WHERE: AT&T Stadium -- Arlington, TX
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2025-26 C.E. King FootballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
C.E. KING PANTHERS
This fall has certainly been underscored by a continuing trend of “firsts” for C.E. King. Sheldon ISD’s flagship football program is in the midst of the most distinguished campaign in its history.
Following last week’s 58–41 thrashing of defending 6A-Division II champion Vandegrift, the Panthers (13-2) now make their long-awaited debut in the UIL State Final—accomplishing the feat in head coach Cory Laxen’s inaugural season at the helm.
The “WAO”—an acronym for “We Are One”—stitched to C.E. King’s jerseys is emblematic of what has driven them to this point: cohesion, determination, and an irrefutable dawg-mentality.
Few defenses can withstand nearly 52 points per game, and the Panthers’ offensive stars have made that output possible.
Senior tailback Dionne Sims brings an almost superhuman level of efficiency. It’s not that Sims appeared out of nowhere this fall; rather, his rapid ascension into the Texas high school football stratosphere warrants a deeper dive. The recent Rice-signee has already eclipsed 2,000 all-purpose yards, with 28 combined scores heading into Saturday’s finale.
King Sr. RB Dionne Sims flexes vs. Atascocita (9/26/2025)Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Sims’ dominance forces opposing defenses to respect the run, giving senior quarterback Timothy Potts Jr. ample opportunity to capitalize. Potts has showcased remarkable precision, throwing 34 touchdowns against just two interceptions while totaling 2,594 yards. He also provides a mobile threat, adding nearly 800 rushing yards and 11 scores to the mix.
Sophomore Dillon Mitchell has been deservedly integrated across passing, rushing, and special teams, combining for over 1,100 scrimmage yards, 16 total scores, and 501 return yards. Another exceptional target for Potts is senior wideout Le’Jerric Clark, who has hauled in 43 passes for 841 yards and 7 TDs.
Factor in an impressive junior class led by wide receiver Braylon Lane and running back Antwon Sanders, and the Panthers’ offensive depth and versatility come fully into focus.
King’s defense has been just as formidable, generating splash plays and momentum-shifting moments when it matters most – accumulated 68 sacks and 31 turnovers in 2025.
King Sr. DE Dominick ToulonBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Senior defensive end Dominick Toulon has accounted for 17 of those sacks, along with 93 tackles (21 for loss), while junior MLB Damian Broussard leads the unit with 111 tackles. Also, senior Calvin Carter should have an impact off the edge.
Junior safety Kei’Dryn Edmond contributes in multiple ways, totaling 54 tackles, five interceptions, four forced fumbles, and three recoveries. Fellow junior defensive backs Enoch Bell and Mykah Laster round out an exemplary secondary, proving the Panthers are tough to move through the air as well.
We all know what’s at stake here. Now, can this become the first C.E. King team to bring home a UIL title?
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DESOTO EAGLES
DeSoto head coach Claude Mathis was visibly energized following last week’s monumental win, declaring the team is entering a new era and that it is “just beginning.”
That sentiment carries added weight considering the Eagles knocked off the previously No. 1–ranked team in Texas, Southlake Carroll, in a decisive 57–44 victory last Saturday.
As a result, DeSoto (12-3) punched its ticket to the UIL title game, marking its fourth overall appearance—and third since Mathis returned to lead the program in 2019. The Eagles will look to make it a perfect 4-for-4 at State, with a red-hot C.E. King squad standing as the final obstacle to another championship, joining the rings secured in 2023, 2022, and 2016.
It’s clear DeSoto can match King’s scoring output. Saturday shapes up as an offensive shootout, with both teams averaging 52 points per contest.
Junior SaRod Baker has delivered a performance for the ages out of the backfield. Defenses have seemingly had no answer for the bruising running back, as Baker has accounted for more than 3,300 yards from scrimmage and 43 scores. Even more impressive, he can sling it as well, throwing for nearly 500 yards and four additional touchdowns.
When Baker isn’t carrying or tossing the ball, senior quarterback Legend Howell orchestrates the offense from behind center. Possession is often the name of the game, and Howell has proven efficient, completing 70 percent of his passes while approaching 2,500 yards through the air, with 27 touchdowns against just three interceptions.
Howell’s connection with his favorite target, senior wideout Ethan “Boobie” Feaster, is nothing short of spectacular. The five-star talent who recently signed with USC boasts over 1,500 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns entering this week’s matchup.
Also like C.E. King, DeSoto’s defense is opportunistic, frequently forcing timely mistakes.
Six-foot-4 junior defensive tackle K’Adrian “Big Juicy” Redmond fortifies the trenches, a crucial piece in slowing down King’s powerful run game. Junior edge rusher DJ Rumph will look to wreak havoc in the pocket, while senior defensive back Jordan Stevens—who recorded a pivotal pick-six early in the fourth quarter against Southlake Carroll—anchors a balanced secondary.
Alief Elsik's Alexandra Brooks
A fixture in Elsik’s athletic scene, she’s an individual who seems to thrive in motion, balancing a year-round schedule that would test even the most disciplined candidates. Suffice it to say, Brooks’ résumé is full, and her impact is felt in every corner of campus.
“I’m just a competitor,” Brooks said. “I’m the type of girl who just wants to get it, with whatever goal I have in mind. I think that drive comes from my parents since they push me and encourage me. There’s rarely a time that I’m at home doing nothing because being involved in everything I can brings me a lot of joy.”
Now a senior guard for the Rams, Brooks has become a reliable presence in head coach Lin Roberts’ program — a player capable of bridging energy and composure. While her first passion may be cheerleading, she’s found plenty of room to thrive on the court.
“Just like in cheer, it’s always my teammates that help to bring out the best in me,” Brooks said. “Whenever I’m down, or in game situations, they give me that boost in order for me to hoop the way I should.”
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
Beyond what any box score can show, Brooks’ story is one of growth and resilience — shaped by lessons that extend past athletics.
“Learning is something that I’ve gotten much better at,” she said. “Overcoming my dyslexia was definitely a challenge, and it took several years for me to do so, but I did. When it comes to the athletic industry, I also feel that my communication skills have really benefitted from that process.”
Looking ahead, Brooks plans to keep her schedule just as full.
She hopes to play basketball at the next level while earning a degree in education — with her sights set on returning to Alief, much like the mentors who once guided her.
“My cheer coach is like my second mom,” Brooks said. “It would be nice to return the favor in whatever capacity I can — whether that’s teaching or coaching. The goal is to come back and keep contributing to the place that helped me become who I am.”
WHERE: AT&T Stadium -- Arlington, TX
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NORTH SHORE MUSTANGS
In just his third season back at his alma mater, head coach Willie Gaston has once again guided North Shore to a familiar destination. Arlington awaits, as the Mustangs prepare for yet another bid for the UIL banner — a stage they’ve come to know better than most.
North Shore’s 28–6 semifinal victory over Lake Travis at W.W. Thorne Stadium did more than punch a ticket to the title game. It marked the program’s seventh championship appearance since 2015 (eighth overall) and reaffirmed a simple truth across the state: Eastside is still Eastside.
True to form, the 6A-Division I crown will be decided by North Shore (13–2) and Duncanville (12–1), as Saturday amounts to the sixth showdown between the bitter rivals.
While Duncanville has won the last two championship clashes, North Shore still holds a 3–2 edge at State — a layer of familiarity that adds weight to an already loaded rematch. A victory would secure the Mustangs’ first ring since 2021 and the sixth overall in program history.
North Shore Sr. DL Za'Qwaun Nunn (#99) & Sr. QB Kaleb Maryland (#7)Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Offensively, everything begins with senior quarterback Kaleb Maryland. The Utah State-signee has been the picture of efficiency, compiling 3,266 passing yards and 34 touchdowns while adding 549 yards and 10 scores on the ground.
Maryland has thrived with a balanced receiver room led by senior Jaylen Bocard (1,160 yards, 12 TDs), alongside juniors Aubrey Johnson (720 yds, 6 TDs) and La’Damian Defreeze (444 yds, 6 TDs), as well as senior Dorian Barnes (516 yds, 7 TDs), giving the Mustangs flexibility at every level of the field.
That attack is complemented by senior running back Hezekiah Johnson, who has embraced a starring role behind a sturdy offensive line, eclipsing 1,100 rushing yards with 19 touchdowns.
Meanwhile, on defense, senior linemen Za’Qwaun Nunn (LA Tech) and Xavier Waters (Louisiana-Lafayette) anchor a unit that has helped limit opponents to fewer than 16 points per game.
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DUNCANVILLE PANTHERS
The Panthers have rendered last year’s Round 5 loss to eventual 6A-D1 champion North Crowley little more than a footnote in the broader context of their dominance over the past decade. That reset has been evident throughout the postseason, most notably during the Panthers’ recent two-week stretch.
Two weeks ago, Duncanville earned the final say in a heated Region I Final against district counterpart Waxahachie, pulling away late for a 35–27 victory. The Panthers followed that performance with an emphatic statement, dispatching fellow Dallas heavyweight Allen, 31–9, to punch their ticket to the State stage.
Mirroring the storied tenure of North Shore, this weekend signifies the seventh occasion Duncanville (12–1) will be vying for the State crown. The Panthers now chase their fourth title overall — and their first since 2023 — with momentum and balance firmly on their side.
In terms of the weaponry that the Duncanville offense wields, the explosive potential of junior wideout Trenton Yancey cannot be overstated.
The four-star prospect is the definition of versatility, piling up 780 receiving yards and nine touchdowns while adding 388 rushing yards and 10 more scores on the ground. Senior athlete Ayson Theus, a TCU-signee, provides a similar spark, eclipsing 1,000 yards from scrimmage with 10 touchdowns of his own.
Senior quarterback J’Coryon Rivers also deserves significant credit. Thrust into the starting role late in the regular season, Rivers has operated seamlessly under center, throwing for nearly 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns against just one interception.
With reliable targets like SMU-bound tight end Zachery Turner and a productive run game led by Robert Singleton and Brayden Arnold, Duncanville’s offense has averaged more than 36 points per game.
Defensively, the Panthers have been just as suffocating, allowing fewer than 14 points per contest.
Ole Miss-signee Landon Barnes (10.5 sacks, 23.5 TFL) headlines a disorienting front-seven, supported by Jakohri Johnson and a tackling machine in Jaylyn Manning (120 tackles). On the back end, senior cornerbacks Braylon Edwards (Colorado) and Victor Lincoln (Ole Miss) have turned the secondary into an island unit.
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