WHEN: Friday, November 28th (11/28/25) -- 7:00 PM
WHERE: Choctaw Stadium -- Arlington, TX
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Few programs in Texas have operated with the consistency and command Southlake Carroll has shown this fall. The Dragons haven’t skipped a beat since last year’s run to Jerry World, overpowering virtually every opponent they’ve faced.
Entering the Regional Semifinals with an unblemished 12–0 record, the No. 1-ranked team in the state (MaxPreps) once again looks every bit the title contender it was projected to be, intent on making another December push toward the UIL 6A-DII crown.
Under seventh-year head coach Riley Dodge — a former SLC quarterback and 2006 UIL 5A State Champion — the Dragons remain firmly rooted in a high-octane passing attack, led by one of the state’s most polished quarterbacks.
Senior signal-caller Angelo Renda, last season’s unanimous District 4-6A MVP, has been nothing short of sensational. The Pittsburgh-commit has diced up defensive units for more than 3,500 yards and 36 touchdowns through the air, while adding nearly 400 rushing yards and eight additional scores.
His chemistry with Ohio State-bound senior wideout Brock Boyd — the reigning 4-6A Offensive Player of the Year — continues to be a centerpiece of Carroll’s success, with Boyd compiling 75 catches for 1,145 yards and 15 touchdowns.
The rest of the receiving corps is equally explosive. Junior standout Blake Gunter, the 2024 District Offensive Newcomer of the Year, has eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark with 13 touchdowns, while junior Brody Knowles — a four-star talent with offers from Oklahoma and TCU — has added nearly 700 yards and five scores.
Even still, the Dragons are far from one-dimensional. Senior running back Davis Penn has thrived in an expanded role, logging nearly 700 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns behind a formidable offensive line anchored by Oklahoma-bound tackle Luke Wilson, junior Tristan Dare (Michigan), and senior Carey Clayton (Memphis).
Defensively, Carroll has been arguably even more dominant, allowing fewer than seven points per game. Senior OLB Robbie Ladd (77 tackles, 13 TFL) and LB Williams Leins (70 tackles) form the spine of a disciplined, physical front seven. Up front, senior defensive lineman Crawford Taylor leads the charge with 8.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss, while senior DT Jake Lucky — a first-team, all-district performer — anchors the interior. On the back end, senior safeties Gavin Strange, who leads the team with six passes defended, and Austin Bussmann provide steadiness and range.
Special teams remain yet another strength, with senior kicker Gavin Strange (Duke commit) and senior punter Zac Hays (LA Tech) rounding out one of the state’s most complete rosters.
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On the opposite sideline, Prosper arrives with momentum of its own. In his third year at the helm, head coach Tyler Moore has the Eagles firing on all cylinders, entering Round 3 at 11–1 after decisive postseason wins over Hebron (66–39) and Berkner (50–24). And while the attention remains squarely on the task ahead, it’s impossible not to recognize the opportunity in front of Prosper — a potential path to its first state title since 2008, back when the program competed in Class 3A.
Much like Southlake Carroll, the Eagles possess one of the premier offensive lines in Texas. Senior standouts Bryce Gilmore (Texas Tech), Sean Stover (Duke), and Zaden Krempin (Texas A&M) form a powerful trio up front, giving Prosper the kind of foundation every contender covets.
Senior quarterback Braeden Imhoff (Lamar), the reigning District 6-6A Offensive Player of the Year, continues to captain the offense with poise and efficiency. Supporting him are senior running back Bryce Robinson and three-star Tulsa-commit Lathon Latiolais, who brings dynamic production on the perimeter. Junior tight end Elliot Brown adds balance to a potent and versatile arsenal.
Defensively, the Eagles are equally imposing. Senior USC-commit Jake Johnson — last season’s District 6-6A Defensive Lineman of the Year — leads a fierce front alongside Army-bound senior Zac Manning. Senior linebacker Cade Smallwood provides reliability and range in the middle, giving the unit its backbone. And on special teams, senior punter and Texas-commit Mikey Bukauskas offers consistent field-flipping capability.
WHEN: Saturday, November 29th (11/29/25) -- 1:00 PM
WHERE: Midlothian ISD Stadium -- Midlothian, TX
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North Crowley (11–1), the defending 6A-D1 State Champions, enters the matchup playing its best football of the year. Since a narrow 37–35 loss to Rockwall in September, head coach Ray Gates’ Panthers have ripped off an undefeated District 3-6A run — a stretch that included Gates’ 50th career win at NCHS — before rolling past Keller (42–20) and Midland Legacy (63–17) in the opening rounds of the postseason.
Despite featuring a relatively new-look roster, North Crowley is still loaded with firepower. Junior running back Kiante Ingram surpassed 1,000 rushing yards during the regular season and continues to be the engine of the offense. Sophomore wideout Damarion Mays, a 6-foot-2 four-star with offers from Oregon, Ohio State, USC, and Texas A&M, adds a vertical dimension few can match. Quarterback Hayes Cloutier has also flourished behind an imposing offensive line anchored by Texas-bound senior John Turntine III.
Defensively, the Panthers remain just as formidable, led by four-star junior defensive back Jerry Outhouse Jr. and Texas Tech commit Aaron Bradshaw, who anchor a secondary built to erase big plays.
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Coppell (10–1) arrives riding a seven-game winning streak and an identity centered around balance, explosiveness, and a rising star under center. The Cowboys’ lone loss came to Denton Guyer in September, but since then, Antonio Wiley’s group has dominated, shutting out Plano (38–0) and dispatching Richardson (38–7) to punch its ticket to Round 3.
Sophomore quarterback Carter Zingelmann has been nothing short of transformative. The 6-foot-5 four-star has unlocked Coppell’s offense with 1,736 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, complemented by 733 rushing yards and 13 additional scores. Supporting him is a potent backfield duo: junior Jayden George and senior Dylan McAfee, who have combined for over 1,700 yards and 20 total touchdowns.
Defensively, the Cowboys field a deep, athletic unit featuring senior twins Tyree and Tyrell Roberson, junior playmaker Jaden Bibbs, and sophomore safety Anthony Lewis. In the trenches, junior linebacker Madden Montague (88 tackles) sets the tone, while sophomore Aaron Isbell (8 sacks, 16 TFL) and seniors Braylon Powell and Eduvie Nesiama fortify the front.
With North Crowley’s championship pedigree clashing against Coppell’s meteoric rise, Saturday’s showdown has all the makings of a Region I classic.
WHERE: Curtis Culwell Center -- Garland, TX
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Few teams have been quite as captivating as Southlake Carroll in 2025.
Refined by a daunting district slate featuring Byron Nelson and Keller — the former of which will be competing in the 6A-DI Final — the Dragons have weathered this postseason storm with remarkable composure. Even more impressive is the fact that they’ve done so while sweeping every opponent in their path, most recently overpowering a red-hot Tomball squad last Saturday.
Suffice it to say, Southlake Carroll (34–5) has more than earned its place in this week’s championship. Under third-year coach Leslie Jackson, this moment represents the program’s first trip to the UIL State Final since 1998 — and only its third State Tournament berth overall, the last coming in 2013.
The primary weapon for Jackson’s senior-laden roster is undoubtedly Layla Austin. Dominating from the pin, Austin (a San Diego State-signee) has remarkably compiled the same number of kills and digs — 468 apiece — leading the Dragons in both categories.
Joining her in the front row are TCU-bound middle Kinsley Young and fellow senior outside hitter Teddy-Raye Ewers (Incarnate Word). Young, the defending 4-6A Blocker of the Year, has stacked well over 300 kills and 100 blocks this fall, while Ewers has contributed an additional 241 kills and 255 digs.
Carroll is just as disciplined on the back line, anchored by veterans such as DS Lauren St. Charles (Trinity), who has collected more than 400 digs, and setter Emma Eyster (Oklahoma Christian), whose near-700 assists have orchestrated the attack. Freshman Mariel Elizondo is also expected to play a pivotal role as she approaches the 500-assist mark in her debut season.
The Austin Maroons pose following their 3-2 win against Tompkins in the 6A-D2 State SemisMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
Where Southlake Carroll’s run has been defined by sheer force, Austin’s journey has been shaped by a battle of wills. That contrast came into sharp focus last Saturday at Houston ISD’s Delmar Fieldhouse, when the Maroons rallied from a 2–0 deficit against Tompkins to complete a dramatic reverse sweep.
That kind of resilience in the season’s most critical moments speaks volumes about the mentality head coach Kiley Woods and her staff have instilled in the program’s DNA. Moreover, it now gives Austin (41–6) an opportunity to pursue its second State crown, pairing with the 5A title the school captured in 1992.
It’s no secret who the stars of the show are. USC-bound senior Riley Malloy has been virtually unstoppable throughout her decorated career. Standing 6-foot-5, Malloy blends size, intensity, and intuition — plus a wicked serve — and it’s no surprise she’s amassed well over 500 kills, 500 receptions, and 300 digs this fall.
Alongside her is junior middle Camille Presley, a Texas commit, who has supplied 244 kills and a team-leading 102 blocks. Arkansas signee Maggie McCarroll (Sr., S/RS) adds another dimension entirely, proving she can do it all with 702 assists and 272 kills to her name.
Defensively, the Maroons are just as sensational. When opponents struggle to land clean swings, junior libero Laven Blumoff — a Denver commit — is usually the reason, having registered 420 digs in 2025. Another vital presence is junior setter Nora Bettis, an understated offensive orchestrator with more than 500 assists.
By night’s end, either Southlake Carroll or Austin will finally grasp a championship that’s eluded both for decades. And given the contrast in their journeys — one forged through dominance, the other in defiant resilience — the title will soon belong to whichever side best channels the qualities that brought them this far.
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