The 2023 UIL Texas high school football playoffs have reached the final stage as teams descend on Arlington’s AT&T Stadium to play their state championship games this week.
Games will be played Wednesday through Saturday, with three games each day at 11 a.m., 3 p.m., and 7 p.m., respectively.
Five games feature teams from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, including four teams trying to repeat as champions and one playing in the state final for the first time.
4A Division I: Anna (14-1) vs. Tyler Chapel Hill (13-2)
11 a.m. CT, Friday, December 15
Anna has ascended to the top of the 4A world, spending much of the season among the division’s top three or four teams and losing only to heavyweight Celina in the regular season. The Coyotes make their first-ever state championship appearance against Tyler Chapel Hill on Friday, just two years after head coach Seth Parr took over the program.
Chapel Hill has made it to the final for the first time since 2011 and has two previous championships.
Both teams have explosive offenses that could make for a great game. Class of 2025 SMU commits Demetrius Brisbon Jr. and Rickey Stewart lead the Chapel Hill offense, while Anna leans on sophomore quarterback Ziondre Williams, running back Edward Chumley, and a host of receivers.
***
5A Division I: Aledo (15-0) vs. Comal Smithson Valley (14-1)
7 p.m. CT, Friday, December 15
A loaded Aledo team reaches its second consecutive state championship game on a 29-game winning streak. Bearcats head coach Tim Buchanan retired over the offseason, but new head coach Robby Jones, promoted from offensive coordinator, has proven to be the right choice to lead the program as it seeks its state record 12th state championship.
Smithson Valley made easy work of its schedule in district play and fought through some close games during the playoffs to get here. The Rangers are playing for a state championship for the first time since 2004 and have never won the game, losing all three previous tries to DFW area schools.
***
5A Division II: South Oak Cliff (13-2) vs. Port Neches Groves (14-1)
11 a.m. CT, Saturday, December 16
South Oak Cliff attempts to win its third consecutive state title after snapping Dallas ISD’s long drought in 2021. The Golden Bears have won 13 straight games and used a dominant second half against Frisco Emerson last week to set up a rematch of last year’s championship game, which SOC won by 10 points.
Port Neches Groves has won 14 in a row and will be looking to atone for last year’s loss after fighting off 2021 state runner-up Liberty Hill last week.
SOC used its passing game to beat Port Neches Groves last year and has multiple receivers who will move on to play college football as well as a duo of running backs who can be challenging to stop and an extremely competent quarterback.
***
6A Division I: Duncanville (13-1) vs. Galena Park North Shore (15-0)
3 p.m. CT, Saturday, December 16
Duncanville spent much of the season as the top team in the state and looks to prove it again with another state championship. The Panthers are sound on both sides of the ball and have multiple players to use to exploit their opponent’s weaknesses at any given time.
North Shore is the premier Houston-area football program. The Mustangs have won at least 15 games yearly since 2018, easily blowing through the competition year in and year out. They’ve been challenged in recent weeks but are familiar with Duncanville from previous seasons.
These teams last met in the 2021 state championship, which went North Shore’s way.
***
6A Division II: DeSoto (14-0) vs. Humble Summer Creek (14-1)
7 p.m. CT, Saturday, December 16
DeSoto is looking for a repeat as the defending 6A Division II state champ after cruising past Austin Vandergrift in last year’s title game. The Eagles have a massive win over Duncanville this season and held off Southlake Carroll in the semifinals.
Summer Creek is the first Humble ISD school to make it this far, despite producing NFL talent over the years. The Bulldogs pride themselves on defense, holding 11 opponents to 16 points or fewer this season with four shutouts.
DeSoto brings quite the challenge with a balanced offense that has not scored fewer than 35 points this season.
