ULTIMATE PREVIEW: Regional Finals — 6A, 5A

Previews and predictions of the 2025 UIL Texas High School Football Regional Finals, including North Crowley vs. Allen, Duncanville vs. Waxahachie, and Galena Park North Shore vs. Dickinson.

Matt Stepp

North Crowley (12-1) vs Allen (13-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Denton’s DATCU Stadium: For the third year in a row, we get North Crowley and Allen in the regional final. The previous two seasons, North Crowley’s had Allen’s number. Can a senior laden Allen squad get past DFW’s newest 6A powerhouse? Last week North Crowley put together maybe their most impressive effort of the season as they blasted a surging Coppell squad, 46-21. The Panthers defense was absolutely dominant in holding Coppell to just 169 yards of offense. They got not one, but two safeties on the afternoon. The NCHS running game was sensational with Kiante Ingram running for 140 yards and a score. G’Yrell Smith ran for 50 yards and three scores. Jeremiah Robertson had 56 yards with a score and QB Hayes Cloutier ran for 92 yards. Cloutier added 229 yards through the air and a touchdown pass to lead the Panthers offense. Allen’s fresh off a dominant 56-13 win over Odessa Permian a week ago. The Eagles got 134 yards and three rushing touchdowns from RB Lyndon Spriggs and 62 yards and two scores from RB Jaden Hambric. Allen’s defense allowed just 212 yards of offense, much of it in the second half after Allen had established a 42-0 lead early in the third quarter. The key to this game is which defense can stop the run. Both teams love to run the ball and use the pass as a compliment. Allen has been reluctant to throw the deep ball and against this North Crowley secondary that might be trouble anyway. Whoever can consistently run the ball and get into manageable down and distance wins this game. North Crowley has the pedigree. This one is closer than the last two years, but the Panthers get to the semifinals once again. Stepp’s Pick: North Crowley by 5

Duncanville (10-1) vs Waxahachie (11-1), 3 p.m. Saturday at Midlothian’s Midlothian ISD Stadium: Early in the season, Waxahachie got the statement win they were looking for as the Indians stunned Duncanville at home 28-27. The very next week Waxahachie got boat-raced by DeSoto and they fell out of the statewide discussion. Duncanville, after that loss, began to figure out their identity after playing just one non-district game and the Panthers have rattled off nine straight wins. Waxahachie gets a chance to prove once and for all they are ready for the big stage as the long-awaited rematch takes place in front of what should be a standing room only crowd in Midlothian. Last week Waxahachie nearly didn’t have a chance to get that second win over Duncanville as the Indians trailed Cy Ranch 31-21 with two minutes left. But the Indians rallied to send the game into overtime in the game’s dying moments and then after a Nolan Barnard touchdown run to put WHS up 38-31, they got a defensive stop and survived Cy Ranch’s upset bid. Waxahachie was unable to consistently run the ball, but TCU QB commit Jerry Meyer, III saved his best game for a key moment throwing for 353 yards and two scores. Texas WR commit Kohen Brown led the Indians with seven catches for 137 yards and a score. Duncanville looked every bit the state title contender last week as the Panthers raced past Klein Collins 34-7. A 21-point second quarter outburst was the key for Duncanville as they’ve found a running game using speedy WR Ayson Theus as a wildcat quarterback, while a trio of speedy WR’s give the Panthers some dangerous big play weapons. Duncanville’s defensive line is among the best in the state; they make life miserable on opposing QBs and they do a great job against the run. This will be an absolute slugfest with elite talent all over the field, but beating Duncanville twice in the same season is a monumental task and I’m not sure Waxahachie is ready for that step at the moment. Stepp’s Pick: Duncanville by 9

https://www.texasfootball.com/articles/article/default.aspx?url=2025/06/07/2026-dctx-rising-100-who-are-the-top-recruits-in-texas

Galena Park North Shore (11-2) vs Dickinson (13-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Houston’s TDECU Stadium: https://www.texasfootball.com/articles/article/default.aspx?url=2025/12/01/the-10-wildest-games-from-the-third-round

Denton Ryan (12-1) vs Aledo (13-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Justin’s Northwest ISD Stadium: For the fourth time in the last two seasons, we get Ryan and Aledo. Aledo’s taken both regular season wins while Ryan took last year’s matchup in the regional final. Both teams come in playing their best football of the season, so expect nothing less than an absolute banger. Ryan rolled past Richland 41-10 last week as QB Quin Henigan threw for 206 yards and three scores. RB’s Rontavian Brown and Tre’Vaughn Reynolds combined for 198 yards on the ground and two scores. The last two weeks in wins over Abilene and Richland, the Denton Ryan offense has started operating at peak levels. Aledo since switching to Lincoln Tubbs at the QB spot full-time has been an offensive machine. Last week the Bearcats ripped through upstart Fort Worth Arlington Heights, 55-0, as multiple Bearcats had strong games, including Tubbs and RB’s Kaden Winfield and Brady Powell. The Aledo defense continued their stellar play as they held Arlington Heights to just 65 yards of offense. The regular season meeting was a game best described as a rock-fight; Aledo took home a 15-14 come from behind win to keep their long winning streak alive. Expect another low scoring game with both defenses being absolutely dominant. The difference is Aledo’s newly found firepower with QB Tubbs. This one is close for three quarters, but Aledo’s offense is the key late. Stepp’s Pick: Aledo by 9

Frisco Lone Star (13-0) vs Highland Park (12-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Frisco’s Ford Center: It’s a rematch of last year’s regional final won by Highland Park. Unbeaten Lone Star has the firepower to take the Scots down. Despite the game being in Frisco, it feels like a HPHS home game considering the Scots have never lost at the Ford Center. Jeff Rayburn’s squad cruised past West Mesquite, 47-20, last week as the Rangers stars rose the occasion. ATH Davian Groce had 81 receiving yards and two scores; he added 68 yards on the ground and a score. Karece Hoyt ran for 68 yards and a score and sophomore QB Trey Wright ran for 114 yards and a score, while throwing for 191 yards and two scores. Lone Star’s defense was stellar as well as they were key in helping the Rangers race out to a 40-0 lead. Highland Park has been the bane of Frisco ISD’s existence the past two seasons winning the last five playoff games against Frisco ISD opponents. Last week Randy Allen’s bunch cruised past Frisco Wakeland by an identical 47-20 score. Junior QB Buck Randall was lethal completing 20 of 27 passes for 268 yards and three scores and he added a touchdown on the ground as well. Both defenses this year have been much maligned at times and have given up points. The winner of this game will make key plays on defense; both offenses seem to be a push. I think it’s crazy to pick against Highland Park in the Ford Center, but I think it’s Lone Star’s time. Stepp’s Pick: Frisco Lone Star by 3

Melissa (10-2) vs Argyle (12-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Arlington’s Choctaw Stadium: Melissa will look to dethrone defending regional champion Argyle in a game that many projected would happen before the season started. Melissa dominated district rival Anna, 49-7, last week as the Cardinals defense totally dominated Anna to just 180 yards of offense and three turnovers. Melissa QB Brett Holloway had a monster night for the Cardinals rushing for 300 yards and two scores, while also throwing for 155 yards and three scores. The story though is Holloway’s ejection from the game in the second half, which will cause him to sit out the first half of this week’s game (pending appeal). Argyle used a flamethrower offense to roll past previously unbeaten Prosper Walnut Grove, 59-42, last week. QB Maguire Gasperson had a huge afternoon with 332 yards through the air and four scores, while adding 45 yards on the ground and a score. Julian Caldwell was his top target with 10 catches for 164 yards and two scores. The key here is how Melissa handles the first half without their QB. If they can keep it close at half, they could get a shot of momentum with Holloway entering the game in the third. I don’t know if the Cardinals can move the ball efficiently without Holloway, and I think Argyle gets out to a big lead and holds off the Cardinals in the second half. Stepp’s Pick: Argyle by 10