Waxahachie sneaks by to remain No. 1
By Jackson DiPasquale
The second week of the UIL football season delivered plenty of eye-openers around the Metroplex.
There were several matchups between highly ranked teams, but more often than not, those games weren't particularly close.
Still, Week 2 gave us plenty to talk about.
From Mansfield Timberview knocking off a traditional Denton power to Allen making another massive statement, North Crowley's defense dominating Southlake Carroll and Aledo staring at its first 0-2 start in four years, here are five things we learned from the weekend.
1. Mansfield Timberview Just Put the Metroplex on Notice
Mansfield Timberview 35, Denton Ryan 30
Mansfield Timberview went into Denton and did something the Wolves had never done before — beat Billy Ryan. Timberview had lost the previous three meetings, including games in 2008, 2024 and 2025.
That streak ended Friday night and this wasn't just another win.
It was a statement.
Steven Hall threw a touchdown pass to give the Wolves a 27-14 lead in the third quarter, although the extra point was blocked and returned for two points. Ryan wasn't finished.
The Raiders cut the deficit to 27-23 after R’mani Benjamin's touchdown run and appeared to have all the momentum.
Then Timberview answered.
J-Uan Harrison scored early in the fourth quarter, and Chase Fisher's two-point conversion run pushed the lead back to 13.
Ryan couldn't complete the comeback.
For Timberview, it's a huge early-season win against a program that has been one of the most consistent in the region.
The Raiders have won at least 11 games in six of the past eight seasons and reached the regional final last year.
Timberview, meanwhile, won just seven games in 2025.
This is the type of victory that can change the trajectory of a season.
2. Waxahachie Survives — and Remains No. 1
Waxahachie 27, Coppell 24
The No. 1 team in the Dave Campbell's Texas Football/Associated Press Class 6A rankings survived a serious test.
Waxahachie trailed Coppell 24-21 late before running back Taylen Strange found the end zone with 1:55 remaining. That touchdown gave the Indians the lead, and they held on for the 27-24 victory.
Waxahachie is now 2-0 under first-year head coach Lawrence Williams, who took over after Shane Tolleson left for Billy Ryan. The victory also avenged last year's loss to Coppell, when the Cowboys won 31-17.
The Indians didn't dominate. They didn't need to.
The top-ranked team in the state survived a heavyweight fight, and that can be just as valuable as a blowout this early in the season.
3. Allen Might Be the Team to Beat in Texas
Allen 50, DeSoto 6
On paper, this looked like one of the weekend's biggest games.
In reality, it was a demolition. Allen jumped all over DeSoto and rolled to a 50-6 victory, scoring 50 unanswered points after the Eagles fell behind early.
Sophomore quarterback Ty Snell threw four touchdown passes, with three going to sophomore Zach Williams.
Lyndon Spriggs added a touchdown run and then returned a free kick 76 yards for another score but the biggest takeaway wasn't simply the final score.
It's what Allen has done in the first two weeks.
The Eagles have now beaten Duncanville and DeSoto in consecutive games — two programs that have been among the defining powers of Texas high school football in recent years.
Former Allen star and NFL quarterback Kyler Murray was also in attendance Friday night. Allen is playing with the type of confidence and explosiveness that has made the program one of the state's all-time powers and with a sophomore quarterback leading the offense, the Eagles look like they're only getting started.
4. North Crowley Has a Defense That Can Travel
North Crowley 40, Southlake Carroll 10
Southlake Carroll has spent the first two weeks showing just how much talent it has. The Dragons also have a 1-1 record to show for it.
After rallying from a 27-0 deficit to beat Jenks, Oklahoma, 34-33 in Week 1, Carroll once again struggled early against an elite opponent.
This time, there was no comeback.
North Crowley rolled 40-10 behind a defense that repeatedly slammed the door on the Dragons.
Southlake was able to move the ball, but four trips inside the red zone ended in turnovers. That's the difference against a team like North Crowley.
Coach Lee Munn said he wanted his team to find out what kind of team it has in Week 2 — rather than waiting until Week 14.
Mission accomplished.
The Dragons got an early look at the type of team they'll likely have to beat in the postseason. Now comes another massive test.
Southlake Carroll hosts Allen next week. After what the Eagles did to Duncanville and DeSoto, that could be one of the biggest games in Texas in Week 3.
5. Aledo Is in Unfamiliar Territory
Waco Midway 28, Aledo 21
Aledo is 0-2. Let that sink in.
The Bearcats dropped their second straight game, this time falling to Waco Midway after rallying from a 14-0 deficit to tie the game at 21-21.
They never found a way to take the lead. The last time Aledo started 0-2 was in 2022, when the Bearcats lost to Dallas Parish Episcopal and Denton Guyer.
Of course, Aledo responded that season by winning its next 14 games and claiming another state championship. That's the history of this program.
Dating back roughly two decades, Aledo has rarely experienced extended losing stretches. The Bearcats have won 11 state championships during that span but this is a different era.
Aledo is now competing in Class 6A, and the margin for error is different. The Bearcats still have plenty of time to turn things around.
Their non-district finale against Euless Trinity gives them one more opportunity to regroup before District 3-6A play begins but for a program accustomed to winning at an almost absurd rate, 0-2 is unfamiliar territory and that's exactly why everyone will be watching.
Honorable Mention: Denton Is Turning the Corner
Denton 56, Irving 0
Denton has been one of the more difficult programs among the Denton ISD schools in recent years.
Dating back to 2018, the Broncos' highest win total in a season had been four.
There have been no winning seasons during that stretch, including a couple of 1-9 campaigns.
Last year, Denton went 4-6 — doubling its win total from 2024.
Now, something looks different.
The Broncos are 2-0 for the first time since 2016, which was also the last time the program finished with a winning record.
Former Kansas head coach David Beaty is guiding the program, and Denton's 56-0 demolition of Irving is another sign that the Broncos may finally be turning the corner.
Two weeks in, Denton has already matched its best start in a decade.
And suddenly, there's some excitement around the Broncos.
The Bottom Line
Week 2 gave us plenty of answers — and even more questions.
Is Allen the best team in Texas?
Can North Crowley's defense carry the Panthers deep into December?
Can Aledo recover from its first 0-2 start since 2022?
Is Mansfield Timberview ready to become a legitimate contender and can Southlake Carroll bounce back against Allen?
That's the beauty of September football, we're still learning but after Week 2, the Metroplex has a few new teams to watch.
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North Crowley Panthers are red hot
By Alex Hinson
FORT WORTH — North Crowley didn't just win Friday night.
The Panthers made a statement.
After falling behind early, North Crowley ripped off 40 unanswered points and dominated Southlake Carroll 40-10 in a Week 2 showdown between two of Texas' top-ranked 6A programs.
The Panthers improved to 2-0, while Southlake Carroll dropped to 1-1.
The star of the night was senior running back G’yrell Smith, who scored four rushing touchdowns and repeatedly found the end zone when North Crowley needed a spark.
“I had to show up for my team and do what I have to do,” said Smith, a North Texas pledge.
But this was far from a one-man show.
North Crowley's defense set the tone all night, forcing turnovers, shutting down Southlake's rushing attack and coming up with huge stops in the red zone.
The Dragons managed just 94 rushing yards on 28 carries, averaging 3.4 yards per carry.
Southlake actually led 7-6 after the first quarter, but everything changed early in the second.
After a bad snap sailed over the Southlake punter's head, North Crowley took over at the Dragons' 18-yard line. Smith quickly cashed in, scoring his first touchdown of the night and giving the Panthers the lead for good.
It was also the beginning of a major change in North Crowley's backfield.
With North Crowley trailing 7-6, head coach DeMarcus Harris made a switch at quarterback, bringing in Jazheel McCradic for starting quarterback Jacob Torres.
The move paid immediate dividends.
McCradic guided the Panthers through a 21-point second quarter, including a 28-yard touchdown pass to Pryce Demerson. Smith added another touchdown run late in the half, and North Crowley went into halftime with a 27-7 advantage.
The Panthers' defense delivered a massive moment before halftime, stopping Southlake Carroll at the 1-yard line with 2:39 remaining in the second quarter.
From there, North Crowley took control.
Southlake's turnovers continued to pile up.
A fumble inside the red zone was recovered by Jordan Herigon, while another Dragons possession ended with Elijajuan Houston stripping the ball and recovering it at the Southlake 1-yard line.
North Crowley then went 99 yards, capped by a 26-yard touchdown run from Smith with 4:33 remaining.
The Panthers weren't finished.
Southlake's next drive ended with the first of two interceptions by sophomore defensive back Braylen Cunningham.
North Crowley briefly gave Southlake another chance when McCradic threw an incomplete pass on fourth down from the Dragons' 19-yard line.
Then came a roughing-the-passer penalty.
The Panthers got a new set of downs, and two plays later Smith powered in from eight yards out with 1:10 remaining to make it 40-7.
Cunningham later added his second interception, once again ending a Southlake drive inside the North Crowley red zone.
The performance even caught the attention of former Cowboys star Dez Bryant, who watched Cunningham's second pick and turned to say:
“That No. 16 is a player.”
Southlake did find the end zone once more, but by then the Panthers had already turned the game into a statement victory.
The Dragons did have some success through the air. Blake Gunter hauled in six catches for 146 yards, while Illinois pledge Brody Knowles was held to just three catches for 44 yards with UCLA pledge Jerry Outhouse Jr. matched up against him for much of the night.
Southlake's Dez Bryant Jr. finished with one catch for 20 yards, but his lone reception put the Dragons inside the red zone before another turnover ended the threat.
For North Crowley, it was a complete performance. Smith provided the touchdowns. McCradic provided the spark and the defense made sure Southlake Carroll never found its way back into the game.
“Man, my defense is so strong,” Smith said. “I love my defense … they even hurt me at practice. Shoutout to my defense; shoutout to Coach Harris and all my defensive coaches.”
After two weeks, North Crowley isn't just undefeated. The Panthers are looking like a serious problem.
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