The 2025 UIL Texas high school football state championships are finally here!
Below, you will find The Dallas Morning News’ advance coverage of matchups featuring Dallas-area teams.
Schedule of games: View local matchups here
Statewide playoff pairings: Statewide final scores, game
High School Sports
Pick ‘em: 2025 UIL state championships DFW media Texas high school football pick ‘em
Players to watch: 10 players to watch in UIL football state championship games
Tickets: How to watch, buy tickets for 2025 UIL football state championship games at AT&T Stadium
Wednesday, Dec. 17
SIX-MAN DIVISION I
Rankin (12-2) vs. Gordon (13-0), 11 a.m. Wednesday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
SIX-MAN DIVISION II
Jayton (14-0) vs. Richland Springs (12-1), 2 p.m. Wednesday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
Thursday, Dec. 18
CLASS 2A DIVISION I
Hamilton (13-2) vs. Joaquin (11-4), 7 p.m. Wednesday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
CLASS 3A DIVISION I
Grandview (13-2) vs. Yoakum (13-2), 3 p.m. Thursday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
CLASS 3A DIVISION II
Wall (15-0) vs. Newton (14-1), 7 p.m. Thursday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
Friday, Dec. 19
CLASS 4A DIVISION I
Stephenville (15-0) vs. Kilgore (14-1), 11 a.m. Friday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
CLASS 4A DIVISION II
Carthage (15-0) vs. West Orange-Stark (12-3), 3 p.m. Friday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
CLASS 5A DIVISION I
Frisco Lone Star (15-0) vs. Smithson Valley (14-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
Saturday, Dec. 20
CLASS 5A DIVISION II
South Oak Cliff (14-1) vs. Richmond Randle (15-0), 11 a.m. Saturday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
CLASS 6A, DIVISION I
Galena Park North Shore (13-2) vs. Duncanville (12-1), 3 p.m. Saturday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
CLASS 6A, DIVISION II
DeSoto (12-3) vs. Houston King (13-2), 7 p.m. Saturday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
Game Previews
Class 5A Division I
SportsDay Staff
Frisco Lone Star vs. Smithson Valley
When/where: 7 p.m. Friday at AT&T Stadium
Frisco Lone Star (15-0)
Coach: Jeff Rayburn (12th season)
Regular season: Lone Star completed a perfect regular season for the second time in program history, the first being in 2019. The Rangers’ season began impressively with a commanding 44-21 win over Argyle, an eventual regional finalist in Class 5A Division II. The offense has had an output similar to the best Lone Star teams leading Class 5A in the Dallas-area averaging 523 yards per game. A big difference with this season’s team is the defense allowing just over 16 points per game.
How they got here: Beat North Mesquite (49-6 in the bi-district round), beat Georgetown (42-21 in the area round), beat West Mesquite (47-20 in the regional semifinals), beat Highland Park (58-38 in the regional final) and beat Aledo (56-52 in the state semifinal).
UIL state titles: 0
Players to watch: Let’s get the obvious standouts out of the way. The first is Florida signee Davian Groce with over 1,400 yards receiving, who has been the best athlete on the field in most of his games this season. Baylor signee Karece Hoyt has been one of the best two-way players in Texas lining up on both sides as the team’s second leading rusher, fourth-leading receiver and interceptions leader with five. Sophomore Trey Wright has been a revelation at quarterback with over 3,700 yards passing and over 1,600 yards on the ground with 58 total touchdowns. But the unsung hero of this Ranger team is probably senior Marcel Dominguez along the defensive line with a staggering 20.5 sacks and 36 tackles for loss this year. According to MaxPreps, he’s tied for fifth in Texas in sacks. Senior defensive lineman Christopher Knauls with 14 sacks rounds out what has been a very productive pass rush for Jeff Rayburn’s team.
Smithson Valley (14-1)
Coach: Larry Hill (33rd season)
Regular season: A year after lifting the program’s first-ever state championship, Smithson Valley and legendary head coach Larry Hill are back in AT&T with an arguably better team. Their defense has only surrendered 20 points twice this season after returning eight starters from that 2024 championship defense. Smithson Valley’s lone loss came to Class 6A San Antonio Brennan, who narrowly lost in the area finals to Class 6A Division II state finalist Austin Lake Travis. The team’s most impressive win is perhaps a 41-14 regular season win over a Boerne-Champion team that advanced to the regional semifinals.
How they got here: Beat San Antonio Southside (49-0 in the bi-district round), beat Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (34-0 in the area round), beat San Antonio Pieper (30-14 in the regional semifinals), beat New Braunfels (24-0 in the regional final) and beat Port Arthur Memorial (31-28 in the state semifinals).
UIL state titles: 1 (2024)
Players to watch: Junior quarterback Ty Knutson is a name emerging more in recruiting circles and his development is a big reason why Smithson Valley is back in AT&T. The way he and sophomore running back Gunnar Shoquist operate out of the pistol offense and play-action are the crux of the offense. Defensively, SMU signee Hudson Woods and UTEP signee Justin Roberts are one of the best defensive tandems you’ll see at AT&T Stadium this week along the defensive line and junior Hunter Haug will roam both sides of the ball out wide on offense and at defensive back on defense.
Prediction: Frisco Lone Star 35, Smithson Valley 21
Class 5A Division II
SportsDay Staff
South Oak Cliff vs. Richmond Randle
When/Where: 11 a.m. Saturday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
South Oak Cliff (14-1)
Coach: Jason Todd (11th season)
Regular season: After winning 41-31 in its season opener against North Shore, SOC fell to Class 6A powerhouse Duncanville 35-28 in Week 2. But, going into the last quarter down 35-14, SOC made it a one-score game against a program that could win the Class 6A Division I state title on Saturday. Following the loss, SOC won its next eight games. Although SOC had a close call in a 20-17 victory over Longview in Week 3, the Golden Bears’ defense didn’t allow another point in the regular season.
How they got here: d. Crandall 49-18 in the bi-district final, d. Mount Pleasant 46-7 in the area final, d. Terrell 45-17 in the regional semifinal, d. Port-Neches Groves 28-0 in the regional final, d. Melissa 35-17 in the state semifinal
UIL state titles: 2 (2021, 2022)
Players to watch: During SOC’s win over Melissa on Friday, running back Mikail Trotter had 118 rushing yards and four touchdowns, powering the Golden Bears’ offense. The senior has 1,274 rushing yards and 24 scores this season. And while Trotter had the standout performance on Friday, running back Levon Morton is SOC’s second-leading rusher, contributing 1,231 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns this season. He’ll be another valuable option for the program on Saturday. Quarterback Jayden Williams has been a constant for SOC this season, passing for 2,653 yards and 27 touchdowns. In SOC’s playoff run, Williams has recorded 900 passing yards and seven touchdowns.
Richmond Randle (15-0)
Coach: Brian Randle (4th season)
Regular season: Richmond Randle finished the season undefeated, with its closest margin of victory coming in a 49-42 win over Iowa Colony in September. Its next closest was a 56-29 win over Fort Bend Travis. In its first 10 games, Randle allowed an average of 10.4 points.
How they got here: d. Ellison 54-20 in the bi-district round, d. Pflugerville Connally 59-28 in the area round, d. Bastrop 83-20 in the regional semifinal, d. Iowa Colony 45-35 in the regional final, d. Boerne 40-16 in the state semifinal
UIL state titles: 1 (2024)
Players to watch: Running back Landen Williams Callis is a top-35 recruit in the Class of 2027 with over 60 offers. He’s also ranked the third-best running back in his class and the sixth-best recruit in Texas in his class. Last season, Callis won the Class 5A Division II state championship offensive MVP after rushing for 101 yards and one touchdown on 23 carries. He finished the season with 2,103 yards and 43 touchdowns, averaging 9.14 yards per carry. He’s contributed the same numbers this season. Linebacker Noriel Dominguez has also been a standout at Randle. The three-star signed with TCU earlier this month and has over 100 tackles this season.
Prediction: South Oak Cliff 31, Richmond Randle 27
Class 6A Division I
SportsDay Staff
Duncanville vs. Galena Park North Shore
When/where: 3 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium
Duncanville (12-1)
Coach: Reginald Samples (11th season)
Regular season: Duncanville played only eight regular-season games because it couldn’t find anyone willing to play it for two of its possible nondistrict games. Duncanville finished in a three-way tie for first in District 11-6A with 6A Division II state finalist DeSoto and Waxahachie. Duncanville lost 28-27 to Waxahachie and beat DeSoto 48-28 in district play. Duncanville also beat 5A Division II state finalist South Oak Cliff 35-28. This is the 10th straight season that Duncanville has won 10 or more games.
How they got here: Beat Temple (35-14 in the bi-district round), beat Rockwall-Heath (43-6 in the area round), beat Klein Collins (34-7 in the regional semifinals), beat Waxahachie (35-27 in the regional final), beat Allen (31-9 in the state semifinals)
UIL state titles: 3 (1998, 2022, 2023)
Players to watch: Ever since Duncanville lost starting quarterback Maximus The Great Denson late in the regular season, it has used J’Coryon Rivers as its passing quarterback and utilized four-star junior wide receiver Trenton Yancey as more of a runner and Wildcat quarterback. Yancey has run for 387 yards and 10 touchdowns in five playoff games while catching 19 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns. Three-star wide receiver Ayson Theus, a TCU signee, has also been heavily involved in the running game in the postseason and has run for 404 yards and three touchdowns, with a pair of 100-yard games. Rivers has nine touchdown passes in the last five games while averaging 147.6 passing yards per game. This will be the sixth time in eight years that Duncanville and North Shore have met in the 6A Division I state championship game, with North Shore winning in 2018, 2019 and 2021 and Duncanville winning in 2022 and 2023. Zach Turner, now a senior and an SMU signee, had two catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns in Duncanville’s 49-33 win over North Shore in the 2023 state final and Theus added five catches for 106 yards in that game. Duncanville has two of the nation’s top 16 edge rushers in the Class of 2026, according to the 247Sports rankings, with Ole Miss signee Landon Barnes and Florida signee KJ Ford.
Galena Park North Shore (13-2)
Coach: Willie Gaston (third season)
Regular season: North Shore went 8-2 in the regular season and finished in a three-way tie for first in District 23-6A with 6A Division II state finalist Houston C.E. King and Humble Summer Creek. North Shore’s losses were to South Oak Cliff (41-31) and Summer Creek (27-0), but it beat C.E. King 42-27. This is the first time North Shore has lost more than one game in a season since 2017, but it is the eighth straight year that North Shore has won 13 or more games. Gaston is 42-4 in his three years as North Shore’s head coach.
How they got here: Beat Deer Park (49-14 in the bi-district round), beat Fort Bend Ridge Point (31-7 in the area round), beat Cypress Falls (54-27 in the regional semifinals), beat Dickinson (46-29 in the regional final), beat Austin Lake Travis (28-6 in the state semifinals)
UIL state titles: 5 (2003, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021)
Players to watch: Going into the state semifinals, three-star Utah State signee Kaleb Maryland had thrown for 3,209 yards and 34 touchdowns while running for 500 yards and seven scores in his first year as North Shore’s starting quarterback. He had three touchdown runs in a 28-6 win over six-time state champion Austin Lake Travis in the state semifinal. Hezekiah Johnson was the team’s leading rusher with 1,044 yards and 19 touchdowns going into the Lake Travis game, while Jaylen Bocard led the team with 50 catches for 1,155 yards and 12 touchdowns and Aubrey Johnson had 41 receptions for 684 yards and six touchdowns. Three-star defensive lineman Za’Qwaun Nunn, a Louisiana Tech signee, had three sacks against Lake Travis, according to the Houston Chronicle, as North Shore held an offense that was averaging 409.6 yards of total offense to 47 yards.
Prediction: Duncanville 35, Galena Park North Shore 21
Class 6A Division II
SportsDay Staff
DeSoto vs. Houston C.E King
When/where: 7 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium
DeSoto (12-3)
Coach: Claude Mathis (seventh consecutive season at DeSoto, 14th total)
Regular season: DeSoto, back at state for the third time in four years, started the season 0–2, losing to Georgia’s Creekside 70-28 in its first game of 2025. But the three-time state champion won seven of its next eight games to finish in a three-way tie for first in District 11-6A with 6A Division I state finalist Duncanville and Waxahachie, a 6A Division I regional finalist.
How they got here:Beat Copperas Cove (63-6 in the bi-district round), beat Longview (60-28 in the area round), beat College Park (56-34 in the regional semifinals), beat Willis (60-41 in the regional finals), beat Southlake Carroll (57-44 in the state semifinals).
UIL state titles: 3 (2016, 2022, 2023)
Players to watch: Junior running back SaRod Baker has been one of the biggest names in the Texas high school football playoffs, having accounted for 1,701 yards and 22 touchdowns in the postseason alone. On the ground, he has rushed for 1,492 yards and 19 scores. Baker lists at least 18 offers, according to 247Sports, and recorded 366 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns in DeSoto’s upset of Carroll. Senior quarterback Legend Howell has also been exceptional with 2,616 yards passing and 30 passing touchdowns. USC signee Ethan Feaster has a team-high 88 catches for 1,610 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Houston C.E. King (13-2)
Coach: Cory Laxen (first season as head coach)
Regular season: C.E. King went 8–2 in the regular season under first-year head coach Cory Laxen, with its only losses coming to Dickinson in pre-district play and 6A Division I state finalist Galena Park North Shore in District 23-6A. C.E. King, which advanced to state for the first time in program history, finished in a three-way tie for first with North Shore and Humble Summer Creek.
How they got here: Beat Clear Falls (56-7 in the bi-district round), beat Alvin Shadow Creek (51-6 in the area round), beat Katy Jordan (52-0 in the regional semifinals), beat Humble Summer Creek (24-21 in the regional finals), beat Austin Vandegrift (58-41 in the state semifinals)
UIL state titles: None
Players to watch: Senior quarterback Timothy Potts accounted for five touchdowns in C.E. King’s win over Austin Vandegrift in the state semifinals, according to the Houston Chronicle. He had three rushing and two passing scores. Three-star Rice signee Dionne Sims rushed for a 49-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
Prediction: DeSoto 42, Houston C.E. King 29
More notable reads
— Legend Bey’s recruiting saga ends, will sign with Ohio State after Tennessee release
— Bandwagon guide to the Texas high school football state championships: Underdogs and more
— It’s Dallas vs. Houston in this week’s Texas high school football state championships
— DeSoto’s presence in UIL state title game shows enrollment numbers aren’t everything
— After 16 years, Lone Star is ready to win Frisco ISD’s first football state title
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