MaxPreps Texas Top 25 high school football rankings

Allen, No. 1 in the MaxPreps Texas Top 25, is within one victory of a third consecutive state championship.

The Eagles (15-0), riding a 42-game winning streak, will meet Cypress Ranch (Houston) at 8 p.m. Saturday in the culmination of the UIL's championship weekend at Arlington's AT&T Stadium.

The last team to win three straight titles in Texas' highest classification was Carroll (Southlake) from 2004-2006. Lee (Midland) won three in a row starting in 1998. Abilene did it in the 1950s, Amarillo in the 1930s and Waco in the 1920s.

To reach the Class 6A Division I title game this year, Tom Westerberg's team has become accustomed to coming from behind. Quarterback Kyler Murray, a Texas A&M pledge, and an array of talented receivers headed by Notre Dame commit Jalen Guyton, has been remarkably poised in crunch time.

Cypress Ranch (13-2) is in its first state title game. Gene Johnson's Mustangs were picked near the middle of the pack in District 17-6A, but boast a talented quarterback of their own in junior Collin Rock. Ranch has won 12 straight to climb to No. 10 in the rankings.

No. 3 Cedar Hill and No. 4 Katy will meet for the third straight season with a state title on the line in Class 6A Division II. Kickoff is 4 p.m. Saturday at AT&T.

In 2012, it was Katy defeating the Longhorns 35-24. Cedar Hill turned the tables last year with a second-half comeback, 34-24.

Both teams are built around a brilliant running back tandem, Rodney Anderson and Kyle Porter for Katy (14-1) and Aca'cedric Ware and Denvre Daniels for Cedar Hill (13-2). Anderson has orally committed to Oklahoma and Ware to USC.

Katy is making a record 13th state championship game appearance and owns seven state titles, one shy of the state record shared by Carroll (Southlake) and Celina.

UIL championship weekend will consist of 10 games in five classifications. Four are scheduled for Thursday beginning at 10 a.m., with three games each on Friday and Saturday with sessions beginning at noon.

Here's the MaxPreps Texas Top 25 following the fifth of six playoff rounds.

See the MaxPreps Texas Playoff Brackets and the MaxPreps Texas pro photo galleries


1. Allen 15-0 (1 last week)
Kyler Murray threw for 405 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 115 yards in a 52-34 comeback victory over 14-1 Skyline (Dallas) in a 6A-DI state semifinal. Lee Morris had eight catches for 187 yards and three scores. The Eagles, down by 18 at one point, scored the game's final 35 points to extend their consecutive victory string to 42. Allen goes for its third straight state title when if faces 13-2 Cypress Ranch (Houston) in the championship game set for 8 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

2. Skyline (Dallas)* 14-1 (2)
The Raiders had to play the second half without starting quarterback K.C. Johnson (thumb injury) in a 52-34 loss to 15-0 Allen in a 6A-DI state semifinal. Daleon Ward rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown and backup quarterback Deqon Hardister threw two touchdown passes. The Raiders' were bidding for the first Dallas ISD state football championship since 1950.

3. Cedar Hill 13-2 (3)
The two-headed rushing monster of Denvre Daniels (193 yards, five touchdowns) and USC commit Aca'cedric Ware (142 yards, three touchdowns) helped the Longhorns to a 64-33 elimination of 13-2 Spring Westfield (Houston) in a 6A-DII state semifinal. DaMarkus Lodge added four catches for 75 yards and a score. The victory advances Joey McGuire's team to a state title match-up with 14-1 Katy for the third straight season. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

4. Katy 14-1 (4)
The Tigers survived a scare to advance to their third straight state title game and 13th overall with a 27-20 overtime victory over 13-2 Steele (Cibolo) in a 6A-DII state semifinal. Rodney Anderson rushed for 220 yards and the eventual winning touchdown in overtime. Garrett Doiron threw for two touchdowns. Kris Perez kicked two field goals including a 35-yarder on the final play of regulation to send the game into overtime. Gary Joseph's team will face Cedar Hill in the title game for the third straight season. Kickoff is 4 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

5. DeSoto* 10-2 (5)
The Eagles suffered elimination to Allen for the third straight season, this time in a 6A-DI area playoff, 25-22, on a field goal as time expired. Larry Nixon had a big season, rushing for 1,471 yards and 21 touchdowns.

6. Carroll (Southlake)* 13-1 (6)
The Dragons' unbeaten run ended in a 62-42 Round 4 playoff loss to Cedar Hill in 6A-DII. Lil'jordan Humphrey for the season rushed for 1,817 yards and 29 touchdowns.

7. Trinity (Euless)* 12-2 (7)
The Trojans were a last-minute 30-27 victim to Allen in a 6A-DI fourth-round playoff defeat. Juniors Ja'ron Wilson and Tyler Natee rushed for 1,791 yards and 1,400 yards this season.

8. Steele (Cibolo)* (13-2) (8)
The Knights grabbed a 20-17 lead on a highlight-reel 24-yard touchdown pass from L.G. Williams to Antoine Cox-Wesley with 2:02 remaining, but couldn't make it stand up in a 27-20 overtime loss to 14-1 Katy in a 6A-DII state semifinal. Wesley finished with seven catches for 139 yards and a score. Williams threw for 226 yards. Katy forced overtime with a field goal on the final play in regulation.

9. Manvel* 13-1 (9)
For the second consecutive year, the Mavericks' season ended in a Region III title-game loss to Katy in 6A-DII, this time by a 45-17 score. Junior quarterback D'Eriq King threw for 3,135 yards and 47 touchdowns while rushing for 822 yards and 12 scores.

10. Cypress Ranch (Houston) 13-2 (11)
Collin Rock ran for two touchdowns and threw for two in a 38-31 elimination of 10-5 Judson (Converse) in a 6A-DI state semifinal. R.J. Sneed had four catches for 146 yards and a score as the Mustangs won their 12th straight. Rock finished with 229 passing yards and 93 on the ground. Charlie Booker III added 75 rushing yards. The Mustangs advance to their first state title game against 15-0 Allen set for 8 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

11. Dickinson* 13-1 (12)
The Gators' unbeaten season ended in a 31-28 loss to Cypress Ranch (Houston) in the 6A-DI Region III title game. Junior receiver Jordan Myers finished the season with 48 catches for 930 yards and nine touchdowns.

12. Westfield (Houston)* 13-2 (10)
Dillon Sterling-Cole threw for 225 yards and two touchdowns in the Mustangs' 64-33 loss to 13-2 Cedar Hill in a 6A-DII state semifinal. Latevius Downs led the rushing attack with 97 yards and a score, but the defense failed to control a Longhorns ground game that produced 400 yards and a 9.8-yard per carry average.

13. Brandeis (San Antonio)* 12-2 (13)
Elimination came at the hands of Steele (Cibolo) in a 31-28 loss in the 6A-DII Region IV title game. Jaylon Dukes will return after a junior season of 1,613 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns.

14. Aledo 14-1 (14)
The Bearcats locked up their fifth state final appearance in the last six seasons with a 44-14 elimination of 12-3 John Tyler (Tyler) in a 5A-DI state semifinal. Luke Bishop rushed for 189 yards and one touchdown and threw for 58 yards and a score. Jess Anders IV rushed for 111 yards and scored twice. Isaiah Mallory rushed for 81 yards and a score. The Bearcats face 13-1 Temple in the state title game set for noon Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

15. Martin (Arlington)* 10-3 (15)
The Warriors were eliminated 69-54 by Allen in a very competitive 6A-DI Region I semifinal. Junior running back Nic Smith paced Bob Wager's team this season with 1,869 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns.

16. Brennan (San Antonio)* 11-1 (16)
The Bears' goal of a second straight trip to a state title game ended in a 24-12 loss to Steele (Cibolo) in a 6A-DII area playoff. Senior quarterback Da'Shawn Key rushed for 1,144 yards and 19 touchdowns and threw for 915 yards and eight scores.

17. Rockwall* 12-1 (17)
The offensive-minded Yellowjackets lost 43-38 to Spring Westfield (Houston) in a 6A-DI Region II semifinal. Running back Chris Warren (2,329 yards, 34 touchdowns) and wide receiver Xavier Castille (1,606 receiving yards, 19 touchdowns) posted big season numbers.

18. Ennis 13-2 (19)
Devin Smith threw for 237 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-13 victory over 13-2 Canutillo in a 5A-DII state semifinal. Donta Thompson had eight catches for 157 yards and one touchdown. Thompson Taylor added seven catches for 80 yards and two scores. Tre Elliott contributed a pair of touchdown runs. The Lions will face 12-3 Cedar Park for the state title at 8 p.m. Friday at AT&T Stadium.

19. Temple 13-1 (20)
Chad President threw for 200 yards and had a hand in five touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 76-35 rout of 12-3 Vandegrift (Austin) in a 5A-DI state semifinal. Marques Hatcher rushed for 291 yards and three touchdowns. Jeff Carr had 175 yards on the ground and two scores. De'vonte Nealy chipped in with 127 rushing yards, part of an 882-yard output. The Wildcats face 14-1 Aledo in the state title game set for noon Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

20. Cedar Park 12-3 (25)
The Timberwolves rallied from an early 14-point hole for a 49-21 elimination of 13-2 Crosby in a 5A-DII state semifinal. Myles Cheatum and Thomas Hutchings each rushed for two touchdowns. Hunter Valk returned a fumble 32 yards for a score. Javelin Guidry's 80-yard touchdown run started the comeback. Cedar Park will face 13-2 Ennis for the state title at 8 p.m. Friday at AT&T Stadium.

21. Spring* 10-4 (18)
The Lions made it to the 6A-DI Region II title game. Spring Westfield (Houston) held off a late rally for a 24-19 victory. Senior Xavier Jones rushed for 1,952 yards and 29 touchdowns in the campaign.

22. Navasota 15-0 (NR)
Shelton Eppler threw for 456 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Rattlers to a 49-26 elimination of 12-3 Liberty Hill in a 4A-DI state semifinal. Sammy Blair had three catches for 132 yards and two scores. Jerbrell Lipscomb added three catches for 177 yards and a score. The Rattlers will face 15-0 Argyle in the state title game set for 4 p.m. Friday at AT&T Stadium.

23. Argyle 15-0 (NR)
Caleb Holt kicked three field goals, the final one a 19-yarder with 1:23 remaining to send Argyle to a 23-20 victory over 12-3 Graham in a 4A-DI state semifinal. Nick Ralston carried 35 times for 150 yards. Drew Estrada had three catches for 78 yards and a score. The Eagles, coming off a state title in 2013, will face 15-0 Navasota in the state championship game set for 4 p.m. Friday at AT&T Stadium.

24. Gilmer 15-0 (NR)
McLane Carter threw for 228 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes to a 67-14 elimination of Celina in a 4A-DII state semifinal. Blake Lynch had four catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns and recovered a fumble in the end zone for another score. Kris Boyd rushed for 76 yards and a score. The Buckeyes face 13-2 West Orange-Stark (Orange) in the title game set for noon Friday at AT&T Stadium.

25. West Orange-Stark (Orange) 13-2 (NR)
Deionte Thompson's 101-yard punt return with eight minutes remaining was the middle touchdown in a closing run of 21 points that carried the Mustangs' 42-21 elimination of 11-4 Sinton in a 4A-DII state semifinal. Sophomore quarterback Jack Dallas threw for 112 yards and a score. The Mustangs face 15-0 Gilmer in the title game set for noon Friday at AT&T Stadium.

*Indicates season ended

Dropped out: No. 21 Judson (Converse); No. 22 John Tyler (Tyler); No. 23 Crosby; No. 24 Vandegrift (Austin).

On the bubble
Albany 14-0, Bishop Dunne (Dallas) 12-1, Bremond 14-0, Canadian 14-0, Mason 14-0, Mineola 12-3, Newton 12-3, Waskom (Waskom, Texas) 14-1