Houston King Continues Incredible Run with Trip to State
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Updated: December 15, 2025
photos: Steve Thomas
Houston King Continues Incredible Run with Trip to State
Panthers dethrone defending champion Austin Vandegrift for first trip to title game
For the first time in their 71-year history, the Houston CE King Panthers are going to state. The Panthers secured a berth in the 6A-D2 championship game with a 58-41 win over the defending 6A-D2 champion Austin Vandegrift Vipers.
After going 5-5 last season and missing the playoffs, the Houston CE King Panthers entered this season with a massive chip on their shoulder. The Panthers knew they had plenty of doubters, especially since they played in a brutal district that included 6A powerhouses such as Galena Park North Shore and Humble Summer Creek. Adding to the fire is the team’s rally around injured teammate Bryce Lyons. The senior defensive back suffered a devastating knee injury in October which ended his season.
All of that motivation has fueled the Panthers to their best season in school history. Saturday's 6A-D2 semifinal appearance at McLane Stadium was the Panthers' first ever semifinals appearance. Now, after dethroning the defending 6A-D2 champions, the Panthers have a chance to claim their first state championship and cap off a storybook season. "We had a lot of doubters, but now they're all sitting at home. And we're going to Jerry World," Panther running back Dionne Sims said after their victory. Sims rushed for over 200 yards and two touchdowns in the Panthers’ win.
With all of the hype surrounding the game, the game itself lived up to the billing. The game was a back-and-forth contest before King finally pulled away late. On multiple occasions, the Panthers appeared to be pulling away only for the Vipers to strike back.
Late in the second quarter, Panthers quarterback Timothy Potts, Jr. scored on a nine-yard touchdown keeper to put his team up 28-14 with 50 seconds left in the half. Ports finished the game with over 220 rushing yards. Vandegrift responded, however, with an efficient drive capped off by an eight-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Miles Teodecki to receiver Justin Moore.
In the third quarter, Potts added two more touchdowns for King. The first came on a 29-yard pass to receiver Dillon Mitchell. The second was a 56-yard scramble for his second touchdown of the night. Vandegrift responded early in the fourth with a 19-yard touchdown from Teodecki to Brock Chilton, and kicker Wylie Olson executed a masterful onside kick which set up a 50-yard touchdown pass from Teodecki to Chilton. That was as close as the Vipers would get, however. Following Chilton’s touchdown, Potts scored his third rushing touchdown of the night; and Vandegrift receiver Ontario Jackman fumbled the ensuing kickoff outside of the end zone before recovering in the end zone for a safety. The Vipers once again recovered an onside kick but were unable to score any points on the extra possession. Sims then sealed the game for the Panthers on the ensuing drive with a 49-yard touchdown run.
Despite all of King’s success, the Panthers still see themselves as underdogs with a chip on their shoulders. "We're always doubted," Head Coach Cory Laxen said after the game, "And people are probably going to doubt us in the next game." Indeed, the Panthers will face a major challenge Saturday evening when they face the perennial 6A juggernaut DeSoto Eagles. The Eagles advanced with a 57-44 shootout win over fellow DFW 6A stalwart Southlake Carroll. The 6A-D2 Championship game will be at AT&T Stadium on Saturday, December 21, 2025, at 7:00pm CST.
by Steve Thomas
Players Pictured
Vandegrift:
#0 Griffin Gorrebeeck
#1 Brock Chilton
#3 Justin Moore
#6 Parker Davis
#9 Hugo DeLaVara Vazquez
#12 Miles Teodecki
#15 Ontario Jackman
#39 Luke Davis
Houston King
#0 Lejerric Clark
#3 Dionne Sims
#5 Timothy Potts, Jr.
#6 Dwight Wiley
#7 Kei'Dryn Edmond
#19 Marcus Willis
#45 Royce McIntosh-Houston
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