North Crowley (15-0) vs Austin Westlake (14-1), 7 p.m. Saturday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium: 

We get two fresh faces in the 6A-Division I state title game to close out the 2024 season.

It wasn't that long ago for Austin Westlake, who won three straight titles from 2019-2021. North Crowley is returning to state for the first time since 2003, and the Panthers have earned it with wins over Coppell, Allen and Duncanville, including last week’s thrilling 36-34 victory over the two-time champions.

As impressive as North Crowley’s effort was last week, Westlake’s performance was equally stunning as the Chaps went to the Houston area and drilled North Shore 35-10. North Crowley got a monster game from QB Chris Jimmerson, who tossed four touchdowns and accounted for 256 yards of total offense. RB Cornelius Warren ran for 178 yards and a score and had 45 receiving yards and a score.

The Panthers defense did enough to make life tough on Duncanville and forced two turnovers in the win.

Westlake’s defense, led by Duke commit Elliott Schaper, was simply incredible in putting a dynamic North Shore offense in a sleeper-hold all game long. QB Rees Wise had a monster game for the Chaps with three passing touchdowns to three different receivers and a rushing score.

The key matchup in this game will be Westlake’s defense vs. North Crowley's offense. Can the Chaps pull the magic trick again and slow down an explosive and speedy offense that features a dual-threat QB? If Westlake can do it again, they’ll bring a state title back to Austin. But if North Crowley’s offense gets cooking, there’s not a team in the state - or the country - that can slow them down. 

Stepp’s Pick: North Crowley by 11

PLAYERS TO WATCH

North Crowley

QB Chris Jimerson - Jimerson is looking to cap his career as North Crowley’s most prolific quarterback with a state championship. The four-year starter has passed for 3,470 yards, 54 touchdowns and just five interceptions. The North Texas signee will face his toughest test yet against Westlake’s defense.

WR Quentin Gibson - Gibson is the state’s most surprising player in 2024, with 1,828 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns. He entered the year with two offers (Army and Illinois State) and is now a Colorado signee and Mr. Texas Football finalist.

LB Jonathan Cunningham - Cunningham, a Texas signee, is a dynamic off-ball linebacker who’ll need to defend sideline-to-sideline against Westlake’s offense. Don’t be surprised if the 6’3, 190-pound linebacker makes a game-changing play on special teams as well.

Austin Westlake

LB Elliott Schaper - The heartbeat of arguably the best defense in the state, Schaper is an instinctual head-hunter who arrives at the ball with bad intentions. The Duke signee is rated as the No. 2 inside linebacker in Texas for 2025. He had 12 tackles, including three tackles-for-loss, against North Shore.

S George Jones - There might not be a more explosive group of playmakers in Texas than what North Crowley possesses offensively, which means Jones is going to have to play the game of his life to help the Chaps bring home the title. The three-star safety is plenty capable of being a game-changer himself as evident by his 4.41 40-yard dash and 10.8 100-meter time.

QB Rees Wise - Westlake's signal-caller is as steady as they come. He was surgeon-like against North Shore, passing for 123 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone. Don't sleep on his running abilities though; he's more than capable of picking up tough yards with his feet.

PREDICTIONS

THE PICK