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It's always good to have a backup plan. It's even better to have a good backup quarterback.

Several area teams are thriving in the playoffs with backups at the controls. It used to be that if the starting quarterback got injured, folks would hold their breath when the backup went in.

But teams like Allen, Lake Highlands and Skyline advanced to the third round of the playoffs last week with backup quarterbacks taking significant snaps. Garland, also in the third round, has been playing with a "backup" since midseason.

Each case has its unique set of circumstances, but in general backup quarterbacks seem better prepared to succeed these days.

Maybe coaches are getting wiser about letting backups take more snaps in practice. Maybe the spread offense is more conducive to having interchangeable quarterbacks, sort of a plug-and-play system.

Of course, it helps to have a great athlete as a backup. Garland switched to the spread this season and thrived with Jared Barnett's passing. When Barnett went down with a shoulder injury, Adrian Phillips moved from receiver, and now defenses have to worry about the quarterback being a breakaway running threat, too.

A similar situation happened early in the 2006 season when Cedar Hill's designated starter, Cortney Roberson, couldn't go. Backup William Cole took over, and he turned in one of the greatest seasons in Texas high school history on his way to a state title.

Most teams don't have a William Cole in reserve, but they do have players who can do the job. Last week, Skyline starter Chris Frazier's shoulder flared up in the second half against DeSoto.

Backup Javia Hall, who has starting experience, tossed three touchdown passes in the third quarter on the way to a 51-26 win.

"It's just like having a good vice president," Skyline coach Reginald Samples said. "He's one play away from the top spot."

Samples said Frazier, who should play this week against Houston Cypress Woods, is the starter because he gives Skyline more of a running threat from the position. But he has lots of confidence in Hall, whose practice snaps increased after Frazier got dinged in the first round against Rowlett.

"I'm seeing a lot of people's quarterbacks are getting injured and backups are having to come in," Samples said. "We're just blessed. I don't know if we would have gotten out of the DeSoto game without who we had as a backup."

Lake Highlands got out of last week's game with Tyler John Tyler with starter Ricky Zorn unable to pass because of a cast on his wrist. Zorn played quarterback, running back and receiver but let backup Travis Crawford handle the passing in a 28-27 win.

Crawford, also the starting strong safety, saw action at quarterback during the regular season when Lake Highlands had a comfortable lead. Even those limited snaps are paying off now.

"We're excited about Travis Crawford," Lake Highlands coach Scott Smith said. "Travis has done it every day in practice. The confidence factor has been built into him."

Allen is no doubt confident in backup quarterback Tucker Carter, who finished last week's win over Coppell after starter Matt Brown went out.

Allen coach Tom Westerberg isn't saying whether Brown will play today against Odessa Permian, but based on other backups' recent success, it's no reason to panic.