It's just about time. In July, the UIL moved back the start of the state's largest high school football divisions in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
While the lower divisions have been playing for as many as four weeks, it's time for the big schools to get rolling. An opening-week marquee matchup between two-time defending 6A champion North Shore (Houston) and defending 5A-I champion Shadow Creek (Pearland), which bumped up to 6A this season, highlights an exciting kickoff. In addition to that game, the national matchup of the year sees Florida's IMG Academy travel to the Lone Star State to play state No. 1 Duncanville.
The playoffs for Class 6A and Class 5A, which were slated to begin Nov.
12 now will commence Dec. 3. The state championship games, originally
scheduled for Dec. 16-19 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington will be pushed
back to an undetermined January date.
In advance of season openers, here's a look at what you need to know about Texas 5A and 6A football in 2020.
Quinn Ewers, Carroll (Southlake)
File photo by Kenneth Murphy
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) vs.
Duncanville, Oct. 10 at Globe Life Park
DeSoto at Duncanville, Nov. 13
Top 6A teams1. Duncanville
2. North Shore
3. Guyer (Denton
4.
Katy5. Carroll (Southlake)
Top 5A-I teams
1. Ryan (Denton)
Defending champions6A-I: North Shore (Houston)
5A-I: Shadow Creek (Pearland)
5A-II: Aledo
Top recruitsBased on 247 Sports individual rankingsJa'Tavion Sanders, ATH, Ryan (Denton), (17 overall)
L.J. Johnson, RB,
Cy-Fair (Cypress), (31)
Billy Bowman, ATH, Ryan (Denton), (35)
Camar Wheaton, RB,
Lakeview Centennial (Garland), (45)
Cody Jackson, WR,
Foster (Richmond), (50)
Returning 6A stat leadersPassingBraedyn Locke,
Rockwall | 268-455 (59%), 4,305 yds., 52 TD
Quinn Ewers, Carroll (Southlake) | 291-402 (72%), 4,003 yds., 45 TD
RushingAaron Dumas,
Americas (El Paso) | 343 car., 3,148 yds., 36 TD
Returning 5A stat leaders
Passing
Garret Rangel, Lone Star (Frisco) | 279-403 (69%), 4,855 yds., 50 TD
Rushing
Receiving
