Photo credit, Tammie Martin/ossports
It’s not annual, yet each meeting is significant. All the ingredients send the scent of a state championship atmosphere. For the third time since 2015, Austin Westlake and North Shore will faceoff in a game where the winner advances to higher ground and will compete for a title. Westlake dethroned the Mustangs in 2021 by winning 24-21 in a semifinal clash of No.1 vs. No. 2 at Legacy Stadium. In 2015, in its first meeting, the Mustangs prevailed, 21-14, in the Class 6A Division I title game in overtime.
Similar to its last date, the two teams will square off on Saturday in Houston at Rice Stadium at 3 p.m. as the tables have turned, the Chaps hold the top spot in the state while North Shore rolls in at No. 2. Westlake has won three consecutive championships.
The Mustangs won the 6A Division I title last season, defeating Duncanville the previous season, 17-10, for the third time in four seasons.
The Chaps and North Shore are not alone when regarding championship aspirations. Undefeated Duncanville, who will face Prosper on Saturday at SMU’s Ford Stadium, has continued to dominate the Metroplex, in search of its first title since 1998, and again has a team loaded with Division I talent.
It’s no surprise to see Katy in the hunt seeking to expand its trophy case in Class 6A Division II when it takes on Vandegrift on Saturday at 1 p.m. in San Antonio at the Alamodome. The winner will match the victor of Denton Guyer and DeSoto, which jumps into action on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Frisco’s Ford Center.
Denton Guyer and DeSoto have at least one title under its belt as the two perennial powers continue to surface among the state’s top 20 annually. The Eagles rein from Battle tested District 11-6A, which includes Cedar Hill, Duncanville, the Manfield schools and Waxahachie.
The Vipers of Vandegrift, who opened in 2009, holds three state titles including boys’ golf, girls’ soccer, and marching band, and searching for its first in football. Most recently, in 2019, the Vipers’ marching band finished first in the Bands of America Grand Nationals in Indianapolis. In 2014, Vandegrift captured the UIL Class 4A State Marching band Champions.
Other exciting matchups include Class 5A Division I Aledo/Longview, 5A Division II Argyle/Dallas South Oak Cliff, 4A Division Cuero/Wimberley, 2A Division I Hawley/Crawford, Timpson/Refugio, and 2A Division II Mart/Burton.
Below are the dates and times of each UIL state semifinal matchup.
CLASS 6A DIVISION I
Prosper (13-1) vs. Duncanville (13-0), 4 p.m. Saturday at SMU’s Ford Stadium
Galena Park North Shore (14-0) vs. Austin Westlake (14-0), 3 p.m. Saturday at Houston’s Rice Stadium
CLASS 6A DIVISION II
Denton Guyer (14-0) vs. DeSoto (12-2), 2 p.m. Saturday at Frisco’s Ford Center
Katy (14-0) vs. Austin Vandegrift (13-1), 1 p.m. Saturday at San Antonio’s Alamodome
CLASS 5A DIVISION I
Aledo (12-2) vs. Longview (14-0), 2 p.m. Saturday at Dallas’ Kincaide Stadium
College Station (12-2) vs. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (12-2), 5 p.m. Saturday at San Antonio’s Alamodome
CLASS 5A DIVISION II
Argyle (14-0) vs. South Oak Cliff (11-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Fort Worth’s Crowley ISD Stadium
Port Neches-Groves (12-2) vs. Liberty Hill (13-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Katy’s Legacy Stadium
CLASS 4A DIVISION I
Decatur (11-3) vs. China Spring (13-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mansfield’s Newsom Stadium
Tyler Chapel Hill (12-2) vs. Boerne (14-0), 7 p.m. Friday at San Antonio’s Alamodome
CLASS 4A DIVISION II
Glen Rose (13-1) vs. Carthage (14-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Frisco’s Ford Center
Cuero (13-1) vs. Wimberley (14-0), 3 p.m. Friday at San Antonio’s Alamodome
CLASS 3A DIVISION I
Brock (10-4) vs. Malakoff (13-1), 7 p.m. Thursday at Frisco’s Ford Center
Franklin (14-0) vs. Edna (13-1), 7 p.m. Thursday at Katy’s Legacy Stadium
CLASS 3A DIVISION II
Canadian (12-2) vs. Gunter (13-0), 6 p.m. Friday at Abilene’s Wildcat Stadium
Gilmer Harmony (9-5) vs. Poth (13-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Cypress’ Cy-Fair FCU Stadium
CLASS 2A DIVISION I
Hawley (14-0) vs. Crawford (14-0), 7 p.m. Thursday at Mineral Wells’ Ram Stadium
Timpson (14-0) vs. Refugio (13-1), 6 p.m. Thursday at Cypress’ Cy-Fair FCU Stadium
CLASS 2A DIVISION II
New Home (13-1) vs. Albany (12-2), 7 p.m. Thursday at Sweetwater’s Mustang Bowl
Mart (14-0) vs. Burton (13-0), 7 p.m. Thursday at Round Rock’s Reeves Stadium
STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
CLASS A DIVISION I
Westbrook vs. Abbott, 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington
CLASS A DIVISION II
Benjamin vs. Loraine, 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington
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