SBLive’s Texas Top 50: North Shore, Westlake headline remaining unbeatens halfway to postseason (Oct. 4)
With more than half of the 2022 Texas high school football season officially in the books, it’s time to review and assess how the state’s top teams performed in Week 6.
We’re taking a closer look at the top squads across the Lone Star State in the newest edition of SBLive’s Texas Top 50, our statewide rankings which seek to recognize the 50 best teams in Texas high school football regardless of classification level.
Week 6 of the season was a mostly quiet around the Lone Star State with 13 teams ranked in the Texas Top 50 on byes last weekend.
But despite several Top 50 squads enjoying their bye weeks, ranked teams enjoyed one of their most successful weekends on the gridiron since the 2022 campaign began.
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Among teams that took the field during Week 6, teams ranked within the Texas Top 50 tallied a combined 34-3 record for the weekend. Top 50-ranked teams won 91.9% of their Week 6 matchups, a new season high.
As we pass the halfway point in the 2022 Texas high school football season, though, 26 unbeaten teams hold spots in SBLive's Texas Top 50 rankings with five weeks remaining in the regular season.
Eight of those 26 undefeated squads have separated themselves from their competition in recent weeks while anchoring the apex of the Texas Top 50.
We're going to take a closer look at those eight unbeaten Texas high school football teams — Austin Westlake, Denton Guyer, Duncanville, Galena Park North Shore, Highland Park, Katy, Longview and Southlake Carroll — and how they've performed during the first half of the season.
Beginning at the top, No. 1 North Shore and No. 2 Westlake have held the top two spots in the SBLive Texas Top 50 rankings since the preseason.
The Chaparrals and Mustangs each navigated rigorous non-district slates flawlessly and have since steamrolled through their first couple of district games in two of the state's toughest Class 6A districts.
North Shore (5-0), the reigning 6A DI state champion, faced its most significant test of the season so far against Houston C.E. King in District 21-6A action last week.
Sophomore quarterback Kaleb Bailey exited the game midway through the first quarter with the Mustangs trailing 3-0, their first deficit of the season.
Bailey was hobbled by a serious left-leg injury that sidelined him for the rest of the night, but a three-touchdown night from senior David Amador — a UTSA commit who moved from wide receiver to QB after Bailey's exit — and a brilliant defensive performance helped North Shore rally for a 38-3 victory over the Panthers.
The Mustangs secured their 18th straight win against C.E. King, but the victory also represented the first time this season that they had scored less than 42 points.
North Shore's offense might need to reinvent itself on the fly if Bailey is unable to return to action in the near future, but the Mustangs' defense — which is highlighted by one of the state's deepest secondaries — will be talented and physical enough to keep them in lots of close games.
Austin Westlake (5-0), meanwhile, extended its 45-game winning streak — the longest active streak in Texas high school football — by thrashing Del Valle 73-7 in District 26-6A action.
From their wide receiver corps to linemen in the trenches, the Chaparrals are loaded with DI talent and a plethora of experience after winning three straight 6A state titles.
The Chaps appear as if they could be nearing the halfway point of another run to the state championship and back to AT&T Stadium.
Led by junior running back Jack Kayser and the senior receiver duo of Jaden Greathouse and Keaton Kubecka — Notre Dame and Kansas commits, respectively — Westlake's dynamic offense has averaged 51.0 points per contest thus far.
The Chaparrals are even scarier defensively, though, with senior linebacker Byers Petty and senior defensive end Colton Vasek, an Oklahoma commit, setting a physical tone upfront that has been difficult for opponents to duplicate.
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Denton Guyer (6-0) checks in as the top-ranked DFW area team in the Texas Top 50 after demolishing McKinney Boyd 56-7 last week to carry a perfect record into its upcoming bye week.
The Wildcats have been one of the Lone Star State's most well-rounded teams with top-tier quarterback play from senior Jackson Arnold, an Oklahoma commit, leading a prolific offense.
Guyer strung together double-digit, non-district wins against Aledo, Lancaster and Rockwall Heath before earning a gritty 23-6 win in its district opener versus one-loss Prosper.
Thanks to a passing attack spearheaded by Arnold and a defense highlighted by senior defensive backs Ryan Yaites, an LSU commit, and Peyton Bowen, a Notre Dame commit, the Wildcats will be one of the first 6A teams to eclipse the 300-point mark offensively and one last squads to surrender 100 total points this season.
Duncanville (4-0) has had fewer chances to log game reps than other teams featured here, but the Panthers have made the most of their opportunities.
The Panthers flexed their muscles defensively in marquee non-district wins against South Oak Cliff and Orlando Jones (FL) to kick off the season.
They have looked just as good defensively and much improved offensively, however, in their first couple of District 11-6A clashes, when the Panthers pounced on Mansfield Lake Ridge 44-6 and ran away with a 59-28 win against Cedar Hill.
No team has been able to rush for more than 100 yards against Duncanville this year, and no opposing offense has reached 200 yards through the air against the Panthers' defense this fall either.
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Katy (6-0) showed its ability to deliver under the bright lights by securing two major one-score wins early in the season.
The Tigers have been on a tear, though, ever since they survived with a 14-13 comeback win over Katy Tompkins in their District 19-6A opener.
Senior running back Seth Davis, a Mississippi State commit, surpassed the 5,000-yard career rushing mark recently as Katy's offense has not-so-quietly averaged 56.7 points per contest during the team's last three district games.
The Tigers will face their two biggest remaining tests of the regular season within the next three weeks when they battle reigning 5A DI state champion Katy Paetow in Week 7 and district rival Katy Cinco Ranch in Week 9.
Southlake Carroll (5-0) holds down the No. 6 spot after one of the state's most dominant starts to the season at any classification level.
The Dragons have demolished every team they've faced so far. They outscored their first five opponents 264-27 and recorded signature non-district wins in blowout fashion against Cedar Hill, El Paso Montwood and Flower Mound Marcus.
Southlake Carroll will come of its bye week this weekend to host unbeaten Keller in a duel for first place in District 4-6A, but the Dragons have dominated their district so far with 113 combined points in back-to-back shutout wins against Keller Timber Creek and Haltom.
Running back Owen Allen and QB Kaden Anderson give the Dragons one of the most experienced offensive duos in 6A, but SLC's defense has stolen headlines early this season after holding its last four consecutive opponents to a touchdown or less.
Rounding out the eight undefeated teams atop the Texas Top 50 rankings midway through the regular season are No. 7 Highland Park and No. 8 Longview.
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Highland Park (5-0) has kicked off its first year of Class 6A competition with a bang and surged to the halfway point of the regular-season with a perfect record still intact.
The Scots have been among the most successful programs around the state that are acclimating to a higher level of competition this fall. Highland Park made the move up to 6A from 5A DI this year following the latest round of UIL realignment, but the team has handled the transition almost perfectly.
The Scots are off to a 3-0 start against their new set of district rivals, beating Lake Highlands, Irving and Dallas Jesuit to hold onto first place in District 7-6A.
Highland Park has benefitted greatly from a savvy group of veterans, especially senior quarterback Brennan Storer, who has helped make the Scots' explosive offense one of the DFW's most consistent units through the first half of the regular season.
Finally, Longview (5-0) comes off its bye this week to host Forney in a pivotal District 7-5A DI matchup.
Led by senior wide receiver Jalen Hale — an Alabama commit — and junior running back Taylor Tatum, the Lobos' high-powered offense has already burned several of the best teams scattered across East Texas like Lancaster, Lufkin, Marshall and Tyler Legacy.
However, Longview's calling card through the first month and a half of the 2022 campaign has been its hard-hitting defense. The Lobos have not given up more than 13 points in a game this year.
Longview has also only trailed once this season, when the Lobos fell behind 13-7 at home during Week 5 and rallied for a 20-13 win against Lancaster.
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Where does your squad stand in the latest edition of our statewide Texas high school football rankings?
To see which programs climbed into our top 10 and find out which teams made their season debut in this week’s rankings, then check out the latest, updated version of SBLive’s Texas Top 50 below.
SBLive’s Texas Top 50 football rankings are compiled by Andrew McCulloch and Buck Ringgold, and will be updated weekly throughout the regular season.
Texas Top 50 rankings: WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6
Texas Small School Top 25 rankings: WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5 | WEEK 6 | WEEK 7
Editor’s Note: * represents Texas teams who also hold spots in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national high school football rankings
SBLIVE’S TEXAS TOP 50 FOOTBALL RANKINGS — WEEK 7 (OCT. 4)
1. Galena Park North Shore Mustangs (5-0)*
Previous ranking: 1st
Last week: W 38-3 vs. Houston C.E. King
Next game: Oct. 7 at Humble Summer Creek (3-2)
2. Austin Westlake Chaparrals (5-0)*
Previous ranking: 2nd
Last week: W 73-7 at Del Valle
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Austin Anderson (3-3)
3. Denton Guyer Wildcats (6-0)*
Previous ranking: 3rd
Last week: W 56-7 vs. McKinney Boyd
Next game: Oct. 14 at Denton Braswell (2-4)
4. Duncanville Panthers (4-0)*
Previous ranking: 4th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Waxahachie (4-1)
5. Katy Tigers (6-0)
Previous ranking: 5th
Last week: W 70-21 at Katy Jordan
Next game: Oct. 6 at Katy Paetow (3-2)
6. Southlake Carroll Dragons (5-0)
Previous ranking: 6th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Keller (5-0)
7. Highland Park Scots (6-0)
Previous ranking: 8th
Last week: W 35-28 vs. Dallas Jesuit
Next game: Oct. 6 at Richardson Berkner (3-3)
8. Longview Lobos (5-0)
Previous ranking: 7th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Forney (4-1)
9. Humble Atascocita Eagles (4-1)
Previous ranking: 11th
Last week: W 50-7 at Beaumont West Brook
Next game: Oct. 7 at Beaumont United (1-4)
10. Allen Eagles (5-1)
Previous ranking: 10th
Last week: W 34-14 vs. Prosper Rock Hill
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. McKinney (5-1)
11. Cibolo Steele Knights (5-0)
Previous ranking: 9th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. New Braunfels (3-2)
12. Arlington Martin Warriors (5-1)
Previous ranking: 13th
Last week: W 74-22 at Arlington Lamar
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Arlington Sam Houston (0-6)
13. Dripping Springs Tigers (5-0)
Previous ranking: 14th
Last week: W 35-0 vs. Buda Johnson
Next game: Oct. 6 at Austin Akins (0-6)
14. Argyle Eagles (5-0)
Previous ranking: 12th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Lake Dallas (6-0)
15. DeSoto Eagles (4-1)
Previous ranking: 15th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Mansfield Legacy (3-2)
16. Denton Ryan Raiders (4-1)
Previous ranking: 17th
Last week: W 50-0 vs. Fort Worth South Hills
Next game: Oct. 7 at Burleson Centennial (5-0)
17. Spring Westfield Mustangs (4-1)
Previous ranking: 16th
Last week: W 50-15 vs. Dekaney
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Aldine Nimitz (3-2)
18. Prosper Eagles (5-1)
Previous ranking: 18th
Last week: W 59-6 vs. Little Elm
Next game: Oct. 13 at McKinney Boyd (0-6)
19. Rockwall Yellowjackets (5-1)
Previous ranking: 19th
Last week: W 37-34 at Mesquite Horn
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Royse City (3-2)
20. College Station Cougars (4-1)
Previous ranking: 20th
Last week: W 68-10 at Georgetown East View
Next game: Oct. 7 at Cedar Park (1-4)
21. San Antonio Brennan Bears (4-1)
Previous ranking: 21st
Last week: W 41-6 vs. San Antonio O’Connor
Next game: Oct. 7 at San Antonio Warren (4-2)
22. Liberty Hill Panthers (5-1)
Previous ranking: 22nd
Last week: W 70-10 at Bastrop Cedar Creek
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. San Antonio Veterans (4-1)
23. Alvin Shadow Creek Sharks (5-0)
Previous ranking: 26th
Last week: W 49-7 vs. Alief Hastings
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Alief Elsik (1-4)
24. Austin Vandegrift Vipers (4-1)
Previous ranking: 27th
Last week: W 34-6 at Manor
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Round Rock McNeil (2-3)
25. Mansfield Timberview Wolves (6-0)
Previous ranking: 35th
Last week: W 54-28 at Birdville
Next game: Oct. 13 vs. Dallas Molina (1-5)
26. Lucas Lovejoy Leopards (3-2)
Previous ranking: 23rd
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Princeton (1-4)
27. Odessa Permian Panthers (5-0)
Previous ranking: 24th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 7 at Odessa (3-2)
28. Trophy Club Byron Nelson (5-0)
Previous ranking: 25th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Haltom (0-5)
29. Round Rock Dragons (5-0)
Previous ranking: 30th
Last week: W 32-16 at Round Rock Stony Point
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Manor (4-1)
30. New Caney Eagles (5-0)
Previous ranking: 29th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Conroe (3-3)
31. The Woodlands Highlanders (4-2)
Previous ranking: 33rd
Last week: W 63-0 at Conroe Grand Oaks
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Cleveland (1-4)
32. Katy Tompkins Falcons (4-2)
Previous ranking: 31st
Last week: W 49-14 at Katy Taylor
Next game: Oct. 13 vs. Katy Morton Ranch (4-2)
33. Cypress Ranch Mustangs (4-1)
Previous ranking: 32nd
Last week: W 55-19 vs. Cypress Springs
Next game: Oct. 6 at Cypress Park (0-5)
34. Harker Heights Knights (5-1)
Previous ranking: 34th
Last week: W 24-13 vs. Waco Midway
Next game: Oct. 7 at Hutto (3-2)
35. Houston C.E. King Panthers (3-2)
Previous ranking: 28th
Last week: L 38-3 at Galena Park North Shore
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Humble Kingwood (4-1)
36. Stephenville Yellow Jackets (6-0)
Previous ranking: 37th
Last week: W 42-21 vs. Brownwood
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Life Waxahachie (2-3)
37. Frisco Reedy Lions (6-0)
Previous ranking: 42nd
Last week: W 38-7 at Frisco Centennial
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Frisco Lebanon Trail (0-5)
38. Temple Wildcats (4-2)
Previous ranking: 39th
Last week: W 32-19 vs. Pflugerville Weiss
Next game: Oct. 7 at Waco Midway (1-5)
39. Texarkana Texas High Tigers (5-1)
Previous ranking: 40th
Last week: W 58-27 at Mt. Pleasant
Next game: Oct. 14 vs. Marshall (3-3)
40. Lancaster Tigers (3-2)
Previous ranking: 36th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 7 at Tyler (1-4)
41. Klein Cain Hurricanes (5-0)
Previous ranking: 41st
Last week: W 48-34 at Klein
Next game: Oct. 6 at Klein Forest (3-2)
42. Lake Travis Cavaliers (2-3)
Previous ranking: 38th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Del Valle (1-5)
43. Port Arthur Memorial Titans (5-0)
Previous ranking: 48th
Last week: W 20-13 vs. Crosby
Next game: Oct. 7 at La Porte (4-2)
44. Klein Collins Tigers (5-0)
Previous ranking: 46th
Last week: W 44-19 at Waller
Next game: Oct. 8 vs. Tomball Memorial (3-2)
45. Amarillo Tascosa Rebels (5-1)
Previous ranking: 43rd
Last week: W 36-14 vs. Abilene
Next game: Oct. 7 at Lubbock Monterey (0-5)
46. Dallas Parish Episcopal Panthers (4-1)
Previous ranking: 45th
Last week: BYE
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Dallas Bishop Lynch (1-4)
47. Aledo Bearcats (4-2)
Previous ranking: 47th
Last week: W 52-7 vs. The Colony
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Fort Worth South Hills (1-4)
48. Carthage Bulldogs (6-0)
Previous ranking: NR
Last week: W 69-13 at Brownsboro
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Canton (2-4)
49. China Spring Cougars (5-1)
Previous ranking: 50th
Last week: W 49-16 vs. San Antonio Cornerstone
Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Alvarado (3-3)
50. Richmond Foster Falcons (5-1)
Previous ranking: 44th
Last week: L 12-7 at Magnolia West
Next game: Oct. 6 vs. Fort Bend Kempner (0-5)
Dropped out: Fulshear (#49).