GHFCA BAYOU BOWL

The Bayou Bowl has been one of Texas’ premier high school all-star football games for the past two decades.  For over ten years, the game featured a fierce rivalry between athletes from the Greater Houston Area and Louisiana, making it a highly anticipated matchup.  However, following the 2013 contest, which saw Texas victorious, both the Louisiana High School Athletic Association and the Greater Houston Football Coaches Association (GHFCA) mutually agreed to end the series. 

 

Undeterred, the GHFCA Board of Directors decided to continue hosting an all-star game for the Greater Houston area players.  The format was revised to focus solely on Houston, dividing the city into an East and West regions along I-45.  UIL High School districts were used to determine the teams, ensuring a competitive balance.  The first game under this new format was held at Fort Bend’s Mercer Stadium in Sugar Land.  Since then, it has been played at various locations including Stallworth Stadium in Baytown, Rhodes Stadium in Katy, Turner Stadium in Humble, Challenger Stadium in League City, Traylor Stadium in Rosenberg, and Barbers Hill Stadium in Mont Belvieu.  Over the years, legendary figures Wade Phillips, Jackie Sherrill, Dan Pastorini, and Clint Stoerner have served as honorary coaches, further elevating the event’s prestige. 

 

The 2026 Bayou Bowl will continue with its’ expanded scope, pitting players from the GHFCA members schools against those from the East Teas Coaches Association (ETCA).  The game will feature 78 of the region’s best players, showcasing their talent LIVE on Space City Houston sports Network (SCHN), which will reach audiences across a five-state region.  It will also be Lived Streamed on Dave Campbell’s Texan Live.  The game will be hosted by the City of Mont Belvieu and Barbers Hill ISD.  The game will be played on 12/30/2026, 1 PM Kickoff.

 

An exciting addition for the Bayou Bowl, presented by the City of Mont Belvieu, is the introduction of the “Battle on the Bayou,” sponsored by HEB.  The Battle on the Bayou features HBCU-style high school bands featuring Austin, Sterling, Westbury, and Worthing high schools.  HEB is thrilled to launch this new tradition as part of the Bayou Bowl Festivities.  The Battle on the Bayou promises to bring an electrifying atmosphere blending musical excellence with outstanding athleticism to create a memorable experience for ALL attendees.