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The Texas Football High School Coaches Clinic will take place March 22-23.
Steve Sarkisian and his staff are gearing up to host the annual Texas Football High School Coaches Clinic in Austin. Continue reading “Rams HC Sean McVay to speak at the Texas Football Coaches Clinic”
“Mike Elko has turned our relationship with Texas A&M around 180 degrees in the few weeks he’s been there,” said THSCA executive Glen West.
Former Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher may have had the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class in 2022 but damaged many relationships on the way to achieving such a feat.
Some of the most vital connections that Fisher tarnished were with high school football coaches in Texas. New Aggies head coach Mike Elko is now working his tail off to repair those strained relationships.
“Mike Elko has turned our relationship with Texas A&M around 180 degrees in the few weeks he’s been there,” said Glen West, assistant executive director of the Texas High School Coaches Association. “The thing was on its head and he flipped it. He showed up to our office by himself — no driver, no entourage — shook our hands and said, ‘I’m Mike, I’m here to help.’ It was refreshing to see and hear and something I really respected.”
A prime example of Elko’s efforts came last week on Dec. 12 when he spent his Tuesday recruiting in the Houston area. Whether Elko’s time and energy ultimately pay dividends at Kyle Field is to be seen.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.
Texas A&M standout commit Terry Bussey was unstoppable on his record setting night int he 2A State title game.
The Texas Football playoffs are in full swing and current 2024 5-star Texas A&M commit Terry Bussey has written his name in the record books during the first half of the 2A-I state title.
Social media lit up as Bussey led Timpson to a dominant 49-7 over Tolar. He not only broke one UIL state record but two while playing Quarterback. The first came a few minutes into the second quarter when Bussey hit Dacorian Johnson on a quick slant route that he took for a 97-yard touchdown.
Ok, I get it Johnson did most of the heavy lifting on that particular record, but someone had to get Johnson the ball and a record is a record. However, there is a reason Bussey is considered one of the best players in the nation and he gave a taste of that late in the second quarter.
Backed up against their own endzone, Bussey’s number was called on a QB keeper and he sprinted the length of the field for an eye-popping 93-yard touchdown run. Both record-setting highlights can be viewed below.
UIL state championship record 97 yard TD throw for @Terrybussey12 😎pic.twitter.com/ftIKmCYkiP
— Barstool Texas A&M (@BarstoolTexasAM) December 14, 2023
Terry Bussey is putting on a performance for the ages pic.twitter.com/DQduZew2pK
— Mike Roach (@MikeRoach247) December 14, 2023
The Timpson standout ended the night with 311 yards on 12-15 passing and 155 yards on 10 carries for a total of 6 touchdowns. To cap it off, he was named the 2A-I state title game offensive MVP.
Congratulations to Bussey and the following posts just show how impressive everyone was with his championship performance.
North Shore held Westlake to only three completions in the Texas UIL 6A D1 semifinals.
In a season in which North Shore (Houston, Texas) had yet to score fewer than 30 points in a game, the No. 7 Mustangs needed all the defense they could muster to take down No. 15 Westlake (Austin, Texas) in the UIL 6A D1 semifinals.
Behind a superb defensive effort, North Shore beat Westlake 23-14 to secure its fifth appearance in the Texas championship game in the last six years.
The score of a football game often does not tell the story of the game. A glance at it doesn’t depict the battle deep into the fourth quarter. It doesn’t properly explain the importance of two late interceptions by the Mustangs. It doesn’t show how close Westlake came to winning despite completing only three passes in the game.
North Shore took a 17-14 lead in the third quarter when quarterback Kaleb Bailey created the chance to complete a fourth-and-six conversion. He maneuvered around tacklers to complete an eight-yard pass that kept the drive alive and put kicker Jonathan Soto in position to nail a 26-yard field goal.
That lead stood well into the fourth quarter after Westlake had two turnovers on downs, the second of which delivered the ball to North Shore at the Chaparrals’ 39-yard line with about five minutes to play. Despite that, Westlake’s defense held strong, preventing the Mustangs’ fourth-down conversion with about three minutes left that likely would have iced the game if successful.
Westlake had three minutes to recharge an offense that struggled to move the ball against the stout Mustangs’ defense. The Chaparrals averaged only 2.7 yards per play, according to the Houston Chronicle, and sophomore quarterback Rees Wise completed only three of 18 pass attempts for 29 yards and was sacked four times.
The Chaparrals once again could advance, and Wise was intercepted. North Shore returned the ball to around 10-yard line.
Interception by the Mustangs with 1:49 left in game@Westlake_Nation @NSNationFB #txhsfb #TXHSFBplayoffs #UILState pic.twitter.com/WtXXSx9Hwz
— Taylor Arenz (@taylorarenz) December 9, 2023
The Mustangs, seeing a steeper priority in running out the clock than attempting to force a touchdown or field goal, turned the ball over on downs deep in the Westlake red zone with about 10 seconds to play. The Chaparrals had not shown the offensive ability to drive the ball about 95 yards in 10 seconds, and North Shore trusted it would remain that way.
It did. A screen pass from Wise was tipped and caught by North Shore junior linebacker Charles Ross inside the end zone as time expired, securing the final points of the game:
The Last play!
@NSNationFB #txhsfb #TXHSFBplayoffs #UILState pic.twitter.com/h23vk2zwaB— Taylor Arenz (@taylorarenz) December 10, 2023
Westlake finishes its season with a 14-1 record, falling just shy of advancing to the championship.
North Shore, meanwhile, will take on its well-known foe in Duncanville in a postseason matchup that has practically become tradition, with the two teams splitting the games over the last two years.
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.
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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?
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.
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.
Jacob Emmers with a nice one-handed touchdown catch for Anna.
Jacob Emmers pulled off an impressive one-handed touchdown grab on Friday night. Well, it impressed everyone but the three-star wide receiver, who played it off pretty low-key.
A mild celebration, but given how tough the catch was, Emmers certainly didn’t live it up very much. Emmers and his Anna High School (Anna, Texas) teammates were up 31-14 at halftime over Stephenville (Stephenville, Texas) in the UIL Texas Football State Championships.
Emmers has some strong Power Five offers including California, Oklahoma State, Oregon State and Purdue. The class of 2024 wide receiver also holds offers from other programs such as Texas San-Antonio, Boise State, Memphis and Tulane.
Now, back to the play on Friday night.
The most impressive part of this catch though, wasn’t the actual catch itself but what happened two moments before the snag. Blanketed in tight coverage, the Stephenville defensive back on Emmers uses his right arm to try and beat away the three-star wide receiver. And the right arm of Emmers, in turn, is engaged in trying to hold off the defensive back, which is why he can only use one arm on the go-route.
It’s a pretty nice throw too. Check it out:
OMG JACOB EMMERS WITH THE 1-handed TUDDY 🔥🤯😱#sctop10 @EmmersJacob @AnnaCoyotesFB pic.twitter.com/ALj45Xup5J
— William Wilkerson (@WillieWilk23) December 2, 2023
See the Texas high school football schedule for the 6A D1 and 6A D2 quarterfinals.
The quarterfinals are set for the Texas high school playoffs as December nears. Four teams from the Super 25 national rankings remain in the 6A D1 and 6A D2 divisions, meaning these next few weeks may have massive implications not just for the Texas state championships but for how country-wide rankings will land.
The remaining nationally ranked teams are:
While these teams are ranked high, their opponents also have a chance to prove themselves as one of the 25 best teams in the nation. See matchups below and how each team got here, starting with University Interscholastic League (UIL) 6A Div. 1.
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.
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.
