I ranked all the championship games based on my personal excitement level for the game. I also asked the rest of the games on the same criteria. Not enough time to get everyone to write up their rationale for each game, but below are my thoughts on each game and everyone’s ranking for the game (and we don’t agree on very much!)

All the offensive/ defensive rankings are based strictly on scoring in the teams class and division. Yardage is not included. The 6A ranks are in the classification as the there is no split in divisions before the playoffs.

12 – 1AD1 Rankin vs Gordon

(Antony 11th, Jason 9th, Dave, 11th)
Rankin #21 offense, #17 defense
Gordon #3 offense, #12 defense

Entering the season Gordon was the most prohibitive favorite to win a state championship of any team in any classification. And little has changed in that regard. Gordon actually scheduled itself to play two 11-man games this year. One was cancelled due to bad weather. In the other game Gordon beat an 11-man playoff team (Thorndale) playing 11-man football 54-21. In their twelve 6-man games this year, they won every game via the 45-point mercy rule at the half. I expect this game to go much the same as all of their games this year.

11 – 4AD2 Carthage vs West Orange-Stark

(Antony 12th, Jason 11th, Dave 2nd)
Carthage #2 offense, #9 defense
West Orange-Stark #36 offense, #11 defense

If Gordon isn’t the most prohibitive favorite to win a championship, then Carthage is. Carthage has more state titles (10) and playoff losses (9) over the last 19 seasons. I think Carthage makes it 11 state titles and a game that isn’t all that competitive. Don’t over analyze this one. Carthage has a significant advantage on offense and that should be the difference.

10 – 3AD1 Grandview vs Yokaum

(Antony 5th, Jason 10th, Dave 6th)
Grandview 17th offense, 48th defense
Yoakum 21st offense, 24th defense

In the hardest division to predict this year, Grandview and Yoakum emerged from the slugfest. None of the units for either team in this game has really stood out but they’ve still managed to win the games and make it to the big stage. Yoakum hasn’t been a big favorite in their last four games. They’ve been anywhere from a 7-point favorite to a 7-point underdog. Grandview’s path has been even tighter. They were a 7-point favorite in Bi-district, a 1-point favorite in Regional SF, and a 3 to 4-point underdog in the other 3 games.

9 – 1AD2 Jayton vs Richland Springs

(Antony 8th, Jason 2nd, Dave 12th)
Jayton 7th offense, 1st defense
Richland Springs 4th offense, 2nd defense

Defense isn’t something usually associated with 6-man football, but these teams are the two best defenses in 1AD2 this year. That fact alone might mean we finally get a game that goes the distance in 1A. Jayton is looking to go back-to-back. Richland Springs is looking to return to championship form and add to their record total of six-man championships.

8 – 2AD1 Hamilton vs Joaquin

(Antony 3rd, Jason 1st, Dave 5th)
Hamilton 29th offense, 3rd defense
Joaquin 27th offense, 24 defense

Make sure you are pronouncing it right. It’s now WA-KEEN. It’s PLAY-OFF WA-KEEN.
Of all the teams in the state title games, Joaquin has improved their performance the most in the playoffs and opposed to the regular season. Joaquin runs the Slot-T offense. These two teams are making their first championship appearances. That’s particularly notable since Hamilton played their first game in 1914 and Joaquin in 1930. This game has a chance to be entertaining but also has a chance to be a brutal slugfest.

7 – 5AD2 South Oak Cliff vs Richmond Randle

(Antony 9th, Jason 7th, Dave 8th)
South Oak Cliff #15 offense, #1 defense
Richmond Randle #2 offense, #3 defense

Randle’s high octane offense meets South Oak Cliff’s brutal defense. These teams meet for the 2nd consecutive year which decreases the entertainment value a bit. The key may well be how both teams perform on special teams as both teams defenses are top notch.

6 – 6AD1 Duncanville vs North Shore

(Antony 7th, Jason 12th, Dave 10th)
Duncanville 63rd offense, 7th defense
North Shore 18th offense, 9th defense

Duncanville/ North Shore 6. If that 6 wasn’t hanging at the end, I might well have this game higher on the list. Neither team had a spectacular regular season. Duncanville got a bit of a challenge from Waxahachie in the regional finals but breezed through the rest of the playoffs. North Shore’s biggest challenge was also in the regional finals (from Dickinson).

5 – 4AD1 Stephenville vs Kilgore

(Antony 2nd, Jason 8th, Dave 7th)
Stephenville 6th offense, 2nd defense
KIlgore 24th offense, 1st defense

Stephenville brings plenty of championship history into this game with 6 state titles but none since 2021. This will be Kilgore’s 4th championship game and they were here last year. That gives the current group of players for Kilgore more experience on this stage than Stephenville. But Stephenville’s staff does have the experience and should be able to get their team settled quickly. #1 defense vs #2 defense. Stephenville has the edge in offense and that may be the difference in the game.

4 – 6AD2 DeSoto vs CE King

(Antony 10th, Jason 3rd, Dave 1st)
DeSoto # 1 offense, #84 defense
CE King #1 offense, #56 defense

DeSoto and CE King are tied for the most points scored in 6A this season. And the similarities don’t end there. Both teams played in very tough districts. In fact I’d say the two toughest districts in 6A. Both teams have blinding speed on offense and special teams. This may well be the highest scoring game in the championship games this weekend. The key will be which defense can rise up and make the biggest plays.

3 – 2AD2 Muenster vs Shiner

(Antony 6th, Jason 3rd, Dave 4th)
Muenster #8 offense, #14 defense
Shiner #14 offense, #7 defense

This is a rematch of last year’s instant classic. And we could get there again this year. Muenster’s offense (#8) matches up with Shiner’s defense (#7). Shiner’s offense (#14) matches up with Muester’s defense (#14). At least from a scoring perspective this is the closet match up this week.

2 – 5AD1 Frisco Lone Star vs Smithson Valley

(Antony 4th, Jason 6th, Dave 9th)
Lone Star #10 offense, #14 defense
Smithson Valley #21 offense, #3 defense

Both teams can certainly put points on the board, but both defenses are ranked higher than their offensive opponent. Smithson Valley wants to slow the game down and limit each team’s possessions. Lone Star wants a wide-open game. The pace of the game will likely determine the outcome.

1 – 3AD2 Wall vs Newton

(Antony 1st, Jason 6th, Dave 9th)
Wall #3 offense, #1 defense
Newton #1 offense, #3 offense

Talk about evenly matched. Wall’s #3 offense vs Newton’s #3 defense. Newton’s #1 offense vs Wall’s #1 defense. Good on good and better on better. Both teams have explosive offenses and top notch defenses. Wall won seven consecutive games by 40 points or more before squeaking by Gunter last week. Newton’s only loss was their season opener to 4AD2 state finalist West Orange-Stark. They’ve won their last elven games by 30 or more points. This could be an absolute banger.