Texas high school football is basically a religion, and the 2024 state championships at AT&T Stadium were the ultimate revival. For four days in late December, the house that Jerry built became the epicenter of the sports world. You had everything—triple-overtime thrillers, massive blowouts that felt like statements, and coaching legends finally getting their due.
Honestly, if you weren't there, you missed the sheer electricity of seeing 159,560 people cycle through Arlington. That number actually sparked some debate later on because it was lower than previous years, but tell that to the North Crowley fans who watched their team drop 50 points on Austin Westlake. It didn't feel like a "down year" when the pads started popping.
The Coronation of North Crowley and the 6A Madness
The Class 6A Division I game was supposed to be a heavyweight bout. Austin Westlake is a machine; they don't just lose. But North Crowley didn't care about the pedigree. They walked in and put up 640 yards of total offense, which is just absurd for a state final.
Chris Jimerson Jr., the North Texas signee, was surgical. He’s a three-year starter who finally got his moment, throwing for nearly 300 yards and rushing for more. But the real story? Quentin Gibson. He caught seven passes for 181 yards and three scores. He even broke Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s Dallas-area record for touchdown receptions in a season.
"He's got it all," Kilgore head coach Clint Fuller said of Bowe Bentley, but he might as well have been talking about this entire North Crowley squad. They were relentless.
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Then you have the 6A Division II side. Austin Vandegrift vs. Southlake Carroll. Most people expected the Dragons to take it, but the Vipers had different plans. Miles Teodecki was named Offensive MVP after throwing for 243 yards and two touchdowns. It was Vandegrift's first-ever state title. Think about that for a second. A program that’s been knocking on the door finally kicked it down in front of 26,247 fans.
Why 5A Division II Stole the Show
If you like drama, the Richmond Randle vs. Dallas South Oak Cliff game was your personal Super Bowl. This was David vs. Goliath, but David had a lot of speed. Randle is a third-year program. South Oak Cliff was in their fourth straight final.
The lead changed four times in the second half. One minute SOC is up by four after back-to-back 75-plus yard runs by Mikail Trotter and Damond Williams. The next, Randle’s Keilan Sweeny is doing everything—passing, rushing, and receiving touchdowns. Then, Sean Smith takes a kickoff 72 yards to the house to put Randle back on top 38-35.
It ended on a missed field goal as time expired. Absolute heartbreak for the Golden Bears, but a legendary start for the Randle Lions.
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Small Town Giants and Triple-OT marathons
While the big schools get the TV time, the small-school games are often where the purest football happens. Take the 2A Division I game. Ganado vs. Stamford.
- The Drama: It went to three overtimes.
- The Hero: Bryce Ullman. He didn't just play quarterback; he was the team. Two rushing TDs, two passing TDs, and he even caught the game-clinching interception in the end zone during the third OT.
- The Final: Ganado 30, Stamford 28.
It was Ganado's first-ever state title. You could see what it meant to that community. The stands were packed with people who probably haven't missed a Friday night game in forty years.
The Dynasty of Carthage
Carthage did what Carthage does. They beat Waco La Vega 28-14 to secure their tenth state title. Coach Scott Surratt has turned that program into something that doesn't seem real. Kelwin "KJ" Edwards (they call him "Lightning" for a reason) broke the game open with an 86-yard touchdown run. When you have a kid that can house it from anywhere on the field, you're usually going to win.
Smithson Valley’s Long-Awaited Ring
In 5A Division I, Smithson Valley finally got Coach Larry Hill a ring. They beat Dallas Highland Park 32-20. Hill is one of the winningest coaches in Texas history, but that state title had been elusive. The Rangers’ defense was stifling, and kicker Amaya tied a UIL record with four field goals.
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The Numbers Nobody Talks About
We need to address the elephant in the room: attendance. 159,560 is a lot of people, but it’s a big drop from the 250,000+ we saw a decade ago.
| Division | Attendance |
|---|---|
| 6A Division I | 36,120 |
| 6A Division II | 26,247 |
| 5A Division I | 18,746 |
| 4A Division I | 16,267 |
Some people blame the expanded College Football Playoff taking the air out of the room. Others say it's because the games were held so close to Christmas. Honestly? It might just be that newer programs like Randle and Vandegrift don't have the massive, multi-generational alumni bases that programs like Permian or Lake Travis do—yet.
Historical Impact and What We Learned
The UIL football state championship 2024 showed us that the "old guard" is being challenged. Seeing Fort Worth North Crowley win a title in the highest classification—the first for a Fort Worth school since 1948—is a massive shift in the power dynamic of DFW football.
We also saw the emergence of Bowe Bentley at Celina. He was basically perfect in the 4A Division I final against Kilgore, throwing five touchdowns on only 14 attempts. When a kid is that efficient on the biggest stage, you know he’s going to be playing on Saturdays soon.
Key Takeaways for Fans
- Watch the 2026 Class: Players like Bentley and Teodecki are going to dominate recruiting headlines for the next year.
- Small Schools Rule: If you only watch the 6A games, you're missing out. The 1A and 2A games are often more competitive and emotional.
- The Schedule Matters: Keep an eye on the 2025 dates. The UIL is likely looking at the 2024 attendance dip and thinking about how to bring those 90,000 lost fans back.
The 2024 season is in the books, but the ripples are still being felt. Whether it's the rise of North Crowley or the continued dominance of Carthage, Texas high school football remains the gold standard.
To truly understand the impact of the 2024 season, you should:
- Review the full box scores on the official UIL website to see the defensive stats that often get overshadowed by the flashy touchdowns.
- Watch the highlights of Grayson Rigdon, who finished his career with four straight state titles across three different schools—an almost impossible feat in any sport.
- Check the 2025 realignments, as these championship results often dictate how districts are reshaped for the upcoming season.