District 11-6A Preview: Duncanville, Waxahachie & North Crowley Could Produce State Champions

Few districts in Texas carry the weight of District 11-6A heading into the 2026 season. With Duncanville, Waxahachie, and North Crowley all ranked among the top five programs in the DFW area, this realigned district could realistically produce two state finalists before December is over.

Duncanville remains the team to beat. Head coach Reginald Samples returns with a roster that includes quarterback Maximus Denton, versatile wide receiver Trent Yancey, and running back Robert Singleton. The defense is expected to be stout again, and while questions linger about the offensive and defensive lines, the program's depth of college-level talent makes it difficult to pick against them. Samples brings the kind of institutional knowledge and coaching continuity that wins close games in November.

Waxahachie enters the year with a chip on its shoulder. New head coach Orange Williams, promoted from defensive coordinator, inherits a roster loaded with returning starters, including three-year starter Jeremiah at quarterback, along with Jaquan Snell, Aaron Snell, Fran Gonzalez, and Carmelo Clawson. The Indians beat Duncanville once last year and nearly pulled off a second win. With nearly everyone back, they view themselves as a legitimate district favorite — not a runner-up.

North Crowley comes in with its own transition story. Defensive coordinator-turned-head-coach steps into the role after Ray Bates departed for North Texas following a 28-2 run that included the 2024 state title. Eligibility questions at quarterback added early uncertainty, but Jerry Outhouse gives them a capable option under center, and sophomore standout Marion Mays — who rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last season — returns alongside running back Keondre Ingram. The talent is there; the question is whether a first-year head coach can navigate a district this competitive.

Lake Ridge projects as a clear fourth, and the gap between them and the rest of the field may be wider than their record suggests. Deshaun Edwards, Jordan Cotton, Jay Nevins, and edge players Mason Johnson and Isaiah Murray give the Eagles a roster capable of pulling upsets. A team that went from 0-10 to 9-3 and knocked off Trinity in the playoffs last year is not one to overlook. Mansfield, Red Oak, and Skyline round out the district, with the top four spots likely decided among the programs above them.