Friday nights in North Texas aren't just about football. They’re a full-blown culture. If you’ve ever sat on those metal bleachers in late October, shivering while a local band plays "Seven Nation Army," you know exactly what I mean. But now that the dust has settled on the 2025-2026 campaign, everyone is scrambling to make sense of the final north texas high football scores and what they actually tell us about the state of the game.
Honestly, it was a weird year. We saw dynasties stumble and some "middle of the pack" programs suddenly look like world-beaters.
The December Scoreboard That Changed Everything
The UIL state championships at AT&T Stadium are the ultimate litmus test. This past December, the "Jerry World" turf saw some of the most lopsided and, conversely, some of the most heart-wrenching scores in recent memory.
Take the DeSoto Eagles. People were whispering about them after an 0-2 start to the season. Kinda felt like the magic was gone, right? Wrong. They absolutely dismantled Houston C.E. King with a final score of 55-27 to take the 6A Division II title. It wasn't even as close as the score looked. Their offense found a rhythm in the playoffs that made them look untouchable.
Then you have the heartbreaker. Duncanville vs. Galena Park North Shore. This is the rivalry that defines Texas 6A football. The score? 10-7. It was a defensive slog that felt more like a prize fight. North Shore took it, leaving the North Texas faithful wondering how a Duncanville team that talented only managed one touchdown.
Why North Texas High Football Scores Look Different This Year
If you’ve been looking at the scoreboard lately, you might have noticed something strange. The scores aren't just high; they’re astronomical in the lower divisions.
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Six-man football is exploding in popularity around the edges of the DFW metroplex. Gordon High School, just west of Fort Worth, put up a score that sounds like a basketball game: 69-22 against Rankin. They’ve now won three straight 1A Division I titles. Because of the 45-point "mercy rule" in six-man, Gordon barely played any fourth quarters all year. They outscored opponents by an average of 51 points. That’s not a typo.
Key Scorelines from Championship Weekend:
- 6A Division II: DeSoto 55, Houston C.E. King 27
- 6A Division I: Galena Park North Shore 10, Duncanville 7
- 5A Division II: Dallas South Oak Cliff 35, Richmond Randle 19
- 4A Division I: Stephenville 10, Kilgore 0
- 2A Division II: Muenster 28, Shiner 0
- 1A Six-Man Division I: Gordon 69, Rankin 22
South Oak Cliff (SOC) continuing their dominance is probably the biggest story for Dallas ISD. By beating Richmond Randle 35-19, they secured their third title in five years. They’ve basically turned the "inner city schools can't compete with suburban budgets" argument on its head.
The Talent Behind the Numbers
You can't talk about north texas high football scores without looking at the kids actually putting points on the board. The 2026 recruiting class is stacked.
Keisean Henderson from Legacy School of Sport Sciences is the name everyone is circling. Even though he’s a QB, his impact on the scoreboard is felt every single snap. Then there’s Ethan Feaster at DeSoto. Only a sophomore/junior during this run, and he’s already playing like a Sunday pro.
We’re also seeing a massive shift in coaching. Dave Henigan stepping down at Denton Ryan after 12 years is a huge deal. Ryan has been a score-reporting staple for over a decade. When you lose a guy who averaged 12 wins a season, the scoreboard is going to reflect that transition period pretty quickly.
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Misconceptions About the DFW "Powerhouse"
A lot of people think the biggest schools always have the biggest scores. Not necessarily.
Look at Stephenville. They played Kilgore in a 10-0 shutout. In an era where everyone wants to go fast and score 50, Stephenville won a state title by playing old-school, suffocating defense. It proves that the "North Texas style" isn't just about flashy receivers and 7-on-7 drills. It's still about who can win in the trenches when it's 38 degrees outside.
Also, don't sleep on the private schools. Programs like Parish Episcopal and Argyle Liberty Christian (led by Jason Witten until his recent move to the college ranks) have been putting up massive numbers in the TAPPS circuit. Their scores often rival the UIL 5A powerhouses in terms of sheer offensive efficiency.
What’s Next for Texas Football Fans?
The season is over, but the work isn't. If you're a fan or a scout looking to stay ahead of the curve for the 2026 season, here is what you should be doing right now.
First, track the coaching carousel. With big names leaving Denton Ryan and South Oak Cliff losing their defensive coordinator, Kyle Ward, to SMU, the identity of these teams is changing. New coordinators mean new schemes, which means different score patterns next year.
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Second, watch the realignment. The UIL realignment is already shifting how districts look. Some schools are "opting up" to play tougher competition despite smaller enrollments—Garland ISD is a prime example of this. This is going to lead to some very lopsided scores in the short term as these programs adjust to higher-tier speed and depth.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal—yes, even for high school. With the way kids move around DFW now, a single "high-score" offense can be built in one offseason if the right QB and WR pair up at a new school.
The final north texas high football scores of 2025 showed us that while the names on the jerseys change, the intensity doesn't. Whether it's a 10-7 defensive struggle or a 69-point six-man explosion, football in North Texas remains the gold standard for the sport.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the UIL Realignment Maps: See if your local school is moving up or down a division for the 2026-2028 cycle; this heavily impacts playoff paths.
- Follow the Coaching Carousel: Keep tabs on the Dallas Morning News "Coaching Tracker" to see who takes the reins at Denton Ryan and other vacant powerhouse seats.
- Audit the 2026 Rankings: Review the 247Sports or Dave Campbell’s Texas Football rankings for the class of 2026 to identify which breakout players will be dominating your Friday night scoreboards next fall.