How was that for an opening week in Texas? Right out of the gate, there were upsets ahoy with seven of The Sporting News’ preseason top 25 teams losing season openers.
Four of those teams — DeSoto, Austin Vandegrift, Austin Westlake and Galena Park North Shore — were in the top 10, although North Shore lost to another ranked team, Dallas South Oak Cliff.
As a result, there is quite a bit of shake-up in our first poll of the regular season, with DeSoto and Austin Vandegrift dropping out following blowout losses. Before we see what the second week of the regular season has in the cards beginning Thursday night, here are our new rankings:
No. 1 Duncanville Panthers (0-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, Dallas South Oak Cliff, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 12/14/24, North Crowley 36, Duncanville 34 (Class 6A Division I state semifinals)
W/L Streak: 1 loss
Previous ranking: 1
Duncanville did not have a game last week, but the Panthers have a big one to get started with Dallas South Oak Cliff, which is fresh off an impressive 41-31 home win over Galena Park North Shore. We’ll know a lot more about the Panthers once we see how this game plays out.
No. 2 North Crowley Eagles (1-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, DeSoto, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/28/25, North Crowley 22, Lancaster 18
W/L Streak: 17 wins
Previous ranking: 2
The defending Class 6A Division I champs avoided an upset against an always-tough Lancaster team. The Tigers led the Eagles in the fourth quarter before QB Hayes Cloutier connected with Pryce Demerson for a 49-yard touchdown that was the difference. North Crowley gets DeSoto this week.
No. 3 Southlake Carroll Dragons (1-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, Lewisville Hebron, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Southlake Carroll 49, Midland 0
W/L Streak: 1 win
Previous ranking: 4
The Dragons came out in the season opener breathing fire, as Southlake Carroll rolled past Midland, 49-0. The defense limited the Bulldogs to 149 yards of total offense after a 95-minute weather delay. The Dragons will look to keep it rolling at home against Lewisville Hebron.
No. 4 Dallas South Oak Cliff Golden Bears (1-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, at Duncanville, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, South Oak Cliff 41, Galena Park North Shore 31
W/L Streak: 1 win
Previous ranking: 13
The Golden Bears made the biggest jump in our rankings, up nine spots from No. 13 last week, after registering an impressive 10-point win over Galena Park North Shore. SOC’s reward? A trip to Duncanville to take on the Panthers this week. The Golden Bears, who play Longview the following week, might have the toughest non-district slate in the state.
No. 5 Carthage Bulldogs (1-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, Texarkana Liberty-Eylau, 7:30 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Carthage 21, Kilgore 10
W/L Streak: 16 wins
Previous ranking: 7
That didn’t take long. Carthage avenged its only loss of the 2024 season by going on the road and knocking off Kilgore at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium. The defending Class 4A Division II state champions held Kilgore’s offense, which averaged 40.3 points per game last season, to 10 points in the opener.
No. 6 Richmond Randle Lions (1-0)
Next Game: 9/4/25, at Alief Elsik, 6:30 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Richmond Randle 55, Richmond Foster 0
W/L Streak: 17 wins
Previous ranking: 10
Randle made it 17 straight wins in impressive fashion, blanking cross-town rival Foster. The Lions should keep it rolling this week against an Elsik team that opened the season with a 34-7 loss at the hands of Conroe.
No. 7 Celina Bobcats (1-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, Waco La Vega, 7:30 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Celina 50, Bellville 28
W/L Streak: 17 wins
Previous ranking: 11
Celina also notched its 17th consecutive victory by knocking off Bellville in a neutral site game. The defending Class 4A Division I state champion Bobcats racked up 50 points in the season opener, but they get a much bigger test with a home game against Waco La Vega this week.
No. 8 Galena Park North Shore Mustangs (0-1)
Next Game: 9/5/25, Crowley, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, South Oak Cliff 41, Galena Park North Shore 31
W/L Streak: 2 losses
Previous ranking: 8
Programs like North Shore certainly aren’t big on moral victories, but a 10-point loss on the road to Dallas South Oak Cliff, which has played in four straight state championship games, is nothing to sneeze at. Don’t expect the Mustangs to dwell on it when they host Crowley this week.
No. 9 Allen Eagles (1-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, Cedar Hill, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Allen 46, Midland Legacy 13
W/L Streak: 1 win
Previous ranking: 9
Allen is starting to look like Allen again. After going a combined 16-9 in consecutive seasons, the Eagles bounced back with a 13-1 campaign in 2024. Allen kept it rolling by crushing Midland Legacy. Looking to get back to winning state titles, the Eagles host Cedar Hill this week.
No. 10 Aledo Bearcats (1-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, at Lancaster, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Aledo 21, Denton Guyer 14
W/L Streak: 1 win
Previous ranking: 16
After losing to Denton Ryan in the playoffs last season, Aledo got the bad taste out of its mouth by knocking off another Denton program, Guyer, in an impressive season-opening win. The Bearcats will get another early test when they play at Lancaster Friday night.
No. 11 Austin Westlake Chaparrals (0-1)
Next Game: 9/5/25, at San Benito, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Prosper 29, Austin Westlake 22
W/L Streak: 2 losses
Previous ranking: 6
Westlake doesn’t start too many seasons with a loss. And while the seven-point setback to Prosper in a neutral-site game was surprising, the Chaps remain a quality team that should still be in the thick of the playoffs.
No. 12 Smithson Valley Rangers (1-0)
Chuck Cox
Next Game: 9/5/25, at San Antonio Brennan, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Smithson Valley 62, San Antonio Roosevelt 6
W/L Streak: 12 wins
Previous ranking: 12
As expected, the Rangers opened the season by cruising past San Antonio Roosevelt for their 12th straight victory. But the defending Class 5A Division I state champs get a big test this week at San Antonio Brennan. The Bears handed Smithson Valley one of its two losses, 24-13, a season ago.
No. 13 Waco La Vega Pirates (1-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, at Celina, 7:30 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Waco LaVega 41, Kennedale 3
W/L Streak: 1 win
Previous ranking: 17
There was no looking ahead in La Vega land. With a monster game at Celina on tap this week, the Pirates took care of business with an easy victory over Kennedale. La Vega was the Class 4A Division II state runner-up last season.
No. 14 Denton Ryan Raiders (1-0)
Next Game: 9/4/25, at Mansfield Timberview, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Denton Ryan 26, Haslet Eaton 20
W/L Streak: 1 win
Previous ranking: 15
Taking on a Haslet Eaton team that won four games last season, the Raiders figured to come away with a blowout win to open up 2025. Instead, Denton Ryan escaped with a 26-20 home victory. The Raiders hit the road to take on Mansfield Timberview on Thursday.
No. 15 Longview Lobos (1-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, Marshall, 7:30 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Longview 41, Lufkin 16
W/L Streak: 1 win
Previous ranking: 18
The Lobos were not messing around in their season opener. Longview crushed rival Lufkin, 41-16, and looked like a team making an early statement. The Lobos will play another rivalry game at home against Marshall this week.
No. 16 Highland Park Scots (0-1)
Next Game: 9/5/25, at Lucas Lovejoy, 7:30 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Rockwall-Heath 52, Highland Park 49
W/L Streak: 2 losses
Previous ranking: 14
The Highland Park Scots don’t make a habit of losing home games at Highlander Stadium. It almost never happens. But Rockwall-Heath came away with a three-point shootout win to stun the defending Class 5A Division I state runner-up. The Scots will have to find a way to avoid an 0-2 start with a tough road test at Lucas Lovejoy this Friday.
No. 17 Canyon West Plains Wolves (1-0)
Next Game: 9/4/25, Clint Horizon, 6 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Canyon West Plains 33, Seminole 10
W/L Streak: 1 win
Previous ranking: 19
West Plains showed its mettle by cruising to a 23-point victory over Seminole to start the season after losing to the Indians, 56-21, in the 2024 opener. The Wolves have a home game against Clint Horizon this week.
No. 18 Muenster Hornets (1-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, at Holliday, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Muenster 61, Lake Country Christian 0
W/L Streak: 13 wins
Previous ranking: 20
The Hornets still have plenty of buzz. Muenster smoked Lake Country Christian, 61-0, to open the 2025 season. The defending Class 2A Division II state champions made it 13 consecutive wins. The Hornets get a good test at Holliday this week. The Eagles handed Muenster one of its two losses last season.
No. 19 Gunter Tigers (1-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, at Richland, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/28/25, Gunter 49, Houston Kinkaid 44
W/L Streak: 14 wins
Previous ranking: 21
The defending Class 3A Division II state champions found themselves in a battle in the opener at Houston Kinkaid. The Tigers hung on for a solid road win against the Falcons, who were 10-1 a season ago. Gunter plays at Richland this week ahead of a showdown with Celina.
No. 20 Frisco Lone Star Rangers (1-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, Garland, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Frisco Lone Star 44, Argyle 21
W/L Streak: 1 win
Previous ranking: 25
Talk about an impressive way to open the season. Lone Star went on the road and doubled up a stalwart Argyle team that finished 13-2 last year. In the first game of the 2024 season, Lone Star edged Argyle, 24-17. Don’t be surprised to see the Rangers steadily climb up the poll as the season goes on.
No. 21 Kilgore Bulldogs (0-1)
Next Game: 9/5/25, at Whitehouse, 7:30 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Carthage 21, Kilgore 10
W/L Streak: 2 losses
Kilgore fell victim to Carthage avenging its only loss of 2024 in this season’s opener. The Bulldogs, fresh off a Class 4A Division I state runner-up finish, should be fine. Kilgore looks to get back in the win column at Whitehouse this week.
No. 22 Argyle Eagles (0-1)
Next Game: 9/5/25, at Midlothian Heritage, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Frisco Lone Star 44, Argyle 21
W/L Streak: 2 losses
Previous ranking: 22
Argyle suffered a rare home blowout loss, 44-21, against Frisco Lone Star last week. The Eagles hit the road this week at Midlothian Heritage to try to right the ship. Argyle did not surrender more than 35 points in any game last season, so the defense will need to shore up.
No. 23 Texarkana Pleasant Grove Hawks (1-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, Paris, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/28/25, Texarkana Pleasant Grove 34, Atlanta 2
W/L Streak: 1 loss
Previous ranking: 23
The Hawks had no trouble disposing of Atlanta in the opener, jumping out to an early, three-touchdown lead. Pleasant Grove now takes on a Paris team that handed the Hawks a 7-0 loss in 2024.
No. 24 Dripping Springs Tigers (1-0)
Next Game: 9/5/25, at San Antonio Wagner, 7 p.m.
Last Game: 8/29/25, Dripping Springs 41, Austin Vandergrift 14
W/L Streak: 1 win
Previous ranking: NR
After an 8-4 finish last season, Dripping Springs figured to be a team looking to bounce back in 2025. So far, so good. The Tigers manhandled defending Class 6A Division II state champion Austin Vandegrift in the season opener. Dripping Springs is in the same district with powerhouses Austin Westlake and Austin Lake Travis, but perhaps the Tigers are ready to roar.
No. 25 Prosper Eagles (1-0)
Next Game: 9/4/25, at Rockwall-Heath, 7 p.m.
Last Game: Prosper 29, Austin Westlake 22
W/L Streak: 1 win
Previous Ranking: NR
What a difference a year makes. Last season, Prosper lost to Austin Westlake, 35-14, in the opener. This time around, the Eagles came away with a huge statement win over the Chaps, 29-22. Prosper gets another chance to prove it belongs with a road game at Rockwall-Heath on Thursday.
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