocha made an overlapping run around Duarte, who had drawn several Rush defenders toward him, then received a pinpoint lob from Duarte and used one touch to smash the ball into the side-netting.

Leobardo Vazquez finally came through after repeatedly knocking on the door with chances in the first half. He scored on a penalty after a nice dash into the box in the 65th minute.

The Rush countered almost immediately, though, when Omar Acosta dribbled the whole Texas SC defense and scored off the ensuing kickoff, and the Rush equalized on a corner kick near the end of the game.

Nathan Ariay played well on the wing and defenders Michael King and Martin Vasquez were solid, but not enough for Texas SC to clinch a playoff spot.

They’ll get another chance next week.

Click here for our review of the South conference.