Many people thought that the Texas UIL 6A Division I title game was going to be another rematch between Duncanville and Galena Park North Shore.
However, North Crowley and Austin Westlake had other ideas, respectively knocking out the Panthers and Mustangs in last week's semifinals. But the North Crowley Panthers and Westlake's Chaparrals can't be considered as upstarts or underdogs, as both have more than earned the right to be in Saturday night's championship contest at Arlington's AT&T Stadium.
How to watch North Crowley vs. Austin Westlake in Texas high school football state championship: Live stream UIL 6A Division I title game
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- Coming to you from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, for the final game of the 2024 Texas high school football season. It will be North Crowley against Austin Westlake for the Texas UIL 6A Division I title.
North Crowley has definitely been one of the biggest stories all season in both the state and country, as the Panthers possess an unstoppable offense, one that has averaged 54.2 points a game and 48.8 points in their five playoff wins.
The past three weeks, North Crowley has scored 35, 35 and 36 points in beating three teams that had come in with undefeated records (Coppell, Allen and Duncanville).
Leading the way for North Crowley's offense is senior quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr., a North Texas signee who has thrown for 3,470 yards and 54 TDs, and senior receiver and Colorado signee Quentin Gibson, who has nearly 1,900 yards and 33 TDs.
But the Panthers also have senior tailback Cornelius Warren III, who has put together a strong postseason run, punctuated by a 178-yard performance in the semifinal win against Duncanville to go along with two total TDs.
North Crowley is making its first title-game appearance since 2003, when the Panthers won their only championship.
If there's one team that might be able to slow down North Crowley, it very well may be Westlake. The Chaps possess one of the top defenses in the state, allowing 12.3 points per game.
Westlake's defense is headed up by senior linebacker Elliott Schaper, a Duke signee who leads the Chaps in tackles (124), tackles for loss (28), sacks (12) and quarterback hurries (13). He even has picked off three passes.
But the Chaps have proven they can also move the ball as well as anyone. They have averaged 43.2 points on the season and 36.2 points in their five playoff wins, and have an emerging standout in junior quarterback Rees Wise, who has thrown for more than 2,400 yards and 23 TDs.
Westlake has won four championships, including three straight from 2019-21, and the Chaps are returning to the title game for the first time since winning that third consecutive crown in 2021.