Video: Top 10 Texas Plays of the Year
See the best from the Lone Star State in 2019.North Shore (Houston) began and more importantly ended the season ranked No. 1 in the 2019 MaxPreps Texas Top 25.
For the 16 weeks between, the top spot belonged to Duncanville.
On Saturday, in front of 47,818 spectators at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, North Shore erased all doubts with a 31-17 victory over Duncanville in the UIL Class 6A Division I championship game.
Junior quarterback Dematrius Davis, a Virginia Tech pledge, rushed for 115 yards, threw for 91 and had a hand in a pair of touchdowns to help North Shore (15-1) repeat as champion.
Duncanville (15-1) for the second consecutive year can look back at missed chances in a state final defeat. Bad luck played a role. The Panthers were without senior quarterback Ja'Quinden Jackson, a Texas Longhorns recruit, who suffered a knee injury in a state semifinal victory over Rockwall.
As defending champion in the state's largest classification, North Shore came into the 2019 season ranked No. 1. But a 24-21 loss to Katy in the season opener dropped the Mustangs to No. 3 and boosted Duncanville to the top spot with Katy occupying No. 2. The order of the big three remained intact for 13 weeks until North Shore avenged its only loss by beating Katy 56-35 in a third-round playoff. North Shore moved to No. 2 in the ranking and Duncanville was the only obstacle remaining in the Mustangs' path.
Two other state champions made big moves in the post-state championship ranking. Shadow Creek (Pearland) climbed five slots to No. 5 after defeating Ryan (Denton) 28-22 in a battle of unbeatens for the Class 5A Division I title. Shadow Creek was state runner-up in its first varsity campaign in 2018.
Class 6A Division II champion Westlake (Austin) moved to No. 6 after blanking Guyer (Denton) 24-0 in the title game. Westlake (15-1) quarterback Kirkland Michaux threw for three touchdowns. Guyer starting quarterback Eli Stowers was injured on his team's opening drive and did not return.
North Shore celebrates its UIL Class 6A Division I title.
File photo by Robbie Rakestraw
Here is the 2019 final MaxPreps Texas Top 25:
1. (Last week 2) North Shore (Houston)
Record: 15-1 (Class 6A D1 state champion)
Last week: Beat Duncanville 31-17
2. (1) Duncanville
Record: 15-1
Last week: Lost to North Shore (Houston) 31-17
3. (3) Katy
Record: 12-1
4. (4) Carroll (Southlake)
Record: 13-1
5. (10) Shadow Creek (Pearland)
Record: 16-0 (5A-1 state champion)
Last week: Beat Ryan (Denton) 28-22
6. (8) Westlake (Austin)
Record: 15-1 (6A-2 state champion)
Last week: Beat Guyer (Denton) 24-0
7. (7) Lake Travis (Austin)
Record: 13-2
8. (6) Ryan (Denton)
Record: 15-1
Last week: Lost to Shadow Creek (Pearland) 28-22
9. (5) Guyer (Denton)
Record: 14-2
Last week: Lost to Westlake (Austin) 24-0
10. (9) Allen
Record: 11-1
11. (11) Longview
Record: 11-1
12. (13) Aledo
Record: 15-1 (5A-2 state champion)
Last week: Beat Fort Bend Marshall (Missouri City) 45-42
13. (12) Fort Bend Marshall (Missouri City)
Record: 14-2
Last week: Lost to Aledo 45-42
14. (14) Westfield (Houston)
Record: 13-2
15. (15) Rockwall
Record: 12-3
16. (16) Lone Star (Frisco)
Record: 14-1
17. (17) Highland Park (Dallas)
Record: 11-2
18. (18) Judson (Converse)
Record: 12-2
19. (19) Cy-Fair (Cypress)
Record: 11-1
20. (20) Martin (Arlington)
Record: 11-2
21. (21) Manvel
Record: 13-1
22. (22) Atascocita (Humble)
Record: 12-2
23. (24) Midland Lee (Midland)
Record: 11-2
24. (25) Carthage
Record: 16-0 (4A-1 state champion)
Last week: Beat La Vega (Waco) 42-28
25. (23) Cooper (Lubbock)
Record: 13-2
Ranking by classification
Class 6A
1. North Shore (Houston) (15-1)
2. Duncanville (15-1)
3. Katy (12-1)
4. Carroll (Southlake) (13-1)
5. Westlake (Austin) (15-1)
6. Lake Travis (Austin) (13-2)
7. Guyer (Denton) (14-2)
8. Allen (11-1)
9. Longview (11-1)
10. Westfield (Houston) (13-2)
North Shore beat Duncanville 31-17
Westlake beat Guyer 24-0
5A-1
1. Shadow Creek (Pearland) (16-0)
2. Ryan (Denton) (15-1)
3. Lone Star (Frisco) (14-1)
4. Highland Park (Dallas) (11-2)
5. Wagner (San Antonio) (13-2)
Shadow Creek beat Ryan 28-22
5A-2
1. Aledo (15-1)
2. FB Marshall (Missouri City) (14-2)
3. Manvel (13-1)
4. Cooper (Lubbock) (13-2)
5. Ennis (12-2)
Aledo beat FB Marshall 45-42
4A-1
1. Carthage (16-0)
2. La Vega (Waco) (14-2)
3. Lampasas (13-2)
4. Springtown (13-2)
5. Argyle (13-1)
Carthage beat La Vega 42-28
4A-2
1. Pleasant Grove (Texarkana) (15-1)
2. Wimberley (12-4)
3. Iowa Park (12-2)
5. Greenwood (Midland) (14-1)
5. Silsbee (9-4)
Pleasant Grove beat Wimberley 35-21
3A-1
1. Grandview (15-1)
2. Pottsboro (15-1)
3. Brock (12-3)
4. Malakoff (11-2)
5. Columbus (12-3)
Grandview beat Pottsboro 42-35
3A-2
1. Gunter (15-1)
2. Pewitt (Omaha) (14-2)
3. Canadian (14-1)
4. East Bernard (14-1)
5. Abernathy (12-2)
Gunter beat Pewitt 43-22
2A-1
1. Refugio (16-0)
2. Shiner (12-1)
3. San Augustine (14-1)
4. Post (15-1)
5. San Saba (13-1)
Refugio beat Post 28-7
2A-2
1. Mart (13-3)
2. Hamlin (12-3)
3. Falls City (13-2)
4. Stratford (13-2)
5. Bremond (12-2)
Mart beat Hamlin 25-20
