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North Crowley is VYPE's No. 2 team
Southlake Carroll vs. North Crowley: Texas Powers Collide in 6A Showdown
In other words, this isn't just an early-season game.
It's a measuring stick.
A New Era on Both Sides
Both programs enter the matchup with new head coaches.
Lee Munn takes over at Southlake Carroll after Riley Dodge left for SMU, while DeMarcus Harris takes over at North Crowley following Ray Gates' move to North Texas.
Now, the new leaders get one of the biggest tests imaginable.
And both teams looked ready for the challenge in Week 1.
North Crowley delivered one of the most impressive defensive performances in the state, shutting out Aledo 26-0.
Think about that for a second.
It was the first time Aledo had been shut out since 2003.
The Crowley defense held Aledo to -10 rushing yards on 40 carries, while the offense piled up 358 total yards.
Southlake Carroll had a very different kind of Week 1.
The Dragons looked dead in the water against Jenks, Oklahoma, falling behind 27-0 before storming all the way back to win 34-33.
That comeback says plenty about the Dragons' talent — and their ability to stay in a fight when things aren't going their way.
Southlake Carroll's Offensive Firepower
Junior quarterback Hunter Tomcheck immediately made his presence felt in Week 1.
Tomcheck completed 19 of 24 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns while adding two rushing touchdowns.
He's already holding offers from Baylor, Houston, TCU, SMU and UTSA.
And he's throwing to one of the most productive receivers in the state.
Senior Brody Knowles, an Illinois pledge, exploded for seven catches, 180 yards and two touchdowns against Jenks.
Junior Easton Nied added two catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Senior Blake Gunter, a Cal pledge, gives the Dragons another major weapon on the outside.
Then there's junior Dez Bryant Jr., a transfer from Colleyville Heritage, who caught five passes in his Southlake Carroll debut.
The Dragons also have serious talent up front.
Senior Tristan Dare is committed to Missouri, while senior Luke Wilson is committed to Oklahoma.
And junior offensive tackle Ty McCurry may have the biggest recruiting list of them all.
McCurry has 29 offers, including Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, Florida, Texas A&M, Texas and TCU.
The one problem?
The Dragons couldn't get much going on the ground in Week 1, rushing for just 32 yards on 27 carries.
Senior running back Brooks Biggers will look to change that after rushing for 336 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.
North Crowley's Star-Studded Roster
North Crowley may have just as much — if not more — firepower.
Senior quarterback Jacob Torres returned to the field after being ruled ineligible last season following a UIL transfer ruling.
The Emporia State pledge completed 11 of 21 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1.
Senior running back Kiante Ingram carried 12 times for 71 yards and enters the season with offers from Arizona, Ole Miss, SMU, Tulsa and Texas State, among others.
And then there's the receiving corps.
Junior Damarion Mays caught seven passes for 98 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. The 2028 prospect is ranked No. 16 nationally at wide receiver by 247Sports and No. 12 among Texas receivers in a loaded class.
He's already collected 40 offers, including Purdue, Vanderbilt, Florida State, Alabama, Arizona and UCLA.
Junior Kade Smith also exploded against Aledo, catching four passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. He currently holds 17 offers.
Senior tight end Jeramie Cooper is another national recruit to watch. The 2027 prospect is ranked No. 177 in Texas and has 25 offers, including Alabama, Houston, Arkansas, Baylor, Florida State, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, TCU, SMU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Wisconsin.
And don't forget junior Hayden Green, who has 15 offers, including Ole Miss, Kentucky, Kansas State, Duke, Colorado, TCU, Virginia Tech and SMU.
Defense Could Decide It
If North Crowley's Week 1 performance is any indication, this defense is going to be a problem.
The Panthers held Aledo to minus-10 rushing yards on 40 carries and forced the Bearcats to fight for every inch.
Sophomore Braylen Cunningham even returned an interception 65 yards for a touchdown.
Senior defensive back Jerry Outhouse Jr. is a UCLA pledge and ranked No. 22 among Texas recruits in the 2027 class.
Senior Elijajuan Houston is committed to Arizona State and ranked No. 86 in Texas.
Junior Brock Lacy brings 16 offers to the secondary, including Louisville, Nebraska, Kentucky, North Texas, TCU, Cal, Colorado, Arizona and West Virginia.
Why This Game Matters
For Southlake Carroll, it's about proving the comeback against Jenks wasn't simply an incredible Week 1 escape.
For North Crowley, it's about proving that the 26-0 demolition of Aledo was the beginning of something much bigger.
And for the two new head coaches, it's an opportunity to make an immediate statement.
Munn inherited one of the state's most recognizable programs and a roster overflowing with Division I talent.
Harris inherited a North Crowley team that already showed in Week 1 that it can dominate on both sides of the ball.
Now they meet.
Two undefeated teams.
Two new coaches.
A ridiculous amount of college talent.
And one of the early heavyweight fights of the Texas high school football season.
Southlake Carroll vs. North Crowley.
PRIME TIME: DFW Football Playoffs Preview -- Southlake Carroll v. Prosper (6A-D2 Region 1 Semis)
WHEN: Friday, November 28th (11/28/25) -- 7:00 PM
WHERE: Choctaw Stadium -- Arlington, TX
...
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.
…
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.