Lake Travis (Class 6A, Division I) wasn’t the only school in Texas celebrating 2016 high school football state championships at AT&T Stadium over a four-day span.
Six classifications crowned champions in two divisions ranging from Class 6A (large school) to six-man football.
West Orange-Stark (Class 4A, Division II) and Carthage (Class 4A, Division I) were Region III champions (which includes greater Houston area) that earned state titles. WOS won back-to-back state titles by outscoring opponents 811-66 and completing an undefeated season (16-0) with a 24-6 victory over Sweetwater.
Carthage (14-2) rallied to overcome an early 14-0 deficit and knock off Abilene Wylie 31-17. Keaontay Ingram rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns for the Bulldogs who forced six turnovers in the contest.
DeSoto (Class 6A, Div. II) earned the school’s first state football title since opening 60 years ago and finished 16-0 following a 38-29 victory over Cibolo Steele. Eagles’ quarterback Shawn Robinson had 397 yards total offense and accounted for three touchdowns in the victory.
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones watched his grandson guide Highland Park past Temple 16-7 in the Class 5A Division I title game. John Stephen Jones, a junior quarterback, was named the offensive MVP after scoring touchdowns on runs of 36 and one yards.
Aledo (16-0) won its sixth state title in the past eight years with a 24-16 win over Corpus Christi Calallen. The Wildcats of Calallen (14-2) are coached by Phil Danaher, the winningest active coach in Texas high school football.
Other 2016 Texas state high school football champions include Mineola (3A, Div. I), Gunter (3A, Div. II), Refugio (2A, Div. I), Bremond (2A, Div. II), Borden County (six-man, Div. I) and Richland Springs (six-man, Div. II).
The 2017 high school football season begins the last weekend of August.