Editor’s Note: Every Monday during the offseason, we’ll bring you our new running series, All-Time Matchup Monday, where we’ll pit two of the greatest teams in Texas high school football history against each other, throw a few theories around on who might come out on top, and then we’ll ask you to settle the debate for us. You can also nominate all-time teams and games. Just tweet @dctf with the hashtag #MatchupMonday with your nominations. 

Week 1: 2000 Midland Lee vs. 1996 Austin Westlake

Fan vote results: 2000 Midland Lee

Week 2: 1970 Austin Reagan vs. 1973 John Tyler

Fan vote results: 1973 John Tyler

Week 3: 2015 Katy vs. 2013 Allen

Fan vote results: 2015 Katy

Why Daingerfield would win

No singular Texas high school football team is more revered than the 1983 Daingerfield Tigers. The statistics from that season resemble a video game. This was the Stephen Curry of high school football teams. Daingerfield allowed eight points in 16 games. Those eight points were not scored against the defense. The Tigers gave up a safety after a botched punt snap in the first game against Kilgore and an interception return for a touchdown in the third game against Carthage, a team that reached the Class 4A semifinals in the same year.

The defense didn’t allow a single point in 1983. The Tigers, led by linebacker Vic Edmond, allowed fewer than 70 yards per game. The defense held opponents to less than one yard per play and scored 76 points as a unit in one season. The team had 14 shutouts, a national record at the time.

The 1983 Daingerfield team was the first Texas team to go 16-0. The Tigers outscored playoff opponents 246-0. They won the Class 3A championship game over Sweeny by a score of 42-0. If we’re judging by pure dominance, no team in history comes close to matching Daingerfield. The 1923 Abilene team is the only other Texas high school football team to not allow a point in the playoffs.

Why Dallas Carter would win

The 1988 Dallas Carter team holds an odd place in Texas high school football history. On one hand, it was one of the most talented, physical and dominant teams the state ever fielded. On the other, a cloud of scandal and regret will forever shape the memory of that team. For most, Dallas Carter is an answer to a trivia question: Which team won the state title the year Friday Night Lights took place? Three years later, however, Carter was stripped of the 1988 Class 5A title and it was given to Converse Judson following player eligibility violations.

The talent was obvious. Linebacker Jessie Armstead was a superstar in high school, kick-starting a lot of modern attention around recruiting. Unfortunately, Dallas Carter’s 1988 team will be known for off-the-field trouble. Gary Edwards, a star player from the team, was one of the six players arrested after a robbery scandal throughout the school. It was Edwards’ algebra grade dispute that started the UIL investigation which resulted in the title being stripped.

On the football field, however, few teams in history could hang with that Dallas Carter team. Fifteen seniors from that team earned FBS scholarships. Armstead, Clifton Abraham and LeShai Maston all had NFL careers as defensive players. Edwards and Derric Evans likely do if not for the arrests surrounding the robberies.

The 1988 Dallas Carter team is an enigma. It shows the best and worst in sports, especially at the prep level. The lows off the field erased, in large part, the highs experienced together as a team. That group ended Friday Night Lights with a 14-9 victory over Odessa Permian in the state semifinals. Unfortunately, the victory over Judson for a state title the following week didn’t end up being the end of the story.

[poll id="33"]

Craven’s Pick: Dallas Carter

Daingerfield will forever be the most dominant team in state history, but Dallas Carter was more talented and played at a higher classification. The sheer talent from Dallas Carter would be too much.

Greg Tepper's Pick: Daingerfield

As much talent as Dallas Carter has, and as tough a road as they went through, it’s impossible to pick against the most dominant team in Texas high school football history.

Max Thompson's Pick: Daingerfield

I have to be emphatic that this is far from a slam dunk, but I trust the judgment of so many writers who came before me who just worship this team's season. I'll give them a 6-0 win. Something like that.

Fan vote: Will be announced next Monday.