Here is a list of Texas HS Football Quarterbacks in the NFL Playoffs

AFC
Denver – Caleb Hanie (Forney)
New England – Ryan Mallett (Texas High)
Indianapolis – Andrew Luck (Houston Stratford)
Cincinnati – Andy Dalton (Katy)

NFC
Atlanta – Luke McCown (Jacksonville)
Green Bay – Graham Harrell (Ennis)
Washington – Robert Griffin III (Copperas Cove)
Seattle – Matt Flynn (Tyler Lee)
Minnesota – Christian Ponder (Colleyville Heritage)

Here is the complete list of Texas HS Football Players & Coaches in 2013 Under Armour All-America Game:

Team Highlight (Black) 
#2 Dontre Wilson (ATH – DeSoto) Oregon
#10 Ra’Shaad Samples (WR – Dallas Skyline) Oklahoma State
#14 Maurice Smith (CB – FB Dulles) Alabama
#19 Kohl Stewart (QB – Houston St. Pius X) Texas A&M
#25 LaQuivonte Gonzalez (WR – Cedar Hill) Texas A&M
#52 Darius James (OC – Killeen Harker Heights) Texas
#75 Joas Aguilar (OG – Birdville) Texas A&M

Head Coach: Herm Edwards
Blake Ware (Houston St. Pius X) DE coach
Joey McGuire (Cedar Hill) LB coach
Claude Mathis (DeSoto) DS coach

Team Nitro (White)
#2 Robbie Rhodes (WR – FW Southwest) Baylor
#5 Keith Ford (RB – Cypress Ranch) Oklahoma
#27 Shane Tripucka (P – Allen) Undecided

Head Coach: Steve Mariucci
Assistant Coach: Deion Sanders (Prime Prep Academy)

Game is held on Friday, January 4 at 4:00p CT on ESPN

Through 11 Bowl Games only two have surpassed the 5A Division I Game Total:
Texas HS Football 5A Division I Total Attendance: 48,379
Texas HS Football 5A Division II Total Attendance: 41,584

New Mexico Bowl (12/15): 24,610
Idaho Potato Bowl (12/15): 29,243
Poinsettia Bowl (12/20): 35,442
Beef O’Brady’s Bowl (12/21): 21,759
New Orleans Bowl (12/22): 48,828
Las Vegas Bowl (12/22): 33,217
Hawaii Bowl (12/24): 30,024
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (12/26): 23.310
Military Bowl (12/27): 17,835
Belk Bowl (12/27): 48,128
Holliday Bowl (12/27): 55,507
Independence Bowl (12/28): TBA
Russell Athletic Bowl (12/28): TBA
Car Care Bowl of Texas (12/28)TBA

The attendance numbers are official reported numbers by the Bowl Game organizers themselves.

In Texas, the football season is never ending. The same hold true for us here at TexasHSFootball.com. Here is a small sample of just a few of the items we have coming in the winter, spring and summer calendar months.

December 2012/January 2013
Texas HS Football Awards Season
The comprehensive list of all-district teams from every district in the state will be published on our Inside Texas HS Football section. The TexasHSFootball.com All-Region and All-State Teams for 2012 will be posted starting in mid January through the first week of February.

Inside Texas HS Football Audio Cast
Everyday starting Thursday, December 27, Inside Texas HS Football Audio Cast will have a new interview with the players, coaches and experts that are inside the game we all know and love.

2013 Under Armour Game Coverage
Daily and comprehensive coverage of the 2013 Under Armour All-America Game and Practices from ESPN Wide World of Sports in Walt Disney World and Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Includes expansive  interviews, analysis and game coverage all week long at the event.

Four Down Daily
A look at the news, events and more with Texas HS Football’s Four Down Daily starting Monday, December 31. Four downs, four key pieces of information each and everyday from the top source for Texas High School Football.

February 2013
Four Down Daily
A look at the news, events and more with Texas HS Football’s Four Down Daily starting Monday, December 31. Four down, four key pieces of information each and everyday from the top source for Texas High School Football.

Inside Texas HS Football Audio Cast
Everyday Inside Texas HS Football Audio Cast will have a new interview with the players, coaches and experts that are inside the game we all know and love.

Texas HS Football Recruiting Rush
National Signing Day is on Wednesday, February 6 and  we will have a comprehensive list of who signed where from Division I on down to the lower levels. Whether it is a school like Texas or Texas A&M, or a school like Abilene Christian, we will have it covered!

March-June 2013
Texas HS Football Preview Guide
No need to wait until the summer to get a glimpse of the 2013 season.. we will have a daily look at what you can look forward to for the season ahead. We will cover every class, every district and go top to bottom and in all directions.

Four Down Daily
A look at the news, events and more with Texas HS Football’s Four Down Daily. Four downs, four key pieces of information each and everyday from the top source for Texas High School Football.

Inside Texas HS Football Audio Cast
Everyday Inside Texas HS Football Audio Cast will have a new interview with the players, coaches and experts that are inside the game we all know and love.

The heavyweight battles with Katy pairing up against Cibolo Steele and DeSoto challenging Allen were not only games that had an impact on the state championship picture, but also the MaxPreps National Title picture too.

DeSoto entered the week as the nation’s top ranked team, but the Allen Eagles had a number of other plans than to see DeSoto maintain its top ranked status and chase for a state championship. Allen quickly jumped off to a 21-0 1st quarter lead before DeSoto came within seven. Allen then puled away for a 51-36 win over DeSoto, which falls from the top spot to number eight nationally. With the win, the Allen Eagles secured a date in the Class 5A Division I State Championship Game against Houston Lamar and the number six overall ranking on the MaxPreps National Top 25 rankings. Houston Lamar defeated SA O’Connor by a 15-7 score to advance to Saturday night’s date against Allen.

The Katy Tigers came into the game against Cibolo Steele with a good shot moving up from its previous ranking at number 3 and a berth in the Class 5A Division II State Championship Game. The Tigers, much like Allen, got off to a blazing start at 21-0. The Knights then rallied back to tie the Tigers before Katy pulled away in the second half with a 45-33 victory. The win gives Katy the number two spot in the MaxPreps National Top 25, while Cibolo Steele falls from number 13 to 18 in the rankings. The Tigers will be aiming for its seventh state title and first since 2008 on Saturday afternoon against Cedar Hill, who defeated Austin Westlake by a 31-28 score in the final seconds of the game.

You can view the full MaxPreps National Top 25 by clicking here.

After the stunning loss by Bradenton Manatee to St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida, there is a new team atop the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Poll and it is the DeSoto Eagles. DeSoto is coming a classic win against Southlake Carroll that ended in a goal line stand by a score score of 49-45. The Eagles next test will be against the Allen Eagles in the Class 5A Division I State Semifinals, who were the state’s preseason favorites, on Saturday at SMU’s Ford Field at 6pm. Allen, who defeated Dallas Skyline 37-17 on Saturday also moves up in the MaxPreps rankings from 21 to 19 this week.

Stepping in at #3 are the Katy Tigers. The Tigers much like second ranked John Curtis out of River Ridge, La., received “strong consideration for the top spot” according to MaxPreps National Football editor Steve Spiewak. Spiewak also notes that if Katy were to defeated Cibolo Steele on Saturday, they could also move higher in the MaxPreps rankings to either #1 or #2.

The Tigers defeated Cypress Ranch on Saturday buy a score of 70-21 and wil meet Cibolo Steele on Saturday afternoon at Baylor’s Floyd Casey  Stadium in Waco at 2pm. Speaking of Cibolo Steele, the Knights move up one notch from #13 to #14 after its 28-12 win over SA Brandeis in the Class 5A Division II Region IV Final.

The full MaxPreps Xcellent National Top 25 can be seen by clicking here.

[Dec. 5, 2012] CHICAGO – Former NFL head coaches Herm Edwards and Steve Mariucci will lead the nation’s top high school seniors in the 2013 Under Armour All-America High School Football Game presented by American Family Insurance.  The sixth-annual game will take place Friday, Jan. 4, at 5 p.m. ET, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., and will be televised live on ESPN.

The rosters for each team were revealed today on “ESPN Recruiting Nation: Under Armour All American Special.”  Edwards will serve as head coach of Team Highlight (Black Team), while Mariucci will coach Team Nitro (White Team).  Both coaching staffs, selected by ESPN Scouts, Inc., will consist of former NFL coaches acting as offensive and defensive coordinators.  The rosters will feature the nation’s top high school football prospects, according to the ESPN 150 player rankings.

Currently an NFL analyst for ESPN, Edwards served as head coach of the New York Jets (2001-05) and Kansas City Chiefs (2006-08).  Edwards led the Jets to three playoff appearances (2001, 2002, 2004) and one division title (2002) before leading the Chiefs to the playoffs in 2006.  In his 10-year playing career, Edwards spent nine seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, highlighted by an appearance in Super Bowl XV.  His 33 interceptions in an Eagles uniform leave him one shy of the franchise record.

“I am extremely excited to be heading back to Florida for the Under Armour All-America Game,” Edwards said.  “The caliber of players and personnel associated with the game is the best of the best.  That results in a competitive, fun and exciting week of football for all involved.  I am truly looking forward to it.”

Mariucci is the former head coach of the San Francisco 49ers (1997-2002) and the Detroit Lions (2003-05). In Mariucci’s six years with the 49ers, he led them to four playoff appearances, two first-place finishes in the NFC West and in 1997, his team marched all the way to the NFC Championship Game.  Mariucci finished his coaching career with a record of 72-67.

“I am fortunate enough to be part of my third Under Armour All-America Game this year,” Mariucci said. “Each year, I truly enjoy getting to work with the young men chosen to play in the game.  The entire week is top-notch, organized extremely well and provides participants and spectators an entertaining event. ”

The 2013 Under Armour All-America Game roster features 90 of the nation’s premier high school football players, including three of the ESPN 150’s Top 5 athletes: Robert Nkemdiche (Grayson), Carl Lawson (Milton), and Vernon Hargreaves III (Wharton). Notable alumni of the Under Armour All-America Game currently playing in the National Football League include: Julio Jones (Atlanta Falcons), A.J. Green (Cincinnati Bengals), Trent Richardson (Cleveland Browns) and Alshon Jeffery (Chicago Bears). Current college standouts who participated in the Under Armour All-America Game include: Matt Barkley (USC), Manti Te’o (Notre Dame), Marqise Lee (USC), Braxton Miller (Ohio State) and Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina).

Individual tickets for the 2013 Under Armour All-America Game can be purchased for $18; Family Four packs are available for $48.  Tickets may be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or at Ticketmaster outlets.

CHICAGO (November 29, 2012) — In its 28th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with USA TODAY High School Sports, today announced Kenny Hill of Southlake Carroll High School as its 2012-13 Gatorade Texas Football Player of the Year. Hill is the second Gatorade Texas Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Southlake Carroll High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Hill as Texas’s best high school football player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award announced in December, Hill joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.), Wes Welker (1999-00, Heritage Hall HS, Okla.), Terrell Suggs (1999-00, Hamilton HS, Ariz.), Anquan Boldin (1998-99, Pahokee HS, Fla.) and Jerome Bettis (1989-90, Mackenzie HS, Mich.).

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior quarterback led the Dragons to an 11-1 record this season entering the Class 5A Division 1 regional finals, scheduled for November 30. A returning Honorable Mention All-American as named by Sports Illustrated, Hill completed 170-of-248 passes (69 percent) for 2,918 yards and 26 touchdowns against just two interceptions through 12 games. Also the returning Dallas Morning News Offensive Player of the Year, Hill has rushed for 1,192 yards and 28 scores on 119 carries. As a junior, Hill completed 19-of-24 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns in addition to rushing for 117 yards and two scores on 24 carries in a 36-29 victory against Fort Bend Hightower High in the 2011 Class 5A Division I state championship game.

Also a baseball standout, Hill has maintained a 3.38 GPA in the classroom. He has volunteered locally on behalf of his school’s peer leadership program, the Young Men’s Service League, the Special Olympics and Play it Forward, which provides sports equipment to disadvantaged youth.

“Kenny Hill exemplified the characteristics of what makes Texas high school football special,” said Scot Hafley, head coach of rival Haltom High. “He was more than just a great athlete. He displayed tremendous leadership on the field. His poise and self-confidence were evident with the way he handled himself and encouraged those around him to play hard on every snap.”

Hill has verbally committed to play football on an athletic scholarship at Texas A&M beginning in the fall of 2013. The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade high school sports leadership team in partnership with USA TODAY High School Sports, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

Hill joins recent Gatorade Texas Football Players of the Year Johnathan Gray (2011-12, 2010-11, Aledo High School), Scotty Young (2009-10, Billy Ryan), Garrett Gilbert (2008-09, Lake Travis High School) and Riley Dodge (2007-08, Southlake Carroll) among the state’s list of former award winners.

Four Texas HS Football Alumni have landed on the 2012 American Football Coaches Association FBS All-America Team. They are as followed:

Offense:
WR Terrance Williams (Baylor – Dallas WT White)
OL Luke Joeckel (Texas A&M – Arlington)

Defense:
DL Damontre Moore (Texas A&M – Rowlett)

Special Teams:
PK Quinn Sharp (Oklahoma State – Mansfield Summit)

Click here to view the entire 2012 AFCA FBS All-America Team.

The Southlake Carroll-Euless Trinity contest is slated for Saturday at 6:00pm at Birdville FAAC. There has been much discussion through the media and fans as to why the game is scheduled for Birdville instead of a larger venue.

The following is a response from Southlake Carroll Athletic Director Kevin Ozee via the Southlake Carroll Athletics blog on the Stadium issues for Trojans vs Dragons contest:

“There has been much discussion and there will be much written about the stadium selection for this week’s game vs. Trinity.  I’ve even had questions on why we don’t move the game to a bigger venue.  It’s not that simple.   Birdville was mutually agreed on ahead of time by Trinity and us some time ago.  We work weeks in advance reserving stadiums and planning games.

For round 3, Cowboys Stadium was not available. SMU and UNT were not options. UTA, Mansfield, and Birdville all seat about the same. The Cotton Bowl and TCU are grass fields and most high school coaches do not like to play on grass this time of year.

With that being said, if we can mutually agree with the other team we will always choose the venue and kickoff time that gives our team the best opportunity to succeed. If we cannot mutually agree, we will flip a coin to try to get what we feel is the best case scenario.  These decisions are not taken lightly as we are trying to be in the best possible situation for success.  However, the Team will always come first. Fan seating, parking, pressbox, media accomodations, and other stadium details are always next on the list behind what our coaching staff and I believe is the best for our team to win. There is a very well thought out collaborative effort among our staff and I to what we want to do each week.   We go though many different scenarios each playoff week and it is part of our process.”