North Crowley running back G’yrell Smith (3) finds a huge hole in the line to score during the first half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
WAXAHACHIE — North Crowley coach DeMarcus Harris called it the biggest game in the country. MaxPreps agreed, designating Friday’s North Crowley vs. Waxahachie showdown as its national game of the week.
With the state’s No. 1 ranking on the line, and with the game likely deciding the District 11-6A champion, the highly anticipated battle at a jam-packed Lumpkins Stadium didn’t live up to the hype as North Crowley dominated from start to finish.
Running backs Kiante Ingram and North Texas pledge G’yrell Smith combined to run for 273 yards and five touchdowns and Jacob Torres completed all 11 of his passes as No. 3 North Crowley crushed No. 1 Waxahachie 42-17 in a matchup of state-ranked Class 6A teams.
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North Crowley (6-0, 3-0 District 11-6A), ranked No. 18 nationally by MaxPreps, is looking for its second state title in three years after going 16-0 in 2024. It didn’t just want to just show that it’s the best team in Texas.
“In the country,” Harris said.
READ MORE: Full stats, box score, play-by-play
It was quite a statement from North Crowley, which becomes the clear favorite to win the 11-6A title, given that it has already beaten three-time state champion Duncanville. Waxahachie still has to play Duncanville on Oct. 23.
North Crowley quarterback Jacob Torres (15) and his team mates celebrate their win against Waxahachie in a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
“It’s our offseason, our boot camp, the way we practice, the way we do things is second to none,” Harris said. “Our community, our kids are tough and hard-nosed. They get after it, so I can lay down at night every night with ease because I know they are going to play hard for me every time.”
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North Crowley came into the game averaging 221 rushing yards and surpassed that with 299 yards on the ground as Ingram ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns and Smith rushed for 116 yards and three scores — the third 100-yard game of the season for both. If that wasn’t enough, Torres was 11-for-11 passing for 215 yards and an 84-yard touchdown pass to four-star wide receiver Damarion Mays.
“Everybody preached that this was going to be a big game. We just wanted to come out here and play our game of ball,” Ingram said. “My O-line and my coaches worked so hard to put us in the best position to win. When we come out, here it’s so easy for us. My O-line was amazing.”
Waxahachie (5-1, 2-1) was looking for its first 6-0 start since 2016. That year, with former NFL quarterback Jon Kitna as its coach, Waxahachie won its first six games before finishing 6-4.
It was an intense game that featured a combined 18 penalties for 190 yards and one break in the action with 6:29 remaining when the teams had to be separated after a shoving match. Both coaches gathered their entire team around them and had a talk before action was allowed to resume, and many of Waxahachie’s players didn’t shake hands after the game was over as coaches directed them to the other side of the field, away from North Crowley.
North Crowley dominated the first half and led 21-7 at halftime after outgaining Waxahachie 240-95. North Crowley ran for 162 yards in the half as Ingram had 102 yards and a touchdown and Smith rushed for 53 yards and two scores to help North Crowley build a 21-0 lead.
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Waxahachie finally broke through a tenacious North Crowley defense as quarterback Jerry Meyer III scored on a 28-yard run with 39 seconds left in the first half. Meyer, committed to South Carolina and Waxahachie’s all-time leading passer, was held to 8 yards passing in the half but ran for 75 yards on six carries.
Waxahachie running back Taylor Strange (4) is brought down after a two yard gain during the first half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
North Crowley quarterback Jacob Torres (15) hands off to running back G’yrell Smith (3) during the first half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
North Crowley running back G’yrell Smith (3) breaks to the outside during the first half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
Waxahachie defensive back Mikel Winbush (13) was called for a face mask against North Crowley running back G’yrell Smith (3) during the first half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
Waxahachie defensive lineman Sedrick Marsh (10) and linebacker Carmelo Clawson (11) drop North Crowley quarterback Jacob Torres (15) during the first half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
North Crowley wide receiver Kade Smith (12) breaks away from Waxahachie cornerback Braylon Davis (6) for a gain during the first half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
Waxahachie head coach Lawrence Williams glances to the end zone during the first half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
Waxahachie quarterback Jerry Meyer III (3) scampers in the backfield during the first half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
Waxahachie quarterback Jerry Meyer III (3) tosses a completion to the sidelines during the first half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
Waxahachie quarterback Jerry Meyer III (3) leads the North Crowley defense to the end zone for the Indians lone score of the first half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
Waxahachie head coach Lawrence Williams corrects an official as to a players number during the first half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
Waxahachie safety Jayquan Snell (2) rests on the bench as his offense plays during the second half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
North Crowley wide receiver Damarion Mays (2) puts on his bling during the second half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
North Crowley head coach DeMarcus Harris and Waxahachie head coach Lawrence Williams greet each other at midfield after their UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
North Crowley head coach DeMarcus Harris talks to the team during the two minute warning of the first half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
Waxahachie quarterback Jerry Meyer III (3) scampers to the sidelines after a nine yard gain (3) during the first half of a UIL District 11-6A game at Lumpkins Stadium, Friday Oct. 09, 2026, in Waxahachie.
Bob Booth/The Dallas Morning News
It was surprising to see Meyer take off and run, as he came into the game with 12 carries for just 36 yards on the season. But he had little choice, as there were never wide receivers open against a stout North Crowley secondary that features UCLA pledge Jerry Outhouse Jr., Arizona State pledge Elijajuan Houston and heavily recruited sophomore Braylen Cunningham (21 offers).
Waxahachie came into the game leading Class 6A area schools in scoring at 53.4 points per game, and ranked third in total offense at 505.4 yards per game. But Meyer finished 12-for-28 for 112 yards and a touchdown and ran for a team-high 96 yards on eight carries, while star running back Taylen Strange had 81 yards on 21 carries.
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