Top 10 Non-District Games in 2025: 6A & 5A

6A vs 5A Crossover

South Oak Cliff vs Galena Park North Shore (August 29)

Over the past four seasons, South Oak Cliff hasn’t broken a sweat against fellow Dallas ISD teams in district play. In 24 district games since 2021, the Golden Bears have allowed 48 total points (two points per game). South Oak Cliff has reached four consecutive state championships, partly because it challenges itself through trial by fire in the non-district slate. The Golden Bears are 4-7 against non-district opponents like North Shore, Duncanville, Longview and DeSoto over the same period. 

While South Oak Cliff is still punching up in this battle as a 5A against a 6A, North Shore is more of an unknown than in any of the last six seasons. The Mustangs only return four starters on each side of the ball. Senior quarterback Kaleb Maryland is an explosive athlete who showed glimpses of future stardom in spot duty last season, but no returning running back or receiver had over 400 yards. Week 1 doesn’t always translate to the rest of the season, but it’ll provide a glimpse into whether North Shore is the same juggernaut or vulnerable.

Aledo vs Denton Guyer (August 29)

This matchup has blossomed into one of the DFW area’s best non-district rivalries since 2022. Denton Guyer has current bragging rights after snapping Aledo’s 30-game win streak with a 35-30 victory in Week 1. The Bearcats, led by senior wide receiver Kaydon Finley, are out for revenge. 

Finley is closing in on all of Aledo’s school receiving records. But who will throw him the ball this fall? Coach Robby Jones has two options he feels great about: senior Lincoln Tubbs and junior Nash McElree. Whoever gets the first start will face the regular season’s toughest test immediately. Denton Guyer is loaded on the front seven with defensive tackle Khyren Haywood (75 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 5 sacks), edge Zane Rowe (77 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, nine sacks) and linebacker Ryder Garcia (109 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 10 sacks).

San Antonio Brennan vs Smithson Valley (September 4)

Stephen Basore, the only head coach at Brennan since the program started in 2010, has turned the Bears into one of San Antonio’s best programs. Brennan has won 10 games every year since 2020 and can upset almost anybody. Case in point, beating the eventual state champion Smithson Valley 24-13 last year.

If Brennan pulls the upset again, it’ll be because their defense got after a Smithson Valley team still figuring out answers at quarterback and safety. Brennan outside linebacker Timothy Cummings (85 tackles, 30 tackles for loss) and defensive lineman Isaiah “Dada” Tolefree (48 tackles, 23 tackles for loss) can make life miserable for opposing offenses. 

But Smithson Valley has a stout defensive front itself. Defensive end Hudson Woods was the District Defensive Player of the Year, while defensive tackle Justin Roberts earned First Team All-District.

6A

Katy vs Dickinson (August 29)

Last year’s battle, a 41-37 Katy victory, was named a Game of the Year contender by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. This year’s kickoff has all the ingredients for the same experience with Katy head coach Gary Joseph’s famed ‘Weak Eagle’ defense facing Dickinson's power run game.  

Katy senior linebacker Jeremiah Smith is a two-time First Team All-District selection. The secondary is stacked with returning production like captain Isaiah McMillan and all-district nickelback selection Cooper Knott. They’ll have to stop Dickinson’s running back tandem of Malachi Gamble (reigning District MVP) and Jamal Mason.

North Crowley vs DeSoto (September 5)

North Crowley’s 57-51 win over two-time defending state champion DeSoto last season was a passing of the torch moment. Does DeSoto rip it back in 2025?

There won’t be a more star-studded game within the game this year than DeSoto’s wide receivers against North Crowley’s secondary. DeSoto’s Ethan Feaster was recently named the top wide receiver in the class of 2026 by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football despite reclassifying a grade up this offseason. North Crowley has three Division I prospects in the secondary. Texas Tech commit Aaron Bradshaw and Elijajuan Houston roam at safety, while cornerback Jerry Outhouse led the team with seven interceptions.

Fort Bend Ridge Point vs Bridgeland (September 11)

Ridge Point will be favored in every game of the regular season, but this Week 3 matchup with Bridgeland is the best gauge for its hopes for a deep playoff run. 

Bridgeland has a smash-mouth rushing attack with junior Kash Schwab (2,000 total yards and 17 touchdowns) and Alex Spence-Myers (801 yards, 7.85 yards per carry, and 13 touchdowns). The Bears also control the clock because quarterback Tyler Begeal makes smart decisions (13:1 TD:INT ratio). Ridge Point junior linebacker Dyllon Bennett, a team captain, had 16.5 tackles for loss last year and will need to put Bridgeland behind the chains.

Whichever Ridge Point quarterback takes over for Houston signee Austin Carlisle must watch out for Bridgeland defensive backs Braiden Graves (District Defensive Newcomer of the Year) and Nicholas Bright (unanimous First Team All-District).

Humble Atascocita vs Austin Westlake (September 12)

Nothing was humble about Atascocita ending Austin Westlake’s six-year home winning streak last season. 

Craig Stump has turned Humble Atascocita into one of TXHSFB’s most consistent programs with a 133-33 record over 13 seasons. His Eagles are apex predators to all teams except North Shore, whom they’ve lost to in the regional finals each of the last four seasons. State runner-up Austin Westlake is an early test to see if Humble Atascocita has the juice to outrun its Achilles heel. 

This game should answer how Atascocita plans to use senior Cardae Mack on offense. The reigning District MVP was primarily a quarterback in 2024 but is a Division I recruit at running back. Mack must be wary of Westlake defensive lineman and TCU commit Maddox Flynt no matter what position he plays.

5A

Corpus Christi Miller vs Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (August 28)

Miller breezed through Veterans Memorial in last year’s 41-7 season-opening victory by forcing five turnovers. But the battle between Corpus Christi’s two elite programs should be more even this year. 

That’s because Veterans Memorial running back Andrew Charlebois didn’t emerge as a sophomore last season until a slew of injuries forced him into action. He responded with 1,984 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns. The Eagles also return senior athlete Charles Perry Jr., a two-way starter and return specialist who missed most of last season with injury.

Miller will bank on linebacker Jayden Vela (158 tackles, 19 tackles for loss) slowing down Charlebois. Coach Justen Evans’ squad has a workhorse back of its own in Adrian Luna, who was an all-state selection at Moody.

Highland Park vs Lovejoy (September 5)

This is a duel between two of TXHSFB’s most famous coaches in Highland Park’s Randy Allen and Lovejoy’s Todd Dodge - and the worst retirees. Dodge returned to the sidelines last season after a two-year hiatus, while Allen only lasted five months before putting the fedora back on before the 2018 season. Allen has the most wins (460) of any active coach, while Dodge is 10th with 243.

Both quarterback whisperers have developed new protégés. Highland Park’s Buck Randall became the first sophomore to start for the program since Matthew Stafford. He threw for 3,907 yards and 40 touchdowns en route to a state runner-up finish. Meanwhile, Lovejoy senior Jacob Janecek led the team with 2,726 passing yards and 35 touchdowns, as well as 846 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns.

La Porte vs Port Neches-Groves (September 12)

After playing road games for two consecutive years, La Porte opens up their state-of-the-art Bulldog Stadium with three home games, the last of which comes against fellow Bay Area power Port Neches-Groves.

How does PN-G’s defensive-minded head coach, Jeff Joseph, account for star running back Sean Simon, who broke out with over 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns as a freshman? His defensive line will be smaller in 2025 after losing star tackle Jonathan Hernandez (Southern Arkansas). Rangy linebacker Jaxin Winfrey (87 tackles, 15 tackles for loss) will test his athleticism against Simon.