Houston's Playoff Run Opens Thursday: North Shore Begins Its Title Defense, and Katy, C.E. King and Ridge Point Carry Perfect-or-Near Seasons Into Bi-District

The Texas high school football playoffs open Thursday, November 12, and Houston's bracket is loaded at the top: three area powers finished the regular season unbeaten, the defending state champion starts at home, and the bi-district round alone puts 81 games on fields across the state between Thursday and Saturday.

The first night belongs to Galena Park North Shore. The Mustangs, 9-1 and ranked No. 5 in the final statewide 6A poll after a 49-7 closing win over Kingwood, open their Class 6A Division I title defense against Deer Park (8-2) at 7 p.m. Thursday at Galena Park ISD Stadium. Thursday also sends Alvin Shadow Creek (9-1) against Houston Heights at Freedom Field in Iowa Colony at 7:30 p.m., and Katy Tompkins against Fort Bend Hightower at Legacy Stadium at 7 p.m.

Friday is the heavy night. Katy, 10-0 and ranked No. 4 after a 56-14 win over Mayde Creek, hosts Fort Bend Travis (6-4) at 6:30 p.m. at Legacy Stadium. Sheldon C.E. King - 9-1, ranked No. 3, fresh off a 49-0 shutout of Channelview and holding the season's signature Houston result, a 42-21 win over North Shore - hosts League City Clear Springs at 7 p.m. Fort Bend Ridge Point, 10-0 and ranked No. 6, hosts Katy Taylor at 7 p.m., unbeaten Houston Memorial (10-0) meets Manvel (8-2) at Tully Stadium, and Pearland (9-1) hosts Alief Taylor at The Rig.

Every one of those games is a first step on the road to the state finals at AT&T Stadium, and bi-district is the round where brackets are widest and favorites are most exposed: one bad Friday ends a 10-0 season as surely as a 4-6 one. The winners move to the area round next week - and this desk's Friday-night roundup will carry every Houston final as they come in.