Tag: Texas high school football

No. 7 North Shore takes on No. 15 Westlake: How to watch the Texas high school football playoff game

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.

Watch: North Shore vs. Westlake

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.

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.

No. 5 DeSoto vs. No. 25 Southlake Carroll: How to watch the Texas high school football playoff game

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.

Watch: DeSoto vs. Southlake Carroll

(USA TODAY 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, a 3-star wide receiver, with the nonchalant one-handed touchdown

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:

 

Texas high school football quarterfinal matchups set with major Super 25 implications

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:

  • No. 5 DeSoto (6A D2)
  • No. 6 North Shore (6A D1)
  • No. 13 Duncanville (6A D1)
  • No. 14 Westlake (6A D1)

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.

No. 5 DeSoto vs. Cedar Hill: How to watch the Texas high school football playoff game

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.

Watch: Cedar Hill vs. DeSoto

(USA TODAY 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.

No. 14 Westlake takes on Lake Travis: How to watch the Texas high school football playoff game

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.

Watch: Westlake vs. Lake Travis

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.

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 10 all-time passing yard leaders in Texas high school football history

Here are the top 10 passing yardage leaders in state history.

When it comes to high school football, Texas is one of—if not the most—competitive state in the country. As a result, many of the best college and pro players got their start playing their high school ball in Texas.

And that’s especially true for quarterbacks.

With that in mind, here are the top 10 passing yardage leaders in Texas high school football history.

10 of the greatest running backs in Texas high school football history

Here are 10 of the greatest high school running backs in Texas history.

Some of the most outstanding performers in the history of the sport got their start playing high school football in Texas. That tradition is especially rich at the running back position, where the state has produced several all-time special athletes. Some of them went on to win Heisman trophies, others had prestigious awards named after them and some even played in the NFL and became Pro Football Hall of Famers.

Here are 10 of the greatest high school running backs in Texas history. All high school stats are courtesy of MaxPreps.

Friday Night Highlights: 5-star QB DJ Lagway goes off for 8 touchdowns

One of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation has started his 2023 season with a bang.

One of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the country started his 2023 season with a bang last night.

Willis (Texas) five-star quarterback DJ Lagway went off for eight touchdowns in his team’s 52-21 victory on the road over Rudder (Texas) on Friday. Lagway (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) finished with a line of 21/23 for 436 yards, eight touchdowns (7 passing, 1 rushing) and a QB rate of 169.8. What’s more impressive is that Lawgay’s stat line was all in one half.

Here are some highlights.

The biggest beneficiary of Lagway’s huge game was Wildcats wide receiver Debruan Hampton, who posted five catches, 121 yards and scored three times. Next week Willis will face Temple (Texas) at home on Friday night.

As for next season, Lagway is committed to Florida and is the third-best recruit in a loaded 2024 class that currently ranks third in the nation.

More

SCORES: Live in-game results around the nation as they happen

Live-Stream High School Sports on the NFHS Network

The top 10 uncommitted recruits in the class of 2024

Recruitment for top Iowa prospect a three-team race

USA TODAY Sports Super 25 Regional Football Watchlist: Southwest region

Keep an eye on these teams as the opening Super 25 ranking nears.

The 2023 high school football season has arrived, with teams kicking off across the country in August.

That means the first USA TODAY Sports Super 25 is nearing, which marks another start to an iconic franchise that began back in 1982.

Last year’s Super 25 was one of the tightest races of all time, as St. John Bosco narrowly won out over Mater Dei and Bishop Gorman, among others.

How will things stack up this season? Ahead of the opening Super 25, USA TODAY HSS is looking around the country at the five regions we use to create the national rankings:

Next up is Southwest, which comprises of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.