South Oak Cliff defensive lineman Phirrell Spencer (90) celebrates after recovering a fumble during the first half of a nondistrict football game against Galena Park North Shore at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Dallas.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Here are five storylines to watch in Week 6 of the Texas high school football season.
Bye week in 11-6A
This is a big bye week in the Dallas area, and most Class 6A districts aren’t playing. That includes District 11-6A, which is perhaps a good thing for nationally-ranked North Crowley and Waxahachie.
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It gives those two powerhouses an extra week to prepare for their Oct. 9 showdown at Waxahachie that could decide the 11-6A title. That will be a battle between the state’s top-ranked 6A team (Waxahachie) and the No. 3 team in Texas (North Crowley).
Both teams are 5-0 overall and 2-0 in district play. North Crowley has already beaten three-time state champion Duncanville — another possible 11-6A title contender — while Waxahachie will host Duncanville on Oct. 23. North Crowley has outscored the opposition 189-74, winning by an average of 23 points, while Waxahachie has been just as dominant and has outscored its opponents 267-109, for an average margin of victory of 31.6 points.
SOC’s shutout streak ends
Something notable happened in South Oak Cliff’s 63-14 win over Woodrow Wilson last week. SOC gave up a point in district play.
Not counting one forfeit win, South Oak Cliff had not allowed a point in its previous 10 district games, outscoring the opposition 538-0 in that span. That included 371-0 last season.
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The last team to score against SOC in district play was Woodrow Wilson in a 57-7 loss to South Oak Cliff in 2024. SOC will try to start a new shutout streak when it plays Molina on Friday.
Grueling district
Perhaps the toughest 5A district in the Dallas area so far has been District 4-5A Division II, where seven of the nine teams have a winning record. Anna (5-0, 3-0) and nine-time state champion Celina (4-0, 2-0) are both undefeated, and Frisco (3-1, 2-0), Frisco Emerson (4-1, 2-1) and Prosper Richland (3-1, 1-1) have one loss apiece.
That sets up some big matchups this week. Anna will host Frisco on Friday, while Celina will host Frisco Emerson the same day. Prosper Richland will host Frisco Panther Creek (3-2, 1-2), a dangerous team that has been in The Dallas Morning News’ area rankings all season.
The Anna vs. Frisco game will feature two of the area’s best running backs — San Diego State pledge Juelz Carter of Anna and LSU pledge Brennen Lacey from Frisco. Carter, a transfer from Cedar Hill, ranks third among area 5A players in rushing yards with 745 to go with seven touchdowns, while Lacey has run for 321 yards and five scores.
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Argyle’s scoring spree
Argyle goes into Friday’s game at Saginaw Eagle Mountain averaging 54 points through five games. That ranks second among area 5A teams — Mansfield Timberview averages 56.4 points — and it’s not far off the 10th-best season scoring average in state history.
That belongs to Alamo Heights, which averaged 58.5 points in 13 games in 2023. The state record is 63.9 points by Aledo in 16 games in 2013.
Argyle’s offense is now at full strength with the return of four-star wide receiver Julian Caldwell, a Texas Tech pledge. After missing the first two games with an injury, Caldwell has caught 25 passes for 522 yards and nine touchdowns in the last three games, while new quarterback Hayes Hackney, a transfer from Prosper Walnut Grove, has thrown for 1,541 yards and 19 touchdowns on the season.
Argyle is also getting big production from its running backs. Logan Rexroat and Max Pomeroy have combined to rush for 732 yards and 13 touchdowns.
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Braswell’s turnaround
One of the surprise teams of 2026 has been Denton Braswell, which is 4-0 overall and 1-0 in District 5-6A. It has already matched its win total for the last two years combined after going 2-7 in 2025 and 2-8 in 2024.
Braswell has a tough challenge Friday, hosting Denton Guyer, ranked No. 11 in the state in 6A. But win or lose, this has a chance to be a historic season for Braswell.
A school that played its first season of varsity football in 2016, has had only one winning season in its history, going 9-3 in 2019, the only time it has made the playoffs. Braswell, which was 35-66 in its history before this season, has a chance to end both of those droughts.
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