Texas High School Football Games of the Week: August 29-31

It’s officially time for high school football in Texas.

Hundreds of teams will kick off their 2024 seasons this week with one goal in mind: holding a state championship trophy in December at AT&T Stadium. And in Week 1, there’s already a few games that could have major impacts come playoff time, including a handful of matchups between top-25 teams in the state rankings.

Below are the key matchups to watch this weekend:

The On3 Massey Ratings — which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated college high school sports team rankings since 1995 — rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory.

CLICK HERE to watch your high school’s games on NFHS Network now!

Top high school football games in Texas

#9 Westlake vs. #14 Prosper — Thursday, Aug. 29
Prosper made it all the way regional semifinals in 2023, finishing 11-2 to win double-digit games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2009. The Eagles bring back 12 returning starters from last season’s team, headlined by a talented offensive line group. Texas A&M commit Connor Carty and Sam Houston State pledge Logan Cahill team up with four-star juniors Sean Stover, Bryce Gilmore and Zaden Krempin — all of whom rank among the top 250 prospects in the 2026 class. Westlake, meanwhile, is fresh off a 14-1 campaign in 2023, where they lost to North Shore for the second straight year in the playoffs after winning titles in 2020 and 2021. Their roster may lack some of usual high-end star power, but they have plenty of young talent and are led by one of the best junior quarterbacks in the country in Rees Wise.

#4 North Shore vs. South Oak Cliff — Friday, Aug. 30
The 5A Division II and 6A Division I runners-up from 2023 will meet to open the season when Oak Cliff heads down to Houston to face North Shore. The Golden Bears claimed back-to-back 5A DII crowns in 2021 and 2022, but fell to Port Neches-Groves in last season’s title game. They’ll boast one of the state’s more talented rosters this season, led by four-star Baylor commit Kamauryn Morgan, elite 2026 offensive tackle prospect Brian Swanson and Arkansas linebacker pledge JJ Shelton. As for North Shore, the conversation has to start with Devin Sanchez, the No. 1-ranked cornerback in the country headed to Ohio State. He’s flanked on a loaded roster by LSU linebacker pledge Charles Ross, Colorado verbal Quanell Farrakhan Jr. and Pitt offensive tackle commit Jordan Fields.

#6 Aledo vs. #7 Guyer — Friday, Aug. 30
No program has been more dominant over the past two decades in Texas than Aledo, which owns 11 state titles in the past 15 years and 12 overall. Four-star receiver Kaydon Finley and four-star running back Raycine Guillory headline a reloaded roster that can compete with any across the state. After what was considered a down year by Denton Guyer standards (7-4 in 2023), the Wildcats have their eyes on competing for a title. They’re led transfer quarterback Kevin Sperry, who led Midwest City (Okla.) Carl Albert to a state title last season, as well as elite 2026 EDGE Zane Rowe, stout defensive lineman Xavier Ukponu and highly coveted junior safety Kaedyn Cobbs.

#3 DeSoto vs. Creekside (Ga.) — Saturday, Aug. 31
DeSoto kicks off one of the nation’s toughest schedules with a season-opening showdown against Georgia class 5A champ Creekside. The Eagles capped off a 16-0 season that included a win over in 2023 with a win over rival Duncanville, a district title and a repeat state title blowout of Summer Creek. They’ll look to do it again in 2024 led by SMU receiver commit Daylon Singleton, Texas A&M verbal Deondrae Riden, Virginia Tech QB pledge Kelden Ryan and top-10 national 2027 recruits Myson Johnson-Cook and Ethan Feaster.

#13 North Crowley vs. Lancaster — Saturday, Aug. 31
The Panthers finished the 2023 season with a state semifinal berth and a 14-1 record, but have their sights set on getting all the way to Arlington this year. They boast one of the state’s top offensive lines, headlined by No. 3 2026 offensive tackle John Turntine and Missouri four-star commit Henry Fenuku. Keep an eye on Texas linebacker pledge Jonathan Cunningham and UNLV running back commit Cornelius Warren as well. Lancaster counters with OU wide receiver pledge Emmanuel Choice, along with Cal linebacker commit Ke’Breion Winston and Texas Tech verbal Braylan McDonald.