HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STATE FINALS
All games at AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Class 6A DIVISION I
Southlake Carroll vs. Austin Westlake, 7 p.m. Saturday
The Dodge Bowl has arrived. Todd Dodge is the coach at Westlake (13-0). His son Riley is the coach at Southlake Carroll (12-1), where dad claimed four state championships during his seven years leading the program. The elder Dodge earned his fifth title last year while guiding Westlake through the 6A Division II bracket, and now he has the Chaparrals in the Division I final. The Dodges were supposed to meet in their 2020 opener, but that game was scrubbed after the start of the season was delayed because of the coronavirus. And they had to overcome steep odds to make this dream matchup of Southlake Carroll’s offense and Westlake’s defense a reality, with Carroll upendingDuncanville, and Westlake shocking two-time state champ North Shore.
DIVISION II
Katy vs. Cedar Hill, 1 p.m. Saturday
The Division I pairing boasts new and novel storylines. This one’s more familiar, but equally engaging. Katy (12-1) and Cedar Hill (12-1) met in three consecutive state finals from 2012 to 2014, with Katy winning the first 35-24, and Cedar Hill prevailing in the last two, 34-24 and 2320, respectively. The Tigers returned to the final in 2015 and beat Lake Travis 34-7 for a then-record-tying eighth state title. But Richland Springs and Aledo have since surpassed Katy, with each claiming their ninth title in 2019. Now that Katy’s back for its state-record 15th championship-game appearance, it can pull even again with another win over the Longhorns. They’re here for the first time since 2014 after securing Region II with a 27-24 overtime win over Rockwall Heath, and ousting Denton Guyer 27-17 in the state semifinals. Katy rolled over Clear Falls 51-15 to win Region III, then crushed Buda Hays 63-7 in the semis.
Class 5A DIVISION I
Denton Ryan vs. Cedar Park, 7 p.m. Friday
Denton Ryan (14-0) cruised back to Arlington for its second consecutive state final appearance. Motivated by last year’s 28-22 loss to Shadow Creek, the Raiders are winning by an average of 29.3 points per game, but their last two opponents tested their resolve. They hung on to beat Dallas Highland Park 17-7 for the Region II title and survived Mansfield Summit 49-35 last week behind two defensive scores and the efforts of QB Seth Henigan, who threw for two TDs and caught a TD pass. Ryan is seeking its first state title since 2002. Cedar Park (14-0) is in the final for the first time since securing its second state championship with a 22-6 win over Frisco Lone Star in 2015.
DIVISION II
Crosby vs. Aledo, 1 p.m. Friday
Crosby (12-3) continued its incredible playoff journey last week in an instant classic, outlasting Liberty Hill 62-61 in overtime. QB Denriquez Dunn and RB Reggie Branch also continued to put up eye-popping numbers, with Dunn throwing for 211 yards and four TDs (one rushing), and RB Reggie Branch recording 17 carries for 121 yards and four TDs, and eight receptions for 82 yards and one score. Dunn now has 1,094 yards and 14 TDs through the air, and five rushing scores, in the playoffs, and Branch has 13 rushing TDs and five receiving TDs. Aledo (12-1) boasts a state-record nine state championships.