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

Can Cedar Hill challenge DeSoto? Will Southlake Carroll send undefeated Byron Nelson home?

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. 

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

SBLive is previewing each bracket in Class 6A, 5A and 4A, starting with 6A Division I. Now? We move to the second 6A bracket. 

Here is an inside look at every Class 6A Division II bracket:

SOUTHLAKE CARROLL (12-1) VS. BYRON NELSON (13-0)

Byron Nelson QB Tom Von Grote breaks loose for a long run in a regional semifinal win over Coppell on Saturday / Photo by Robbie Rakestraw

7:30 p.m., Saturday, Choctaw Stadium, Arlington

This is a rematch of the District 4-6A championship game held on Oct. 27 — which Byron Nelson won 34-17 and snapped the Dragons’ 38-game district winning streak that stretched back to 2017. That was the first win in seven tries for the Bobcats against the Dragons, a usual state contender each year. Byron Nelson is only four years removed from a 1-year win season. Meanwhile, Southlake has won 10 games or more in every season since 2009.

SOUTHLAKE CARROLL'S ROAD

Def. Fort Worth Boswell, 70-0 in bi-district; def. Wollforth Friendship 49-14 in area game; def. Dallas Highland Park 45-14 in regional semifinal

THREE DRAGONS TO SEE

Graham Knowles, QB, sr. — The son of a former tennis pro is one of the best quarterbacks in the state with 2,690 yards passing and 19 touchdowns.

Davis Penn, RB, so. — The year started with a big question mark at running back and the sophomore has put up 1,343 yards — 10.3 yards per carry — and scored 25 times.

Dustan Mark, DL/LB, sr. — The uncommitted senior had 106 tackles, 18 TFL and 3 fumble recoveries.

BYRON NELSON'S ROAD

Def. Crowley, 52-28 in bi-district; def. Midland, 35-7 in area game; def. Coppell 52-45 in regional semifinal

THREE BOBCATS TO SEE

Tom Von Grote, QB, sr. — The first-year starter has passed for 26 touchdowns and 2,050 yards

Landon Farco, WR, sr. — The 5-foot-11 slot has 42 catches for 674 yards with 9 touchdowns.

Jonathan Kabeya, DB, sr. — The BYU pledge has a pair of interceptions.

SCORE PREDICTION: Southlake, 34-31

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DESOTO (12-0) VS. CEDAR HILL (8-5)

DJ Bailey hands the ball off to Deondrae "Tiger" Riden during a regional semifinal win over Willis on Saturday :: Photo by Daniel Grant / @danielcapturedit

7 p.m., Friday, Kincaide Stadium, Dallas

DeSoto, the defending state champions, are coming off a victory over previously unbeaten Willis. Cedar Hill started 1-4 with losses to Rockwall, Southlake Carroll, Duncanville and Waxahachie. The Longhorns are under the guidance of new coach Nick Ward, who played for the University of Miami's secondary with Ed Reed. Cedar Hill last made the state finals in 2021.

DESOTO'S ROAD

Def. Harker Heights 50-10 in bi-district; def. Wylie East 42-20 in area; def. Willis 65-31 in regional semifinals

Desoto downs DJ Lagway, Willis: 'They thought he could beat us by himself, and that was not happening'

THREE EAGLES TO SEE

DJ Bailey, QB, sr.  — He has thrown for 2,614 yards with 36 touchdowns compared to only 1 INT.

Deondrae Riden Jr., RB, jr. —The No. 15-ranked RB in the 2025 class has more than 30 offers; has run for 100 yards in the past 3 games after coming back from injury.

Jason Douglas, DL, sr. — The 270-pounder has 9 sacks, 12 TFL and 51 tackles.

CEDAR HILL'S ROAD

Def. Pflugerville Weiss, 62-0 in bi-district; def. North Forney, 59-21 in area game; def. Tomball 28-7 in regional semifinal

THREE LONGHORNS TO SEE

Anthony Edwards, QB, sr. — Could have a chance to surpass 1,000 yards passing, entering with 942 yards with 11 touchdowns and one interception.

Cedrick Castleberry, RB, jr. — He’s the team's top rusher with 653 yards and 7 scores.

Dante Wesley II, DB, sr. — He has a team-high 63 tackles with 1 INT and 1 fumble recovery.

SCORE PREDICTION: DeSoto 54-7

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SUMMER CREEK (12-1) VS. FORT BEND HIGHTOWER (12-1)

File photo from 2022 playoffs / Photo by Rob August

2 p.m., Saturday, Cy-Fair FCU, Cypress

Summer Creek has won seven in a row since a loss to North Shore — including a win over Class 6A Division I regional finalist Humble Atascocita. Summer Creek is averaging 38 points per game. Hightower in the only team out of the 8 regional finalists that wasn’t ranked in the top 20 in the final regular season poll. Summer Creek was No. 9. The Only loss for Hurricanes was a 7-point defeat in Week 4 vs. Fort Bend Ridge Point. Hightower owns a win against Class 6A Division I regional finalist Spring Westfield.

FORT BEND HIGHTOWER'S ROAD 

Def. Fulshear Jordan 35-7, in bi-district; def. Houston Heights 26-21 in area; def. Sheldon C.E. King 31-28 in regional semifinals

THREE HURRICANES TO SEE

Zion Kearney, WR, sr. — The 6-foot-2 target had 34 offers before picking Oklahoma last spring.

Jeremy Payne, RB, sr. — He’s ranked No. 21 nationally among running back recruits. He committed to TCU in June.

Ephraim Dotson, CB, sr. — The Rice commit is on a defensive unit that held C.E. King to two touchdowns points below its average offense output last week.

HUMBLE SUMMER CREEK'S ROAD

Def. Pasadena Memorial,48-0 in bi-district; def. League City Clear Creek, 42-0 in area game; def. Houston Stratford, 52-15 in regional semifinal

Three Bulldogs to See

Xavier Atkins, LB, sr. — The LSU pledge has 84 tackles, 14 TFL and 2 INTs this year.

Lloyd Avant, RB, sr. — A future Tulsa Golden Hurricane, he surpassed 5,000 career yards rushing last week

Chad Woodfork, DE, jr. — He’s the No. 7-ranked edge rusher in the junior class nationally and is an uncommitted four-star recruit.

SCORE PREDICTION: Summer Creek 27-24 

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STEELE (12-1) VS. DRIPPING SPRINGS (11-2)

File photo by Paul Brick

7 p.m., Saturday, Alamodome, San Antonio

Cibolo enters with an 11-game winning streak and was ranked No. 11 in the final regular-season poll by Dave Campbell/Associated Press. Dripping Springs was ranked No. 15 in the same poll and has won six in a row. Both of the losses for Dripping Springs have come to Austin-area teams: Vandegrift and Westlake, while the only loss for Steele was to Austin Lake Travis.

STEELE'S ROAD

Def. San Antonio Brandeis 42-14 in bi-district; def. Austin McNeil 42-21 in area; def. San Antonio Harlan 48-27 in regional semifinals

THREE KNIGHTS TO SEE

Chad Warner, QB, jr. - He’s thrown for 3,059 yards and 33 touchdowns with a 69% completion rate.

Jonathan Hatton Jr., RB, so. — He’s committed to Oklahoma and is 5 yards away from 1,000 yards with 20 touchdowns.

Dontae Carter, DB, sr. — He’s one of two secondary members headed to Vanderbilt; has 7 INTs.

DRIPPING SPRINGS' ROAD

Def. Vista Ridge, 34-14 in bi-district; def. Converse Judson, 38-34 in area; def. Jay, 50-27 in regional semifinal

THREE TIGERS TO SEE

Jacob Ponton, OL, sr. — He’s committed to Texas Tech and is the No. 8 OT in the state.

Jack Tyndall, RB, jr. — The Tigers’ top rusher has 1,599 yards — 9 100-yard games — and 18 touchdowns.

Theo Howard, LB, sr. — The one-time running back has a team-high 97 tackles.

SCORE PREDICTION: Cibolo Steele, 34-21

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-- Cody Thorn | @sblivetx

Lead photo by Daniel Grant.