Texas high school football playoffs: 6A Division I preview, regional final predictions

Nationally ranked North Shore books rematch with Atascocita; Duncanville meets Westfield in UIL state quarterfinals

The regional final round of the Texas high school playoffs kicks off on Thursday and games continue across all UIL brackets across the Lone Star State Friday and Saturday.

The regional finals are Thursday through Saturday, followed by the state semifinals Dec. 7-9, which sets up championship week (Dec. 13-16) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. 

Here is an inside look at every UIL Class 6A Division I matchup this weekend:

NORTH CROWLEY (13-0) VS. ALLEN (9-4)

Photo by Cody Thorn

The Allen Eagles will look to knock off undefeated District 3-6A champion North Crowley. Allen comes into this game after surviving the first two playoff victories with narrow wins, winning by a combined four points. The Eagles started the season 0-2 before reeling off five straight wins to start district play. 

The Panthers have cruised to an undefeated season with their ground game and tough-nosed defense and will look for a berth in the state semifinals. North Crowley last won a state championship in 2003 in TX-4A.

ALLEN'S ROAD

Def. Lewisville 18-17 in bi-district round; Def. Martin 36-33 in area round; Def. Legacy 52-35 in regional semifinals.

THREE TO SEE: 

Micah Ellis, running back, 2024

The junior running back has burst onto the scene through the first three rounds as the lead back for the Eagles rushing for five touchdowns and over 300 yards rushing in three games. 

Andrew King, middle linebacker, 2024

The senior middle linebacker is the leader of the Eagle defense averaging 9 tackles per game as he has racked up 83 total tackles and one interception. 

Amir McDowell, running back, 2024

McDowell is the senior leader in the backfield racking 16 total touchdowns and nearly 800 yards rushing. 

NORTH CROWLEY'S ROAD

Def. Keller 42-26 in bi-district round; Def. Permian (Odessa) 63-10 in area round; Def. Prosper 35-7 in regional semifinals.

THREE TO SEE: 

Ashton Searl, running back, 2024

Searl has a nose for the endzone as he has found pay dirt 25 times this season and rushed for 1,247 yards.

Ke'maurrie Davis, defensive end, 2024

The senior edge rusher has wreaked havoc all season for opposing quarterbacks tallying eight sacks on the year while averaging four tackles a game from his defensive end spot.

Braylon Turner, outside linebacker, 2024

The senior leader of the defense, Turner leads the Panthers with 69 total tackles along with two sacks and five interceptions on the season. 

SCORE PREDICTION: North Crowley, 42-24

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DUNCANVILLE (11-1) VS. WESTFIELD (11-2)

Caden Durham breaks loose for a long touchdown run in a regular season loss to DeSoto / Robbie Rakestraw, SBLive Sports

Earlier this season, the Mustangs struggled to find a rhythm on the offensive side of the ball losing two early contests, now through the first three weeks of the playoffs, the Westfield offense is rolling. The Mustangs are averaging 62 points per game offensively. 

Nationally ranked Duncanville has bounced back from their loss to district rival Desoto last month and looking to repeat as 6A, Division 1 state champions. Led by 2024 running Caden Durham, the Panthers are a true threat to win the state championship. 

Both offenses are high octane and the ability to play defense. If the Mustangs can play defense and keep the Panthers' offense off the field, they have a shot to knock off the defending champions. 

DUNCANVILLE'S ROAD

Def. Hutto 63-7 in the bi-district round, Def. Rockwall-Heath 62-24 in the area round, Def. The Woodlands 49-21 in the regional semifinals.

FOUR TO SEE:

Caden Durham, running back, 2024

The LSU commit is one of the best running backs in the Lone Star State and has shown all year that he is a workhorse back. 

Dakorien Moore, wide receiver, 2025

The junior LSU commit at wide out has shown that he is one of the best deep threat targets in the state averaging 21 yards per reception. 

Keelon Russell, quarterback, 2025

The SMU commit and dual-threat quarterback is the leader on a nationally ranked offense has he has been responsible for nearly 3,000 yards of total offense. 

Colin Simmons, edge, 2024

Simmons is a menace off the edge rushing the passer recording 5.5 sacks and has 26 QB hurries on the year. 

WESTFIELD'S ROAD

Def. Conroe 58-20 in bi-district round, Def. Klein Cain 55-41 in area round, Def. Rockwall 78-48 in regional semifinals.

3 MUSTANGS TO SEE:

Taji Atkins, running back, 2024

Atkins knows how to find the end zone as he has 34 total touchdowns on the year. 

Austin Abram, wide receiver, 2024

Abram is the down the field weapon for this prolific Mustang offense finding the endzone four times in these playoffs.

Bryson Balka, defensive end, 2024

Balka has continued his stellar senior campaign into the playoffs helping the Mustangs bounce back from their 1-2 start through non district play. 

SCORE PREDICTION: Duncanville, 56-31

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NORTH SHORE (13-0) VS. ATASCOCITA (11-2)

North Shore pulled away from Atascocita in the regular season showdown in late October.  / Photo by Tom Dendy

This is the first of two district championship rematches in TX-6A this weekend. The Mustang won round one to claim the district championship, so the Eagles will look to get their revenge in this regional final match up. 

Led by two dual-threat quarterbacks and high scoring offenses, each team can score points in bunches and have suffocating defenses. 

North Shore is looking to win another 6A, Division 1 state championship after losing in the finals a year ago, while Atascocita is looking to get over the regional final hump in the past five years.

ATASCOCITA'S ROAD

Def. Dobie 65-28 in the bi-district round, Def. Pearland 61-35 in the area round, Def. Lamar 34-14 in the regional semifinals.

THREE TO SEE:

Cardae Mack, running back, 2026

Mack is an explosive do-it-all sophomore back who is a threat to take it to the house with every touch.

Zion Brown, quarterback, 2024

The senior dual-threat has been a steady hand at the quarterback position leading the Eagles to this week's regional final and with his playmaking ability gives Atascocita  a chance to knock off their district rival.

Tory Blaylock, running back, 2025

Blaylock is part of the three-headed monster in the Eagles' backfield making it near impossible to slow down the Atascocita offense.

NORTH SHORE'S ROAD

Def. Deer Park 42-14 in the bi-district round, Def. Clear Springs 49-21, Def. Cy-Fair 45-9 in the regional semifinal. 

THREE TO SEE: 

Devin Sanchez, cornerback, 2025

The junior cornerback is a five-star prospect and t he no. 1 cornerback in the 2025 class. 

Kaleb Bailey, quarterback, 2025

Bailey is a do it all, dual-threat quarterback and the unprecedented leader of the offense leading the Mustangs to an undefeated district championship.

D'Andre Hardeman Jr., running back, 2025 

The junior running back has picked up where he left off in the regular season helping lead the Mustangs to round four as he exceeded 1,500 rushing  yards this year. 

SCORE PREDICTION: North Shore, 49-38

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LAKE TRAVIS (11-2) VS. WESTLAKE (13-0)

Photo by Chuck Cox, SBLive Sports

These two Austin powerhouses and district-26 rivals know each other well and when they match up, you can throw out the records, throw out the stats to decide the winner. 

Westlake defeated Lake Travis in week 5 this season, 20-14 as it was the only game this year that the Chapparals won by less than 10 points.  The Chapparals are looking to win another state championship - their first since 2021.

Through the first three weeks of the playoffs, the Cavaliers are playing great offensively and have been stout defensively as it will take a full 60 minutes to knock off Westlake.

WESTLAKE'S ROAD

Def. Round Rock 35-7 in the bi-district round, Def. San Antonio Reagan 45-28 in the area round, Def. Laredo-United 59-14 in the regional semifinals.

THREE TO SEE:

Jack Kayser, running back, 2024

The Army commit has been a workhorse back through these playoffs and seems to get better each week. 

Rees Wise, quarterback, 2026

The young Chapparal signal caller is looking to be the next big name to come out of Westlake at the quarterback position. 

Elliot Schaper, linebacker, 2025

The junior linebacker is showing to have the speed to be a dominant edge rusher wreaking havoc for opposing quarterbacks. 

LAKE TRAVIS' ROAD

Def. Austin Vandegrift 13-10 in the bi-district round, Def. San Antonio Johnson 48-21, Def. San Antonio Brennan 34-7.

THREE TO SEE:

Nico Hamilton, running back, 2024

The offense runs through Hamilton as he has been the unsung hero as the feature back with five touchdowns through three playoff games. 

Kadyn Leon, wide receiver, 2024

Leon has transitioned back to the wide receiver and has really helped provide a spark to the Cavalier offense. 

Markus Boswell, linebacker, 2024

The senior linebacker is the leader of the defense with his ability to rush the passer as he has recorded nine sacks on the year. 

SCORE PREDICTION: Westlake 28-24

-- Ryan Childers | @sblivetx