Top high school football games of 2024

Published 5:10 am Saturday, August 24, 2024

There’s nothing like a summer road trip, with the exception of one in the fall.

Plus, adding a football game along the way makes it even more special.

While you already have mapped out your local team’s schedule, the following is a list of possible great games of 2024.

While John Denver sang “Take Me Home, Country Roads” (1971), we’ll make a lyric substitution and begin our football journey with “Almost Heaven, Piney Woods.”

So let’s get started with “On the Road Again” (1980) from Texas icon Willie Nelson.

WEEK 1

Longview vs. Lufkin

7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, John Outlaw Memorial Field at Abe Martin Stadium, Lufkin

“The Long and Winding Road” (The Beatles, 1970) toward a possible state championship begins here with two old rivals.

This is always a rock’em, sock’em contest.

This will be the 87th meeting of the Lobos and Panthers with Longview holding a 45-37-4 lead in the rivalry.

Longview has won the last six meetings, with the last two district battles (56-7 in 2022, 42-0 in 2023). This season, Longview is in 6A, while Lufkin is in 5A.

Honorable Mention: Tyler Legacy at Texas High, 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29; Hallsville at Lindale, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29; Kilgore at Carthage, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30; Tyler at Marshall, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30.

Special Mention: On the junior college side, the TJC Apaches will just “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” (Judy Garland and the Munchkins, 1939) when traveling to Kansas to meet Dodge City on Thursday, Aug. 29. And on the way back to Texas, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” (Elton John, 1973) for the Apaches.

WEEK 2

Tyler High vs. Tyler Legacy 

7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, Earl Campbell Field at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium, Tyler

“I’ve Been Down That Road Before” (Hank Williams, 1951) as the Rose City Rivalry is renewed as the Tyler schools meet for the 69th clash in the series that dates back to 1958 (even before I was born).

If you haven’t taken in this game, please do and you will not be disappointed.

The only thing better would be if the teams were in the same district.

The field and stadium are awash in a patriotic blend of red, white and blue.  

The game means so much to the players, students and community, along with the bands, drill teams, flag corps, etc. They even have a competition to see which school gathers the most food for the East Texas Food Bank.

The Lions lead the series 34-33-1 after last season’s 28-14 victory that snapped a four-game win streak by the Red Raiders, including a four overtime 29-27 win in 2022.

This will be the 67th consecutive year the squads have met. They played twice in a season twice — 2002 and 2003.

The Lions are the home team again this year. 

Plus, there are always some big-time players on the field.

Honorable Mention: Nacogdoches at Lufkin; Gilmer at Chapel Hill; Longview at Marshall.

WEEK 3

Chapel Hill vs. Whitehouse

7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, Wildcat Stadium, Whitehouse

For the first time in 5 years, Chapel Hill and Whitehouse are meeting on the football field.

In a game that is always special, fans can insert Lake Tyler into “Lake Shore Drive” (Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah, 1971) and think of driving around the lake instead of Chicago near Lake Michigan.

The last meeting between the teams was in 2019 with Whitehouse winning 46-39 at Christus Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in Tyler. Whitehouse has won eight straight in the series and leads the series 17-14-2.

Honorable Mention: Lindale at Van; Henderson at Jacksonville; Kilgore at Gilmer; Hawkins at Winona.

WEEK 4

Malakoff vs. Grandview

7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, Zebra Stadium, Grandview

Malakoff and Grandview have met nine times in the past five seasons, including the 2018 Class 3A Division I state championship game, which Grandview won. The Zebras won the first four meetings, including 31-24 in overtime in the 2020 regular season, before Malakoff eliminated the Zebras 24-21 in the Class 3A Division I Region II semifinals in 2021. Grandview won the 2022 regular season meeting 21-17, but the Tigers eliminated Grandview 29-17 in the state quarterfinals. Then during the 2023 season, Malakoff won 51-21 in Grandview.

So instead of being stuck in traffic, “Take a Back Road” (Rodney Atkins, 2011) and catch this game between the 2023 state champion Tigers and the 2018 and 2019 state champion Zebras.

Honorable Mention: Carthage at Chapel Hill; Gilmer at Lindale; Hallsville at Pine Tree; Gladewater at Spring Hill.

WEEK 5

Troup vs. Arp

7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, Bill Herrington Tiger Stadium, Arp 

While the road is not dirt, we could replace red with maroon and sing “Red Dirt Road” (Brooks & Dunn, 2003) for the “Seven-Mile Rivalry” as Troup and Arp will meet for the 80th time.

Troup won last year’s contest, 35-28, but Arp still leads the series, 40-38-1.

Honorable Mention: Rockwall-Heath at Tyler Legacy; Tyler at Highland Park; Kilgore at Pine Tree; Lindale at Chapel Hill.

WEEK 6

Brook Hill vs. Grace 

7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, Orville Rogers Field at Clyde-Perkins Stadium, Tyler

This is the first game of the annual Holy War series between the private Christian schools in the Rose City area.

The meeting between Grace and Brook Hill is always an entertaining contest as the Cougars and Guard hope to be singing “King of the Road” (Roger Miller, 1965).

Honorable Mention: Texas High at Whitehouse; Gladewater at Sabine; Mineola at Winnsboro.

WEEK 7

Brownsboro vs. Athens

7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, Bruce Field, Athens

For Bears and Hornets, let’s switch some numbers and make Bob Dylan’s song now “Highway 31 (instead of 61) Revisited.”

The Henderson Country squads should have another thriller.

HONORABLE MENTION: Longview at Forney; Tyler at Cleburne; Kilgore at Chapel Hill; Whitehouse at Jacksonville.

WEEK 8

All Saints vs. Bishop Gorman

7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, Bruce Field, Athens

Part II of the Holy War is this week as “Loop 323 Trophy” is up for grabs.

The theme could be “The Loop Song” by Hungarian pianist Peter Bence.

HONORABLE MENTION: Tyler Legacy at Longview; Lindale at Kilgore; Van at Gilmer.

WEEK 9

Gilmer vs. Pleasant Grove

7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25, Hawk Stadium, Texarkana

This could decide the District 7-4A Division II championship with the Buckeyes going for another league title and another state championship.

From “The Wiz”, just “Ease on Down the Road” (Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, 1978) to Texarkana.

HONORABLE MENTION: Rockwall at Tyler Legacy; Tyler at Midlothian; Winnsboro at Mount Vernon; Alto at Overton; Frankston at Carlisle.

WEEK 10

Lindale vs. Pine Tree

7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, Pirate Stadium, Longview

Let’s use the Zac Brown Band’s “Highway (Interstate) 20 Ride” (2009) for Lindale’s journey to Longview. But first the Eagles could drive by “Penny Lane” (The Beatles, 1967) in Lindale before heading out.

Honorable Mention: Tyler Legacy at Forney; North Forney at Longview; Hallsville at Marshall; Bullard at Brownsboro; Big Sandy at Hawkins. 

WEEK 11

Malakoff at Winnsboro

7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, Red Raider Stadium, Winnsboro

This could decide the District 7-3A Division I championship as both the Tigers and Red Raiders hope to have another successful season. Malakoff hopes to win another state championship as teams are “Born to Run” (Bruce Springsteen, 1975), perhaps toward a chance at glory.

Honorable Mention: Red Oak at Tyler; Marshall at Whitehouse; Van at Pleasant Grove; Athens at Bullard.