Over the last several years, Dallas-area high school football teams have matched up with out-of-state programs in pre-district play.
The contests have created an opportunity for North Texas teams to prepare for their district slates and see what other states have to offer on the football field. Since 2022, Dallas-area 5A teams are a combined 0-5 against out-of-state opponents and 6A area teams are a combined 7-3.
In 2025, the interstate clashes have continued. Anna, which won the 4A Division I state championship in 2023 before moving up to Class 5A last season, meets Arizona Highland on Friday and Jesuit plays New Orleans Jesuit this week, too.
Both programs also played out-of-state teams last year, with Anna falling 52-48 to Tennessee’s Oakland and Jesuit beating New Orleans Jesuit 28-20.
High School Sports
Last week, three-time UIL state champion DeSoto fell 70-28 to Georgia’s Creekside, a team it beat 70-0 to open the 2024 season. Melissa played New Jersey powerhouse Don Bosco in its 2025 season opener, losing 14-10. It was a year after Melissa lost 27-20 to Arkansas’ Little Rock Parkview
Three-time state champion Duncanville has found great success against out-of-state programs in recent years. Last season, the 6A state power beat Maryland’ s St. Frances Academy 28-24 in Week 3. Five-star quarterback Keelon Russell, who is now at Alabama, passed for 265 yards and three touchdowns in the win and rushed for an additional score.
The previous season, Duncanville beat Rockledge(Fla.) 44-0 in Week 2. Duncanville beat another Florida team, Jones, 44-21 in its second game of the 2022 season.
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