COMAL COUNTY, Texas – The UIL Class 5A Division I state championship football game will feature a combined 784 wins between both head coaches.
Randy Allen and Highland Park (14-1) are back in the state championship game for the first time since winning it all in 2018.
Larry Hill and Smithson Valley (13-2) were in an identical position last year when the Rangers suffered a lopsided loss against Aledo.
Hill is set to coach his fifth Rangers team in the state title game, but the longtime coach has yet to win a ring. However, that’s not an indictment on Hill.
Dallas-area programs are a tough out, and Highland Park won’t be any different.
“You stop to reflect for a minute,” Hill said. “But, then you realize what a short, hectic week it is and what a high-caliber opponent you have, and your mind gets off of that real quick, and you start diving into preparation.”
Smithson Valley is averaging 43.4 points per game this season and allowing just 11.6 in return. Highland Park boasts a similar scoring margin: 36.3 points per game, allowing 16.4 points per game.
“We’re focused on not thinking ahead,” Spradling said. “There’s a lot of distractions this week with it being state week — all of it’s great, but we just need to focus in on practice and get done what needs to get done.”
As the Rangers pursue a program-first state title, they enter the week on a 10-game winning streak that dates back to Oct. 27.
“It’s amazing,” Rangers senior safety Diego Davila said. “It’s what you wish for going back to back, but this time, we’re looking for a different outcome.”
The team also hopes for a different outcome for Hill, hoping to be the squad that breaks the threshold for their legendary coach.
“We want to be the team to get him one,” Rangers senior quarterback Cade Spradling said. “We know he’s going to get one eventually, and he’s a great coach, and we just want to be that team.”
“No one deserves it more than Larry Hill,” Rangers senior wide receiver Brody Day said. “He’s been here, he’s put the work in, he’s put the time in, and I think we can go up there and get it taken care of.”
Kick-off between the Rangers and Scots is at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the confines of AT&T Stadium.
Read more reporting and watch highlights and full games on the Big Game Coverage page.
