Don’t miss a moment of the CIF sectional championships.
The CIF postseason action has tipped off across the state, featuring some of the best teams in the country —both boys and girls—that have rosters filled with top recruits and the stars of tomorrow.
Sectional championship games are slated for this weekend before the state title runs begin, so there are plenty of hardcourt matchups to watch live.
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6A Texas high school football features a massive Super 25 matchup in the semifinal this Saturday!
The Pfield in Pflugerville is back in the spotlight this Saturday as No. 7 North Shore (Houston, Texas) lines up against No. 15 Westlake (Austin, Texas) in a Super 25 showdown.
The 6A-Divison I state semifinal matchup features two undefeated teams from programs that need little introduction to the national stage, a direct result of Texas high school football supremacy — North Shore has five state titles. Westlake has four.
Which teams gets the chance to add another next week?
Westlake enters the game ranked No. 15 in the Super 25 with a defense that has allowed 136 points allowed in 14 games. And while the offense has averaged over 45 points this season—led by sophomore QB Rees Wise and senior RB Jack Kayser—how the Chaparrals create stops on the other side of the ball will be a crucial factor.
And what tough task that will be…
No. 7 North Shore’s 2023 season has been one of the most dominating among the best of the best, with the Mustangs hanging in the top 10 of the Super 25 since September.
Quarterback Kaleb Bailey’s dual-threat ability has created a ton of problems for defensive coordinators—while becoming one of the more uplifting stories this season, a positive turn from his injury during the middle of last year.
His top target out wide is senior Christopher Barnes, who, along with Air Force commit Terrance Guillory, has been effective at boosting a running game—that doesn’t really need the help—featuring D’Andre Hardeman Jr. and Chris Thomas in the backfield.
To top it off—and arguably, a massive reason for the 46 averaged each game—is an offensive line that has steadily improved and impressed this season.
From the other side of the ball, one name headlines the defense: 5-star CB Devin Sanchez. The class of 2024 standout has been electric this year, disrupting offenses while making the surrounding 10 a better unit.
Will it be enough to repeat last year’s 49-34 win over the Chaps?
In the land of 6A Texas football, anything can happen after kickoff.
High school football fans around the nation who are looking to watch the must-see matchup can live stream the game on the NFHS Network.
Westlake Chaparrals quarterback Rees Wise (9) quarterback Paxton Land (7) and tackle Tyler Knape (74) celebrate their 27-14 win against the Dripping Springs Tigers at the District 26-6A football game on Friday, October 13, 2023, at Westlake Chaparral Stadium — West Lake Hills, TX.
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A massive amount of Super 25 implications in this week’s CIF Open Division State championship.
California high school football supremacy comes down to a massive Super 25 matchup between No. 3 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and No. 17 Serra (San Mateo) on Saturday.
The CIF State Open Division championship game at Saddleback College (Mission Viejo, Calif.) will be a final chance for both teams to showcase their top-tier talent synonymous with California high school football while significantly impacting the final Super 25 in the weeks ahead.
For Mater Dei, it’s a chance to close out the year on top in the Golden State, a playoff finale that included a big-time win over No. 9 St. John Bosco in the CIF-SS championship.
Stanford commit Elijah Brown leads the offensive attack at QB, with key talents like 4-star running back Jordon Davison and two-way threat Marcus Harris helping the Monarchs put up 42 points on average in 2023.
The defense under first-year head coach Frank McManus has continued to provide a nearly impossible scenario for offensive coordinators, a staked group from the line to the secondary that has only surrendered an average of just over 10 points per game.
In short, keeping the Monarchs from winning state title No. 4 will be a tall task.
But don’t count out/overlook/dismiss Serra.
The Padres haven been rolling in 2023, including a big win over perennial power De La Salle (Concord, Calf.).
Oklahoma State commit Maealiuaki Smith is an impressive pro-style QB who has the arm talent (and at 6-4, the height) to handle the torment from the other side of the line. Three-star tight end Cole Harrison provides options within the Padres’ offense, while sophomore running back Nano Latu can add elements of a balanced attack.
However, for Serra to complete the upset and secure state title No. 2, it’ll take an outstanding performance by the defense, with some of that focus on taking machine and San Jose State commit Jabari Mann.
Can the Padres flip the script on the 2021 meeting that ended in a 44-7 Monarchs win?
High school football fans around the nation who are looking to watch the Super 25 matchup can live stream the game on the NFHS Network.
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Texas high school football kicks off with a major 6A matchup on Saturday.
It’s a big-time Super 25 matchup this Saturday in Texas, as No. 5 DeSoto takes on No. 25 Southlake Carroll in the 6A-Division II semifinals.
The Eagles have to continued to impress in 2023, taking the massive win over No. 11 Duncanville (then ranked No. 3) in the regular season and building on that momentum all season—which has escalated in the playoffs.
Like we noted last week, the offense continues to shine, lighting up the scoreboard to the tune of nearly 53 points per game. Sam Houston State commit D.J. Bailey leads the attack under center, with Marvin Duffey and 4-star running back Deondrae Riden handling the running game, while 4-star SMU commit Daylon Singleton (class of 2025) is a focus outside.
Up front, 6-foot-7 Byron Washington and 6-foot-4 Ronnell McLain solidify an offensive line that is truly special — and effective.
On the other sideline, Southlake Carroll is rolling, and looking to move toward adding state title No. 9 to the mantle.
Can the Dragons stop the soaring Eagles?
Back like 2011? Southlake Carroll quarterback Kenny Hill (left) and linebacker Dillon Rake celebrate with the semifinal trophy after beating Dallas Skyline in the UIL 5A Division 1 semifinal football game at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. (Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports)
In short, especially when looking at recent numbers — 100 percent, yes.
Southlake Carroll’s lone loss on the season came at the hands of Bryon Nelson in late October, which knocked the team out of the Super 25. But the Dragons didn’t let that bump in the 2023 road derail the mission.
Instead, they rattled off five wins to the tune of 283 points scored and 35 points allowed, which included a 56-7 revenge win against Byron Nelson last week.
Heading into the semifinals, Southlake Carroll is back in the Super 25, with an offense that can create a ton of problems on the ground and through the air.
Sophomore running back Davis Penn has been solid in the backfield, while fellow classmate Riley Wormley has also been tough on the run. Georgia Tech committ Graham Knowles leads the attack from under center, and his 13-of-16 passing clinic last week to receivers like Clayton Wayland should create confidence heading into this Long Star State headliner.
Will it be enough?
High school football fans around the nation who are looking to watch the Texas high school football playoff matchup can live stream the game on the NFHS Network.
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Texas high school football kicks off with a major 6A matchup on Friday.
It’s a Texas District 11-6A, Region II headliner this Friday as No. 5 DeSoto takes on cross-town rival Cedar Hill.
The Eagles have been rolling in 2023, with a big win against No. 13 Duncanville (then ranked No. 3) in the regular season and impressive finishes in the playoffs so far against Wylie East and Willis.
The offense continues to shine, lighting up the scoreboard to the tune of nearly 52 points per game. Quarterback and Sam Houston State commit D.J. Bailey leads the attack, with Marvin Duffey and 4-star running back Deondrae Riden handling the running game while 4-star SMU commit Daylon Singleton (class of 2025) is a focus outside.
However, one of the most significant factors for DeSoto is an impressive offensive line, with 6-foot-7 Byron Washington and 6-foot-4 Ronnell McLain at the forefront.
From the other sideline, Cedar Hill looks to play spoiler while avenging the 35-13 loss during the regular season. That game, though marred by penalties, was closer than the final score makes it seem.
The Longhorns ran into a tough stretch in September—which can often be the case in the competitive Texas HS football landscape—where the team lost three straight games: Southlake Carroll, Waxahachie and Duncanville.
But the team has bounced back since then and heads into this game at 8-5.
Offensively, things are clicking, having put up 62, 59 and 28 points in the last three weeks. Quarterback Anthony Edwards has been a great story in 2023, bouncing back from surgery for compartment syndrome to lead the Longhorns on this playoff run, with plenty of talented weapons at his disposal — Dayshun Reese, Kymeion Turner, Cededrick Castleberry and two-way talent Zhaiylen Scott, to name a few.
Like the last meeting, though, expect the defense to be a critical factor.
Will it be enough to flip the script on the Eagles’ 2023 run?
High school football fans around the nation who are looking to watch the Texas high school football playoff matchup can live stream the game on the NFHS Network.
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6A Texas high school football features an All-Austin semifinal this Saturday!
Austin American-Statesman writer Rick Cantu summed up the massive District 26-6A rematch that awaits this Saturday the best:
Westlake and Lake Travis have combined for 10 state football championships. It’s a game that promotes itself.
Texas high school football, in general, doesn’t require any anticipatory filler or theatrics, and this Austin-area battle multiplies that sentiment by a thousand.
The regional semifinal at the Pfield in Pflugerville is a rematch of the regular season game that became one of the more thrilling contests on the 2023 schedule.
Both teams entered that game undefeated, with Westlake holding the No. 15 spot in the Super 25 rankings. The outcome—or more to the point: Lake Travis playing spoiler—was heavily dependent on the defensive side of the ball.
Both teams met that expectation (and then some) as the Chaparrals edged out the Cavaliers 20-14, extending the Westlake program’s massive regular-season winning streak to 36 games.
That was then. This is now.
Each team has been on an impressive run, with the defenses standing out as two of the best.
Westlake enters the semifinal now ranked No. 14 in the Super 25 with a defense that has allowed 122 points allowed in 13 games. And the offense has continued to progress, with sophomore QB Rees Wise and senior RB Jack Kayser putting up the most impressive stats during the playoff run.
On the other sideline, Lake Travis has nearly matched the Chaps’ top-tier defensive prowess by allowing 165 points in 13 games. From the offensive side of the ball, the team has a solid offensive line in front of class of 2024 standout Nico Hamilton, who has put on a rushing clinic lately.
Which team moves on to possibly notch state football title No. 11?
In the land of 6A Texas football, anything can happen after kickoff.
High school football fans around the nation who are looking to watch the must-see matchup can live stream the game on the NFHS Network.
Westlake Chaparrals quarterback Rees Wise (9) quarterback Paxton Land (7) and tackle Tyler Knape (74) celebrate their 27-14 win against the Dripping Springs Tigers at the District 26-6A football game on Friday, October 13, 2023, at Westlake Chaparral Stadium — West Lake Hills, TX.
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A massive amount of Super 25 implications in this week’s CIF-SS championship.
California high school football heads into the Thanksgiving weekend with an all-time Super 25 matchup headlining the Southern Section championship game.
St. John John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) vs. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.).
No. 3 vs. No. 5.
Los Angeles Coliseum.
The track record of both teams needs little—if any—rehashing among high school football circles. Each has finished at the top of the Super 25 rankings multiple times in past years, with Mater Dei tied holding rank alongside powerhouse De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) for the most in history (5).
Last year’s CIF-SS championship was an instant classic, one that swayed the voting tide (ever so slightly) toward St. John Bosco, which held off the Monarchs for a 24-22 win at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The revenge game turned the tables from the October matchup that ended 17-7 in favor of the boys from Santa Ana.
The script has been flipped in 2023, though. In October, the Braves shocked the then-No. 1 Mater Dei squad 28-0, a lopsided win that had the football world buzzing.
Bosco soared in the rankings while removing Mater Dei from its No. 1 spot.
So, is it revenge time for the Monarchs on Friday night, a massive statement win for new head coach Frank McManus?
Or can the Braves make it a clean sweep on the Trinity League in 2023?
Without question, the outcome will certainly impact next week’s Super 25.
High school football fans around the nation who are looking to watch the Super 25 matchup can live stream the game on the NFHS Network.
The collaboration with over 40 high school state athletic/activities associations and PlayOn! Sports allows fans to live-stream high school sports on any device, from wherever they are: 27 different regular season and postseason sports, plus other high school activities that highlight the accomplishments of student-athletes, student-broadcasters, and high schools.
Note: We occasionally recommend interesting products, services, and gaming opportunities. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY HSS operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
A massive amount of Super 25 implications in this week’s CIF-SS semifinals.
California high school football heads into more playoff action this Friday, with a massive double feature of Super 25 matchups headlining the Southern Section semifinals.
No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) takes on No. 18 Centennial (Corona, Calif.), while No. 6 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) will line up against No. 25 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.).
For the boys from Bellflower and Corona, it will be the first meeting since 2019, which ended in a 52-14 Bosco win.
A win in 2023 for St. John Bosco would open up the opportunity for the team to compete for its second-straight CIF-SS championship while also making a solid case for Super 25 supremacy.
Meanwhile, a win for Centennial would send the team to the Los Angeles Coliseum next week to play for the program’s 11th CIF title — while creating a massive shift in the rankings that would most likely send the Huskies into the top 10.
Overall, it should be one of the best games of the year, with both teams featuring top talent on offense and defense.
High school football fans around the nation who are looking to watch the Super 25 matchup can live stream the game on the NFHS Network.
The collaboration with over 40 high school state athletic/activities associations and PlayOn! Sports allows fans to live-stream high school sports on any device, from wherever they are: 27 different regular season and postseason sports, plus other high school activities that highlight the accomplishments of student-athletes, student-broadcasters, and high schools.
Note: We occasionally recommend interesting products, services, and gaming opportunities. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY HSS operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
A massive amount of Super 25 implications in this week’s CIF-SS semifinals.
California high school football heads into more playoff action this Friday, with a massive double feature of Super 25 matchups headlining the Southern Section semifinals.
No. 3 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) takes on No. 18 Centennial (Corona, Calif.), while No. 6 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) will line up against No. 25 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.).
For the latter, it’s a first-time clash for the SoCal programs, with an intriguing storyline for each:
The Monarchs look to get back the CIF-SS championship game while continuing a push toward the top of the Super 25. A dominant finish would be another chapter in the team’s successful run that began back in the mid-2010s.
On the opposite sideline, the Trailblazers—which have had CIF-SS success but never on such a national stage against a national powerhouse—will look to play spoiler.
Overall, the outcome will certainly impact next week’s Super 25.
High school football fans around the nation who are looking to watch the Super 25 matchup can live stream the game on the NFHS Network.
The collaboration with over 40 high school state athletic/activities associations and PlayOn! Sports allows fans to live-stream high school sports on any device, from wherever they are: 27 different regular season and postseason sports, plus other high school activities that highlight the accomplishments of student-athletes, student-broadcasters, and high schools.
Note: We occasionally recommend interesting products, services, and gaming opportunities. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY HSS operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
The collaboration with over 40 high school state athletic/activities associations and PlayOn! Sports allows fans to live-stream high school sports on any device, from wherever they are: 27 different regular season and postseason sports, plus other high school activities that highlight the accomplishments of student-athletes, student-broadcasters, and high schools.
Note: We occasionally recommend interesting products, services, and gaming opportunities. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY HSS operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
