RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 1 sources
High school football is more than just a game when it comes to the state of Texas and this week, the sport that defines the state returns as teams from all over prepare to kick off the 2026 season.
One thing every team in the state dreams of is being at AT&T Stadium in Dallas playing for a state championship.
For some teams, that's a common occurrence as they're consistently in the state title picture. For other programs though, one trip to "Jerry's World" could be the break they've been dreaming of for decades.
The last decade of high school football in the state has seen nearly 60 different teams end the year as state champions. Of the 58 champions, only 23 won more than one title and that number dwindles down even more looking at the teams that won three or more.
Here's a look at the 10 11-man programs in the Lone Star State that have defined winning over the last decade (2016-25) with three or more state championship runs.
SUPER 25 RANKINGS: 4 new teams enter rankings ahead of Week 2
SUPER 15: Week 2 high school football schedule for USA TODAY Sports Super 15 teams
Carthage
Overall Record: 144-6
State Championships: 7 (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024, 2025)
No team has experienced a more dominant last decade than the Bulldogs.
They've run the state's Class 4A scene since 2016, winning their first state championship that season and have only had three seasons since where they did they didn't end the year raising a trophy. They've won in both Class 4A divisions, starting off with three in Class 4A Division 1 and then winning four of the last six Class 4A Division 2 titles.
Over their current run, the Bulldogs have won by an average of 29.1 points. They've gone unbeaten five times and have never had a season in the current run where they've lost more than two games.
Aledo
Overall Record: 143-12
State Championships: 6 (2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023)
Had it not been for a championship loss in 2017 to College Station, the Bearcats would have just as many state championships over the last decade as Carthage.
Playing up a class in 5A, Aledo's run began in 2016, and it would go on to win four Class 5A Division 2 championships over a five-year span. They moved to Division 1 and still found success, winning back-to-back state championships in 2022 and 2023.
Like Carthage, Aledo hasn't had a season during this current run where they lost more than two games and the Bearcats have arguably been more dominant, winning by an average of 33.4 points.
Gunter
Overall Record: 146-11
State Championships: 5 (2016, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024)
State championship appearances have been not unfamiliar to the Tigers over the last decade. They've played in seven and won five.
In three of those Class 3A Division 2 championship runs, they went unbeaten, going 16-0 and in 2023, arguably had their best season ever as they scored over 900 points.
In a familiar trend with the only teams that have won more state titles than them during the last decade, the Tigers haven't had a season where they've lost more than two games in a year in this stretch, winning by an average of 32.4 points.
DeSoto
Overall Record: 118-21
State Championships: 4 (2016, 2022, 2023, 2025)
Seemingly always full of Division I talent, the Eagles are continually in the state title picture despite having to undergo the rigors of a brutal in-state schedule, along with games against national powerhouses.
In 2016, the program won its first state title, going a perfect 16-0. Another five years passed but they returned back to their championship-winning ways in 2022.
Over the last four seasons, they've captured three 6A Division 2 championships. In 2023, they went 15-0 and have won 10 or more games in every season since 2020.
North Shore
Overall Record: 123-15
State Championships: 4 (2018, 2019, 2021, 2025)
In 2003, the Mustangs won their first Class 5A Division I championship and 12 years later won championship No. 2, this time doing it in Class 6A Division I.
It didn't take long for them to get going again as they posted a record of 27-2 during their back-to-back championship runs between 2018 and 2019.
The 2020's have been more of a run of dominance for the program as they've won 14 or more games each of the last six seasons. Aside from the 2017 team that finished 9-4, the Mustangs have won 12 or more games in each season since 2016.
Highland Park (Dallas)
Overall Record: 126-16
State Championships: 3 (2016, 2017, 2018)
Led by legendary coach Randy Allen, the Scots are consistently one of the best teams in Texas' Class 5A Division I scene.
To kick off the last decade, they ran the division going 45-3, winning three straight championships and finishing that run with a 16-0 season.
The Scots are still searching for their first championship since the 2018 season, but they have continued their winning ways. Over the last decade, Allen's teams have not had a season where they didn't win 10 or more games.
Mart
Overall Record: 129-19
State Championships: 3 (2017, 2018, 2019)
In 2023 the Panthers lost big in the Class 2A Division 2 championship game to Albany. But in 2020, they were just one point away from being champions.
That win would have completed a four-peat the Panthers were trying to achieve. In the three years prior, they went 43-5, scoring more than 880 points in two of those seasons.
Of their three championship wins during that run, the second is arguably the most impressive. That team went 15-1, beat teams by an average of 46.1 points and beat Gruver 76-33 in the championship game.
Muenster
Overall Record: 113-27
State Championships: 3 (2017, 2024, 2025)
In 2017 the Hornets posted a 16-0 record to win the program's first state championship. That season, they scored over 800 points and beat teams by an average of 43.5 points.
It took a few years for the Hornets to replicate that suc...
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.