The 2023 high school football season starts Aug. 24-26, and the Week 1 schedule will be highlighted by some of the best games of the year.
There are two matchups of defending state champions, as Duncanville (6A Division I) plays South Oak Cliff (5A Division II) and Aledo (5A Division I) hosts Parish Episcopal (TAPPS Division I). Also in Week 1, five-time state champion Allen hosts defending 6A Division II state champion DeSoto in the opening game of the Tom Landry Classic.
Two of the toughest nondistrict schedules in the state belong to South Oak Cliff and Parish Episcopal. SOC plays three defending state champions (Duncanville, DeSoto and Parish Episcopal) and Lancaster, while Parish Episcopal plays three defending state champions (Aledo, South Oak Cliff and China Spring) along with Bellaire Episcopal and Austin L.B. Johnson.
Fans will have to wait until Week 10 to see perhaps the best game of the season in Texas high school football. That’s when Duncanville plays at DeSoto in what some will consider the true state championship game to determine who the very best team in Class 6A is, regardless of Division I or Division II.
Waxahachie, coming off a 10-3 season and third-place finish in District 11-6A, has critical games against Cedar Hill (Sept. 15), Mansfield (Oct. 20) and Mansfield Lake Ridge (Oct. 27) that will determine whether Waxahachie makes the playoffs. That is important, because if Waxahachie — which has the third-largest enrollment in the district behind Duncanville and Skyline (0-10 last year) — reaches the postseason then DeSoto likely ends up in the Division II playoff bracket instead of joining Duncanville in Division I.
Here is a week-by-week look at the top games for Dallas-area teams:
Week 1
South Oak Cliff vs. Duncanville
7 p.m. Aug. 25 at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium
These two defending state champions have a combined 10 area top-100 recruits, headlined by Duncanville five-star defensive lineman Colin Simmons, the No. 1 recruit in the state. Duncanville won last year’s matchup 23-10 en route to a 15-0 season, but it needed a touchdown with just over a minute remaining to put the game away. Duncanville four-star running back Caden Durham ran for 119 yards in that game, including a 99-yard touchdown run, and he is back this year.
DeSoto at Allen
7 p.m. Aug. 25
DeSoto has three of the top offensive players in the state in quarterback DJ Bailey (45 touchdown passes last year), four-star junior running back Deondrae “Tiger” Riden (32 college offers) and freshman wide receiver Ethan “Boobie” Feaster (26 offers). Allen returns one of the state’s top defensive players in four-star edge rusher Zina Umeozulu (30 offers). This is a chance for DeSoto to gain a measure of revenge for state semifinal losses to Allen in 2012 and 2013, back when quarterback phenom Kyler Murray was in the process of leading Allen to three consecutive state titles.
Argyle at Melissa
7:30 p.m. Aug. 25
This is the grand opening for Melissa’s new 10,000-seat stadium, and it could be the best game in the state in Class 5A during the regular season. Both teams are state-title contenders in 5A Division II, and Melissa four-star recruit Nigel Smith II is rated the 12th-best defensive lineman in America. Argyle won last year’s matchup 37-18 en route to a state semifinal appearance.
Other good options
Longview at McKinney, 7 p.m. Aug. 24 at McKinney ISD Stadium
Frisco Wakeland at Grapevine, 7 p.m. Aug. 24 at Mustang-Panther Stadium
Denton Guyer at Rockwall-Heath, 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at Wilkerson-Sanders Memorial Stadium
Highland Park at Flower Mound Marcus, 7 p.m. Aug. 25
Arlington Martin at Austin Lake Travis, 7 p.m. Aug. 25
Waxahachie at Ennis, 7 p.m.
Parish Episcopal at Aledo, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25
Lovejoy vs. College Station, 7 p.m. Aug. 26 at Allen
Week 2
Lewisville at Highland Park
7 p.m. Sept. 1
Coming off a 12-2 season and appearance in the Class 6A Division I Region I final, Lewisville enters the season with expectations of another deep playoff run and with three players committed to FBS programs — safety Jaydan Hardy (Oklahoma), cornerback Tony-Louis Nkuba (Arizona State) and offensive lineman Devin Love (San Diego State). Lewisville will face its toughest regular-season test when it plays six-time state champion Highland Park, which ranks No. 1 in state history in all-time wins (875), according to the website Texas High School Football History.
Something else to watch is the fact that Highland Park coach Randy Allen has a chance during the season to become the second coach in state history to reach 450 career wins. He enters 2023 with a record of 435-93-6 and trails only Phil Danaher on the state’s all-time wins list. Danaher, the legendary Corpus Christi Calallen coach, retired at the end of the 2021 season with a career record of 490-118-4.
Aledo at Denton Guyer
7 p.m. Sept. 1 at C.H. Collins Complex
Four-star TCU pledge Hauss Hejny is back at quarterback to lead an Aledo team that has won a UIL-record 11 state titles, including 10 in the last 14 years. He will be matched up against Guyer star cornerback Eli Bowen, who had 10 interceptions two years ago.
Other good options
Rockwall at Jesuit, 7 p.m. Sept. 1
Lovejoy at Argyle, 7 p.m. Sept. 1
Flower Mound Marcus at Southlake Carroll, 7 p.m. Sept. 1
Melissa at China Spring, 7 p.m. Sept. 1
Lancaster at South Oak Cliff, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1 at John E. Kincaide Stadium
Rockledge (Fla.) at Duncanville, 6 p.m. Sept. 2
Week 3
Frisco Reedy vs. Frisco Lone Star
7 p.m. Sept. 7 at Toyota Stadium
It’s only Week 3, but this game could decide the District 6-5A Division I title. Reedy won the district last year, beating Lone Star 13-7 along the way, and Reedy returns the area’s top-ranked offensive lineman in Tennessee pledge Max Anderson.
DeSoto vs. South Oak Cliff
5 p.m. Sept. 9 at John E. Kincaide Stadium
South Oak Cliff has one of the best linebacker corps in the Dallas area, with North Texas pledge Brandon Jones (199 tackles last year) and junior Jayden Shelton (19 college offers). DeSoto has one of D-FW’s best defensive secondaries with four-star Nebraska pledge Mario Buford and junior Sael Reyes (25 offers). DeSoto beat SOC 42-23 last year before both teams went on to win state titles.
Other good options
Denton Guyer at Lancaster, 7 p.m. Sept. 8
Prosper at Rockwall, 7 p.m. Sept. 8 at Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium
Arlington Martin at Allen, 7 p.m. Sept. 8
Grapevine at Argyle, 7 p.m. Sept. 8
Week 4
Parish Episcopal vs. South Oak Cliff
7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at John Kincaide Stadium
This would be a great time to get a look at Parish Episcopal star junior quarterback Sawyer Anderson, who has led his team to the last two of its four consecutive TAPPS Division I state titles. This matchup was one of the best games of 2022, as South Oak Cliff won 31-28 on a 43-yard field goal by Diego Varela on the final play of the game.
Anna at Celina
7:30 p.m. Sept. 15
This is a rematch of last year’s third-round playoff game that Anna won 27-24 to advance to a regional final for the first time in school history. These teams also played in the regular season, with Anna beating the eight-time state champion 28-25. Celina will have to find a way to slow down Anna star wide receiver Jacob Emmers, who led area Class 4A players with 1,180 receiving yards in 2022.
Other good options
Frisco Wakeland vs. Frisco Reedy, 7 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Ford Center at The Star
Denton Guyer at Prosper, 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at Children’s Health Stadium at Prosper ISD
Week 5
Longview at Lancaster
7:30 p.m. Sept. 22
This showdown between Class 5A Division I state-title contenders should decide the District 7-5A Division I championship. Longview features five-star Oklahoma pledge Taylor Tatum, the No. 1 running back recruit in the nation and a player who ran for 1,891 yards and 33 touchdowns last season. He will line up against a Lancaster defense that is led by four-star Clemson pledge Corian Gipson, the nation’s ninth-ranked cornerback.
Other good options
Rockwall vs. Rockwall-Heath, 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at Wilkerson-Sanders Memorial Stadium
DeSoto at Waxahachie, 7 p.m. Sept. 22
Parish Episcopal at China Spring, 7 p.m. Sept. 22
Frisco Lone Star vs. Frisco Wakeland, 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Ford Center at The Star
Week 6
Colleyville Heritage vs. Grapevine
7 p.m. Sept. 29 at Mustang-Panther Stadium
Colleyville Heritage has won this rivalry game in 10 of the last 13 years, but Grapevine ended a three-game losing streak in the series with a 44-26 victory last year. Look for Luke Ullrich, Colleyville Heritage’s new full-time starting quarterback, to have a big game in this one.
Other good options
Flower Mound Marcus at Flower Mound, 7 p.m. Sept. 29
Lewisville at Coppell, 7 p.m. Sept. 29
Highland Park at Jesuit, 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Birdville vs. Mansfield Timberview, 7 p.m. Sept. 29 at Vernon Newsom Stadium
Week 7
Duncanville at Waxahachie
7 p.m. Oct. 6
Duncanville got a scare in this matchup last year, as it went into the fourth quarter tied 7-7 before winning 24-7. That was the only game that Duncanville didn’t lead going into the fourth quarter during its 15-0 state championship season.
Other good options
Southlake Carroll at Keller, 7 p.m. Oct. 5 at Keller ISD Stadium
Mansfield Summit at Midlothian Heritage, 7 p.m. Oct. 5 at Midlothian ISD Stadium
Argyle at Lake Dallas, 7 p.m. Oct. 6
Week 8
Frisco Emerson at Argyle
7 p.m. Oct. 13
The top two teams in District 3-5A Division II clash, and it could be a preview of a possible regional final matchup. New Emerson quarterback Michael Hawkins, a four-star Oklahoma pledge, faces an Argyle team that has reached at least the state semifinals six times in the last 12 years.
Other good options
Allen at McKinney, 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at McKinney ISD Stadium
Lancaster at Forney, 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at City Bank Stadium
Week 9
Denton Guyer at Allen
7 p.m. Oct. 20
Allen has won 91% of its games over the last 15 years, going 190-19. Guyer has been almost as good, winning 80% of its games in that span and amassing a record of 170-42. Guyer lost its first six meetings with Allen before winning for the first time in the series, 49-7 last year.
Other good options
Denton Ryan at Aledo, 7 p.m. Oct. 20
Midlothian at Lake Belton, 7 p.m. Oct. 20
Lake Dallas at Frisco Emerson, 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at Toyota Stadium
Lewisville at Flower Mound Marcus, 7 p.m. Oct. 20
DeSoto at Cedar Hill, 7 p.m. Oct. 20
Richland vs. Birdville, 7 p.m. Oct. 20 at Birdville Fine Arts Complex
Celina at Carter, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20 at John E. Kincaide Stadium
Week 10
Duncanville at DeSoto
7 p.m. Oct. 27
Duncanville opens the season at No. 8 in the MaxPreps preseason national rankings, and DeSoto is No. 17. Duncanville has a pair of preseason All-Americans in five-star defensive lineman Colin Simmons and four-star running back Caden Durham, and each team has a junior All-American — five-star wide receiver Dakorien Moore for Duncanville and three-star defensive lineman Keylan Abrams (committed to Purdue) for DeSoto. Duncanville won last year’s matchup 41-17 as Durham ran for 309 yards and five touchdowns on 19 carries.
Southlake Carroll at Trophy Club Byron Nelson
7 p.m. Oct. 27 at Northwest ISD Stadium
These teams were a combined 24-3 in 2022, and just like last year, this matchup should decide the District 4-6A title. Southlake Carroll’s high-powered offense is led by three-star quarterback Graham Knowles (committed to Georgia Tech) and 1,200-yard wide receiver Jacob Jordan (committed to be a preferred walk-on at Oklahoma), while Byron Nelson’s defense has four FBS commits in safeties David Kabongo (committed to Oklahoma State) and Ashton Williams (committed to Tulsa), linebacker Eze Osondu (committed to Cal) and cornerback Jonathan Kabeya (BYU).
Other good options
McKinney at Denton Guyer, 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at C.H. Collins Complex
Allen at Prosper, 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at Children’s Health Stadium at Prosper ISD
Mansfield Timberview vs. Richland, 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at Birdville Fine Arts Complex
Week 11
Lovejoy at Melissa
7:30 p.m. Nov. 2
The District 7-5A Division II title should be decided in the final week of the regular season. This game will feature three of the best wide receivers in the Dallas area in Lovejoy four-star recruits Parker Livingstone (committed to Texas) and junior Daylan McCutcheon (24 college offers) and Melissa’s Karson Maynard (59 catches for 1,064 yards and 18 touchdowns). Melissa won a thriller last year, beating Lovejoy 36-35 as Trever Ham threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Maynard with 52 seconds left, then completed a game-winning two-point conversion pass to Gunnar Wilson. Ham is back after throwing for 3,454 yards and 44 touchdowns.
Other good options
Prosper at McKinney, 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at McKinney ISD Stadium
Plano Prestonwood Christian at Parish Episcopal, 7 p.m. Nov. 3
Ennis at Mansfield Summit, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at Vernon Newsom Stadium
On Twitter: @DMNGregRiddle
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