While professional sports may reign supreme in other states, here in Texas, high school football wears the crown. Heck, high school football is so big in Texas that multiple movies have been made about just that - Texas high school football.

Alright, first up is "Varsity Blues", which is about a small, fictional town in Texas called West Canaan. This one featured James Van Der Beek, Jon Voight, Paul Walker, and Amy Smart, among other big names. Personally, I enjoyed the soundtrack more than the movie.

Next up is a movie about David W. Carter High School in Dallas - "Carter High". Unlike Varsity Blues, this movie is based on a true story. In the late 80s, Carter High was a powerhouse football team that went on to win the 1988 5A championship. However, a few of the student-athletes made some bad decisions that ended up causing the team to lose its title. The film was produced by former Cowboys defensive end Greg Ellis, and starred Charles S. Dutton and Vivica A. Fox.

Another movie about Texas high school football is "12 Mighty Orphans", which was based on the non-fiction novel "Twelve Mighty Orphans: The Inspiring True Story of the Mighty Mites Who Ruled Texas Football". The movie is about a Fort Worth high school football coach who leads his team of orphans to the state championship during the Great Depression. This movie features Robert Duvall, Luke Wilson, Vinessa Shaw, and Martin Sheen.

The fourth movie we'll feature here is "Under the Stadium Lights" which is based on the real-life story, as written by Chad Mitchell and Al Pickett, "Brother's Keeper: The Story of the 2009 Abilene High State Championship". The movie follows the lives of the team, the coach, and team chaplain as they embark on beating all odds by winning the state championship. The book, itself, is one of my top five favorite books of all-time. "Under the Stadium Lights" stars Laurence Fishburne, Milo Gibson (Mel's son), and Abigail Hawk.

The final movie we'll check out is probably one of the biggest stories in sports ever, and not just in Texas. Heck, according to the trailer, Sports Illustrated agrees. I'm talking about "Friday Night Lights", the movie about The Permian High Panthers from Odessa. This movie was based on H.G. Bissinger's book "Friday Night Lights: a Town, a Team, and a Dream". "Friday Night Lights" featured stars like Billy Bob Thornton and Tim McGraw.

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LOOK: 50 images of winning moments from sports history

Sometimes images are the best way to honor the figures we've lost. When tragedy swiftly reminds us that sports are far from the most consequential thing in life, we can still look back on an athlete's winning moment that felt larger than life, remaining grateful for their sacrifice on the court and bringing joy to millions.

Read on to explore the full collection of 50 images Stacker compiled showcasing various iconic winning moments in sports history. Covering achievements from a multitude of sports, these images represent stunning personal achievements, team championships, and athletic perseverance.

Gallery Credit: Peter Richman

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