It’s a ‘dream’ for high school football players to play state title games at AT&T Stadium
The Texas high school football state championships have been a staple at AT&T Stadium since the 2010 season.
Similar to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., the UIL state title games are strongly associated with a specific location: Arlington, Texas. In the 15 games of a Texas high school football season leading up to the state championship, athletes look forward to achieving their goals and playing on the same turf as the Dallas Cowboys.
Even Class 1A schools with less than 60 total students play six-man football at AT&T Stadium, a venue that can hold more than 80,000 fans. The only exception to AT&T’s hosting of the big games in the last decade was in 2015, when the state championships were held at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Timpson quarterback Terry Bussey, a five-star prospect committed to Texas A&M and a lifelong Cowboys fan, said playing at AT&T Stadium is “amazing.” Bussey powered the Timpson Bears to the Class 2A D1 State Championship, accounting for 466 total yards and six touchdowns.
“It’s a blessing to play at AT&T,” Bussey said. “I’ve been a Cowboys fan ever since I could play football.”
Head coach Denney Faith, who led Albany to a Class 2A D2 state title, called winning a state championship at AT&T Stadium the “ultimate win.” For a school with a 2023 enrollment of 170, playing under the bright lights means a lot.
“For a high school coach to be able to come to this venue and play for a state championship,” Faith said. “It’s pretty amazing.”
Albany senior running back Adam Hill, who found the blue of the Dallas Cowboys’ end zone for a game sealing touchdown in the championship win, said playing at AT&T Stadium was surreal.
“The big ‘ol lights!” Hill said. “My favorite team is the Cowboys, so getting to play on their field is amazing.”
Gordon, a school with a 2023 enrollment of 75 students, won the Class 1A D1 State Championship with 4,688 total fans in attendance. Gordon head coach Mike Reed said Gordon, a community with a population of less than 500, traveled well to Arlington, Texas because of their passion for Longhorn football.
“Every house may be burglarized when we get back,” Reed said with a smile.
AT&T Stadium used to host UIL playoff games prior to state championship week. That stopped in 2021, the year after Globe Life Field opened.
Even area round, bi-district and regional playoff games were held at AT&T Stadium. In 2019, the stadium hosted six area-round games including Southlake Carroll vs. DeSoto. In that same year, it hosted three regional round games.
In 2016, AT&T Stadium hosted seven bi-district games and four area round games. For the past three seasons, AT&T Stadium has hosted the state championship games but has not hosted for the prior rounds.
“Only a handful of games end up there,” Richland head coach Ged Kates said. “ ... It’s really special to play there now because it’s a state championship game. I love that. ... We would love to play at Cowboys. Maybe we will one day in the big game.”
In the lead up to the 2023 state championship, there have been high profile Dallas-Fort Worth area high school football games at Choctaw Stadium, the Ford Center and other various neutral sites.
Malakoff quarterback Mike Jones, the Offensive MVP of the Class 3A D1 State Championship, said playing at AT&T Stadium “unbelievable” and “unreal.” His teammate, wide receiver Chaucey Hogg, said many athletes dream of playing on the grandest stage of Texas high school football.
“Some people don’t get to do it,” Hogg said of playing at AT&T Stadium. “It’s an honor.”
Gunter quarterback Walker Overman, the Offensive MVP of the Class 3A D2 title game, has played in the state championship at AT&T before. Even with the experience, he said it’s a “little nerve racking.”
“We were here last year, but I’ve got the chills just coming in here,” Overman said. “This place is huge. Coming in here is a dream.”
Gunter head coach Jake Fieszel said the UIL and the Dallas Cowboys working on a deal to continuously host the state championships at AT&T Stadium is “amazing for the kids.”
“It’s amazing for the community,” Fieszel said. “It’s amazing for fans. This is a great deal. I think its the best in the country and we’re blessed to be a part of it.”
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