12/10/2020
Texas high school football playoffs: 6A and 5A begins this week, 4A, 3A and 2A brace for semifinals
The last four football brackets in the country that haven't started in 2020 will kick off this week when the University Interscholastic League's 6A and 5A playoffs get underway. With eight nationally Top 25 teams in the two classifications, these will likely be the most competitive playoffs of all.
Six of those eight teams are all in the 6A-Division I bracket, including two-time defending champion and second-ranked North Shore (Houston) (10-0), which takes on Deer Park (5-5) in Region 3 first-round action. The Mustangs are led by one of the nation's most dynamic quarterbacks in third-year starter and Auburn-bound Dematrius Davis Jr..
The team North Shore beat both years in the state finals, seventh-ranked Duncanville (6-1) opens in Region 2 against Harker Heights (7-3).
Other nationally-ranked teams opening up in 6A-I play are No. 11 Allen (8-0), No. 16 Westlake (Austin) (8-0), No. 24 DeSoto (7-1) and No. 25 Lake Travis (Austin) (6-0). Tenth-ranked Ryan (Denton) (6-1) starts 5A-I and No. 21 Cedar Hill begins 6A-II play on Saturday.
State finals in both classifications are slated tentative for the second week in January at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Meanwhile, three of the state's remaining for classifications — 4A, 3A and 2A — continue semifinal action this week, while the 1A finalists are set for title games Dec. 16 at AT&T Stadium. The 1A finals will pit Sterling City vs. May in 1A-I and Balmorhea vs. Richland Springs in 1A-II.
May pulled out a wild 92-86 semifinal overtime win over defending champion Blum in a game that featured 1,157 yards and 25 touchdowns according to the Brownwood News. Kaden Halk rushed 16 times for 302 yards and five touchdowns for May while Blum's Koby Clinkscales added 248 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
The 4A-I semifinals feature a pair of teams that pulled out high-scoring tight affairs. Lindale (12-2) defeated Kilgore 56-42 in the Region III finals and will now play Region IV champion LBJ Austin, a 59-54 winner over Miller (Corpus Christi). The other semifinal game pits Canyon (12-1) against Argyle (14-0).
