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Two Houston-based high school football teams could soon be crowned as state champions as two local schools will battle for the title this weekend.
Both the North Shore Mustangs and Paetow Panthers will look to culminate successful seasons with a championship in tow.
Panthers head coach B.J. Gotte said that the team would leave everything on the field in their pursuit for a UIL state championship.
“It’s gonna be a frickin’ battle,” he told The Houston Chronicle.
The Paetow Panthers are a four-year-old program in the Katy Independent School District that downed Corpus Christi Flower Mound 73-14 last weekend in the state semifinal to play in the championship game against undefeated College Station, according to the newspaper.
Gotte has previously been successful at the helm of Katy High and hopes to bring home championship to the Panthers.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Mustangs will seek to add to their trophy case after beating Austin Lake Travis 49-21 in the Class 6A Division I state semifinal.
Led by freshman quarterback Kaleb Bailey, who threw for 122 yards and two touchdowns, along with 203 yards rushing and two touchdowns, against Lake Travis, the Mustangs will play the Duncanville Panthers in the 6A state final at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, an opponent they beat in 2018 and 2019.
The Houston Chronicle reports that North Shore's and Paetow's appearances in the championship game mark a stark change from an established program to one that seeks to begin their own legacy.
According to Texas Football, the Mustangs are a perfect 4-0 all-time in state title games with both teams relying on robust defensive units in game that should come down to which offensive unit will be able to play better complimentary football.
Texas Football has listed Bailey, defensive back Denver Harris and wide receiver David Amador as players to watch on the Mustangs.