A matchup of Texas high school football powers with national ranking implications takes place Saturday as No. 2 Westlake (Austin) faces No. 7 Katy in the UIL Texas 6A Division 2 semifinals. The Chaparrals won their 38th consecutive game, dominating Vandegrift (Austin) 70-7 while the Tigers reeled off their 22nd straight 34-31 over Summer Creek (Houston).
Austin Westlake, one team that could lay claim to the MaxPreps National Championship should No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) falter, is two wins away from winning its third consecutive state title. The Chaparrals won the 6A Division 2 crown in 2019 and followed that up with a 6A Division 1 championship last year. The Tigers won the 6A Division 2 title in 2020. This is the first meeting between the two Texas powers since
Sam Ehlinger led Westlake to a 32-29 win to open the 2016 season.
Austin Westlake-Katy is one of four MaxPreps Top 25 matchups this week.
No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) is one win away from going wire-to-wire as
the top-ranked team in the MaxPreps Top 25 as the Monarchs prepare for Serra
(San Mateo) in Saturday's CIF Open Division state championship at
Saddleback College (Mission Viejo). The Monarchs are going for their
third state title since 2017.
In the UIL Texas 6A Division 1 bracket, No. 6 Southlake Carroll (Southlake) takes on No. 20 Duncanville in Saturday's semifinals at McKinney ISD Stadium (McKinney). The Dragons rolled past Allen 47-21 and the Panthers beat DeSoto 38-20.
No. 3 Collins Hill (Suwanee) took down the defending Georgia AAAAAAA state champs Grayson (Loganville) 31-0 in the semifinals, posting its sixth shutout of the season. The Eagles face No. 19 Milton in Saturday's title game at Center Parc Stadium (Atlanta). Milton beat Walton (Marietta) 52-7 in the other semifinal.
The lone new team to join this week's MaxPreps Top 25 rankings is Saguaro (Scottsdale) after beating previous No. 11 Hamilton (Chandler) 31-24 in the Arizona Open Division semifinals. Junior quarterback
Devon Dampier had a huge night with his legs rushing for three scores. The Sabercats check in at No. 23 and face No. 16 Chandler in the Open Division championship on Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium (Tempe).
The Wolves pulled off a wild 27-21 overtime win over Liberty (Peoria) in the other semifinal after trailing 21-7 with under five minutes remaining.
Blaine Hipa found
Anyale Velazquez for a 10-yard touchdown with 2.7 seconds left, then ran in the game-tying conversion to send it to overtime.
Frankie Morales sealed the win with an interception in the end zone after
Nason Coleman made a great one-handed touchdown catch to put Chandler up 27-21. The Wolves look for their sixth consecutive state title on Saturday.
Malachi Medlock, Duncanville
Photo by Eddie Kelly
MaxPreps Top 25 High School Football Rankings
Record: 11-0 | Last week: 1
Last week: Idle
Next week: Dec. 11 vs. Serra (San Mateo)
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 2
Last week: Beat Vandegrift (Austin) 70-7
Next week: Dec. 11 vs. No. 7 Katy
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 3
Last week: Beat Grayson (Loganville) 31-0
Next week: Dec. 11 vs. No. 19 Milton
Record: 12-0 | Last week: 4
Season complete
Record: 8-1 | Last week: 5
Season complete
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 10
Last week: Beat Allen 47-21
Next week: Dec. 11 vs. No. 20 Duncanville
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 6
Last week: Beat Summer Creek (Houston) 34-31
Next week: Dec. 11 vs. No. 2 Westlake (Austin)
Record: 10-3 | Last week: 7
Season complete
Record: 10-2 | Last week: 8
Season complete
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 9
Season complete
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 12
Last week: Beat Northwestern (Miami) 37-12
Next week: Idle
Record: 13-1 | Last week: 13
Last week: Beat Buchholz (Gainesville) 45-7
Next week: Idle
Record: 11-1 | Last week: 14
Season complete
Record: 12-1 | Last week: 15
Season complete
Record: 13-1 | Last week: 18
Last week: Beat Central (Phenix City) 38-22
Season complete
Record: 11-1 | Last week: 17
Last week: Beat Liberty (Peoria) 27-21
Next week: Dec. 11 vs. No. 23 Saguaro (Scottsdale)
Record: 9-1 | Last week: 16
Season complete
Record: 13-0 | Last week: 19
Last week: Beat Deer Creek (Edmond) 63-14
Season complete
Record: 13-1 | Last week: 21
Last week: Beat Walton (Marietta) 52-17
Next week: Dec. 11 vs. No. 3 Collins Hill (Suwanee)
Record: 12-1 | Last week: 24
Last week: Beat DeSoto 38-20
Next week: Dec. 11 vs. No. 6 Southlake Carroll (Southlake)
Record: 11-0 | Last week: 21
Season complete
Record: 11-2 | Last week: 23
Last week: Beat Baker County (Glen St. Mary) 54-21
Next week: Idle
Record: 11-1 | Last week: NR
Last week: Beat Hamilton (Chandler) 31-24
Next week: Dec. 11 vs. No. 16 Chandler
Record: 15-0 | Last week: 25
Last week: Beat Summit (Spring Hill) 43-26
Season complete
Record: 11-1 | Last week: 11
Last week: Lost to Saguaro (Scottsdale) 31-24
Season complete
