AT&T Stadium in Arlington to Host 2013 Texas High School Football State Championships

The University Interscholastic League announced Thursday afternoon that all Texas high school football state championships will be held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

The UIL press release stated that for the first time, all 11-man and six-man football championship games will be played at the same location. AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys and formerly known as Cowboys Stadium, has hosted all 11-man state title games for the last two years. The location also hosted the 5A, 4A, and 3A state championship games in 2010.

“For the first time ever, all football state qualifying teams will have the unique and extraordinary experience of playing at AT&T Stadium,” said UIL Director of Athletics Mark Cousins in the press release. “We will work with AT&T Stadium and the Dallas Cowboys organization to make this year’s championship event the best yet.”

Abilene's Shotwell Stadium hosted the six-man Division I and Division II state championships the last four years. Mansfield's Vernon Newsom Stadium hosted the 2A and 1A state championship games in 2010.

The 2013 football state championships will mark the fourth year all games in all conferences will be played at pre-determined locations, the UIL press release stated. The UIL has determined the site for 5A football state championships since 2006.

The addition of a fourth playoff team to the 3A and 2A playoffs mean that the 3A Division I bracket will have the regular six-round setup, and the title game will no longer be held a week earlier than the other 11-man championship games. That sets up a four-game championship Thursday on Dec. 19 for the 1A and 2A title games, with triple-headers the next two days to conclude the 3A, 4A, and 5A seasons. A full breakdown of the state championship schedule is listed below.

The six-man state championship games will be in Arlington on Saturday, Dec. 14.

East Texas teams have a 4-4 record in AT&T Stadium state championship games dating to Carthage's 2010 3A D-II crown and Henderson's 3A D-I title win over Chapel Hill the week before. In 2011, Tenaha (1A D-II) and Chapel Hill (3A D-I) won state championships before three East Texas schools -- Gilmer (3A D-II), Daingerfield (2A D-I), and Tenaha (1A D-II) -- each lost title bouts last year.

Texas High School Football Championship Schedule

AT&T Stadium, Arlington

Dec. 14

• 12 p.m. -- Six-Man Division I
• 3 p.m. -- Six-Man Division II

Dec. 19

• 10 a.m. -- 1A Division I
• 1 p.m. -- 1A Division II
• 5 p.m. -- 2A Division I
• 8 p.m. -- 2A Division II

Dec. 20

• 12 p.m. -- 3A Division I
• 4 p.m. -- 3A Division II
• 8 p.m. -- 4A Division I

Dec. 21

• 12 p.m. -- 4A Division II
• 4 p.m. -- 5A Division I
• 8 p.m. -- 5A Division II

How East Texas Teams Have Fared in Championships

at Arlington's AT&T Stadium

2010 (2-1)

• 3A D-I -- Henderson 28, Chapel Hill 21
• 3A D-II -- Carthage 47, Coldspring-Oakhurt 22

2011 (2-0)

• 3A D-I -- Chapel Hill 20, Alvarado 19
• 1A D-II -- Tenaha 52, Munday 28

2012 (0-3)

• 3A D-II -- Navasota 39, Gilmer 3
• 2A D-I -- Cameron Yoe 38, Daingerfield 20
• 1A D-II -- Munday 42, Tenaha 14