This week twelve teams’ championship dreams will be realized as the Texas UIL Football State Title Games take place at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. From Follett (population: 412) in the panhandle to Beaumont (population: 117,267) in east Texas to Houston (population: 2.3 million), all parts of Texas are represented. The action kicks off on Wednesday and continues through Saturday night. Here is what to watch for in each of the twelve title games.
-Games are listed in order of kickoff time:
1A Six-Man Division II: Strawn Greyhounds (12-2) vs. Follett Panthers (12-2) Wednesday 11 a.m.
Strawn is back to defend their title after a 78-42 victory over Balmorhea one year ago. Since their loss to Garden City in October, Strawn has reeled off 8 straight wins, each by 45 or more points. Follett, on the other hand, last appeared in the title game in 2012 and has not won a state championship since 1974, when they played eight-man football.
Key Players: Strawn will look to establish their running game led by Carlos Villanueva and Julian Fraga, both senior running backs, who combined for 168 yards and three touchdowns in the title game one year ago. Follett will be in for a challenge as they face a talented Strawn defense that has only given up just 42 points total in their last eight games. The Panthers will be led by senior quarterback Christian Barber, while fellow seniors Dylan Howard and Luis Loya are two running backs to keep an eye on. They are coming off 100-yard and 56-yard performances respectively in their 52-32 semi-final win over Jayton. However, this rushing attack will have to find a way through Strawn’s stifling defense if they are to prevent the Greyhounds from earning their second state title.
1A Six-Man Division 1: McLean Tigers (14-0) vs. Milford Bulldogs (13-1) Wednesday 2 p.m.
Milford is back in the state title game for the first time in 23 years. The Bulldogs are looking for their first state title since they won back-to-back championships in 1979 and 1980. They are coming off a mercy rule victory (six man games are ended when the deficit reaches 45 points at halftime or later) over Leakey 71-26 in the semi-finals. McLean will be making their first ever state title trip and are led by an elite defense only giving up 9.6 points per game.
Key Players: For Milford, the two players to watch are senior quarterback Ta’Ron Smith and junior running back Ricky Pendleton. They don’t throw much, but these two will rack up rushing yardage in a hurry. Pendleton accounted for six touchdowns in their semi-final victory, while Smith had a 200-yard rushing, six touchdown performance of his own in their 56-18 regional victory over Aquilla. For McLean, the key will be their defense. They forced four turnovers, including two pick-sixes, in their semi-final victory over Garden City. Offensively, running back Ben Crockett will be fed early and often after a 274-yard performance in the semi-finals. In the end, the key to this game will be whether Milford can put points on the board against this formidable Tiger defense.
2A Division II: Mart Panthers (14-1) vs. Gruver Greyhounds (14-1): Wednesday 7 p.m.
This will be Gruver’s first ever state title game appearance. The Greyhounds are led by an explosive offense that is averaging 49.6 points per game. Mart is regarded as a 2A powerhouse and is looking to win back-to-back state championships. Their offense has also been the key to their success, averaging a remarkable 54.6 points per game.
Key Players: Keep an eye on Mart running back Tyrek Hoerne. He has rushed for 1,595 yards and 26 touchdowns this season and will look to add to that tally on Wednesday night. His backfield partner, Shatydrick Bailey is also a threat, having racked up 141 yards and two touchdowns in Mart’s 40-13 semifinal win over Falls City. For Gruver, big 6-5 wide receiver Jalin Conyers is a key target, while running back Connor Haynes has over 120 rushing yards each of the last two weeks. With the talent Mart possesses, the Greyhounds will likely need Conyers and Haynes to produce a night full of offensive fireworks if they are to take down the defending state champion Panthers.
2A Division I: New Deal Lions (15-0) vs. Mason Punchers (15-0) Thursday 11 a.m.
Mason will be looking for their second state title, having won their only state championship back in 2011. This year, Mason’s defense has been stout, only allowing 6.8 points per game this year. New Deal, on the other hand, will be making their first ever state title game appearance. Their offense has been explosive this year, averaging 46.4 points per game.
Key Players: The key for Mason will be the success of their backfield. Running back Klay Klaerner, ran for 212 yards against San Augustine and will look to lead the Punchers again in the title game. Fellow running back and linebacker Jake Cockerham will be a key contributor on both sides of the ball. For New Deal, dual-threat quarterback Jett Whitfield has amassed over 4,000 all-purpose yards this year. Wide receiver DK Blaylock, who has offers from Illinois and Iowa State among others, is his top receiver with over 1,000 yards on the season. It will be strength against strength as the Lions will have to find a way to score on Mason’s relentless defense if they are to bring home their first ever state championship.
3A Division II: Newton Eagles (14-0) vs. Canadian Wildcats (14-1) Thursday 3 p.m.
Newton is back to defend its 3A Division II title from last year. They are riding a 29- game winning streak as they have not lost since a 13-6 defeat to Arp in December 2016. The Eagles have further motivation from their inspirational coach W.T. Johnston, who continues to coach them even as he battles through a chronic graft versus host disease. Canadian, however, has a championship pedigree of their own, having won back-to-back 2A state titles in 2014 and 2015.
Key Players: Newton has plenty of talent. They boast three TCU commits on offense: wide receiver Tamauzia Brown, running back Darwin Barlow and quarterback Josh Foster. Barlow has racked up 1,870 yards and 33 touchdowns on the year. He also scored the winning touchdown in Newton’s 21-14 semi-final win over East Bernard with just 14 seconds left. The Eagles also boast junior James Sylvester, a talented defensive end with offers from Alabama and Texas A&M among others, who has 8 sacks on the year. For Canadian, their success will likely depend on quarterback Casen Cavalier. He was named on the AP Class 3A’s all-state football team after amassing 2,382 passing yards, 601 rushing yards, and 39 combined touchdowns on the season. On the other side of the ball, the Wildcats will need a big game from all-state defensive lineman Colton Risley, who had six sacks and 24 tackles for loss on the year, as they try to shut down this vaunted Eagles attack.
3A Division I: Malakoff Tigers (12-2) vs. Grandview Zebras (13-2): Thursday 7 p.m.
Both teams will be making their debuts in the state title game. Malakoff defeated Brock 23-21 in a nail biter in the semi-finals, while Grandview defeated Yoakum 28-14 in their state semi-final. These two teams met earlier this season with Grandview stifling the Tigers in a 28-7 victory.
Key Players: Keevie Rose will be the leader in the backfield for Malakoff, having rushed for 100 yards and the winning touchdown with just three minutes left in their semi-final win. There is plenty of youth for the Tigers as well led by dual-threat, sophomore quarterback Darion Peace. For the Zebras, their emphasis will also be on the ground game. Running back Elijah Golden is coming off a 92-yard performance in the semi-finals, while fellow dual-threat quarterback Dane Jentsch ran for 180 yards and threw for 75 more in the semi-final win over Yoakum. In a game where both teams will look to establish the run, the battle in the trenches could define the outcome of this game.
4A Division II: Cuero Gobblers (14-1) vs. Pleasant Grove Hawks (13-2) Friday 11:00 a.m.
Pleasant Grove is back to defend its 2017 4A Division II state crown after an impressive 49-14 win over Iowa Park in the semifinals last week. However, they will be up against stiff competition in a Cuero team that returns to the state finals for the first time since 2004.
Key Players: Junior quarterback Ben Harmon will lead the Pleasant Grove offense on Friday, having thrown for 1,937 yards and 30 touchdowns on the season. Another junior, running back Bruce Garrett, has led the way on the ground, amassing 1,794 yards and 17 touchdowns on the season. The most highly touted player on the field Friday morning, however, will be in a Gobbler uniform. Jordan Whittington, a wide receiver and defensive back, has committed to play at the University of Texas, and is coming off 168-yard performance in the semi-finals, where he threw for 70 yards, ran for 38, and hauled in five catches for sixty yards. Running backs Keiran Grant, an Army commit, and Chance Albrecht combined to run for 231 yards in the victory and form a formidable tandem in the backfield. All eyes will be on Whittington as he and the Gobblers try to stop the Hawks from winning back-to-back titles.
4A Division I: La Vega Pirates (13-2) vs. Liberty Hill Panthers (13-1) Friday 3 p.m.
La Vega is back in the state title game three years after its first ever state title in 2015. They started off the season 1-2, but have since rattled off 12 straight wins en route to Arlington. Liberty Hill, meanwhile, won back to back 3A titles back in 2006 and 2007. They bring a high-powered offense, which is averaging 54.9 points per game.
Key Players: For La Vega, the key to the game will be the performance of their backfield. Running back John Richards was the catalyst in La Vega’s 53-0 semi-final win over Decatur, rushing for over 200 yards and three touchdowns. However, Richards is not the only contributor in the running game. Two sophomores, running back Jar’Que Walton and quarterback Asa Rauls, combined to run for 160 yards in the 53-0 victory. Likewise, Liberty Hill also leans on their ground game, running a Slot-T offense. They are led by a two headed backfield. Sophomore Blake Simpson led the way with 187 rushing yards, while his accomplice, senior running back Kyle Harrison, added 155 more in their 44-41 win over Carthage last week. With two strong rushing attacks, the team that can establish their ground game first will have the inside track to winning this game.
5A Division II: Aledo Bearcats (15-0) vs. Fort Bend Marshall Buffaloes (15-0) Friday 7 p.m.
Aledo is back in the state title game for the third year running and are out to avenge last year’s painful loss. They won the state championship in 2016 before falling in heartbreaking fashion to College Station 20-19 in last year’s title game. Fort Bend Marshall will be making their first ever state title game, but they are playing for something larger than themselves. Safety Drew Conley was shot and killed last Monday, leaving the team with heavy hearts. The team has turned “Remember 3”, Conley’s jersey number, into their rallying cry as they look to bring home the state trophy for him and the rest of the community.
Key Players: For the Buffaloes, their offense revolves around quarterback Malik Hornsby. The junior quarterback, who already has offers from Texas and Texas A&M, is an explosive play-maker as evidenced by the 364 yards and 4 touchdowns he put up against Port Neches-Grove in a 53-14 victory in the regional round. Hornsby shares the backfield with another speedster, junior running back Devon Achane, who also has an offer from Texas A&M. Achane is coming off a 181-yard, three touchdown performance in their 19-17 semi-final win over Corpus Christi Calallen. For the Bearcats, their key player is running back Jase McClellan, an Oklahoma commit. McClellan was the title game MVP when the Bearcats won the championship game in 2016 and has run for 1,896 yards and a remarkable 45 touchdowns on the season. The defense is only allowing 13.6 points per game and boasts two TCU commits in DE Colt Ellison and LB Wyatt Harris. In a game where McClellan is sure to put up numbers, the key will be whether the Buffaloes can keep up against a very stout defense.
5A Division I: Highland Park Scots (15-0) vs. Shadow Creek Sharks (15-0) Saturday 11 a.m.
At the beginning of the year, this matchup would have seemed the ultimate David vs. Goliath showdown. Highland Park is a perennial contender and has won back-to-back 5A state titles. They ride a 30 game winning streak into this game, averaging 41.9 points per game this year. Shadow Creek, in stark contrast, are looking to earn the state championship in their inaugural season as a varsity program.
Key Players: Despite it being their first varsity season, the Sharks are loaded with talent. Wide receiver Kealon Jackson, a North Texas commit, has 179 yards receiving combined in the last two games and is always a threat to make a play. Elusive quarterback Jamarion George will need to make plays with his legs to keep the Sharks in the game. He only threw for 104 yards in the semi-final victory, but made key plays on the ground, running for 88 yards and three touchdowns. His counterpart for the Scots is Chandler Morris, who is having a very impressive season himself. The dual-threat junior, who already has offers from Auburn and Clemson among others, has thrown for 3,748 yards, run for 632, and scored 63 total touchdowns on the year. His favorite target has been 5-10 receiver Finn Corwin, who has 1,506 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns on the year. This game could very well turn into a duel between two versatile quarterbacks with the state championship going to the one that makes more plays on the day.
6A Division II: Longview Lobos (15-0) vs. Beaumont West Brook Bruins (13-2) Saturday 3 p.m.
These two teams meet in the playoffs for the third year in a row, albeit with much higher stakes this time. The past two years, they have met in the bi-district round, splitting the matchups with one win each. West Brook is in search of their first state title since 1982, their inaugural season as a school. However, the Bruins’ drought pales in comparison to Longview’s. When the Lobos take the field on Saturday afternoon, they will seek to break an 81-year drought as the school’s only state title was earned all the way back in 1937.
Key Players: The Lobos will rely on running back Jesse Anderson, a 5-11, 220-pound bruiser, out of the backfield on Saturday afternoon. The Abilene Christian commit has racked up 1,047 yards and 24 touchdowns on the ground so far this season. Senior Kamden Perry is another weapon to watch as the receiver has 1,644 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns so far on the season. West Brook has plenty of talent themselves to keep up with Longview’s fireworks. Dual threat senior quarterback L’Ravien Elia is coming off a 266-yard passing performance in the Bruins’ 35-30 semi-final win over Austin Westlake. His connection with junior wide receiver Thaddeus Johnson, who already has an offer from Arizona, will be crucial to the Bruins’ success on Saturday. Johnson caught eight passes for 204 yards against Westlake. With two explosive offensives ready to clash, it could come down to who gets the ball last in this potential high-scoring shootout.
6A Division I: Duncanville Panthers (14-0) vs. North Shore Mustangs (15-0) Saturday 7 p.m.
Duncanville is looking for its first state title in 20 years. They are led by an elite defense that only allowed 60 points total in the first 13 games of the year before last week’s 44-35 victory over Allen in the semi-finals. North Shore last won the state title in 2015. They are led by their electric offense, which averages 54.2 points per game and are coming off a 51-10 drubbing of Lake Travis in the semi-finals.
Key Players: The Duncanville defense is anchored by its secondary, which has three Division I recruits in seniors Stacy Brown and Tre’Shon Devones and junior Chris Thompson Jr. Offensively, they are led by quarterback Ja’Quinden Jackson, who already has offers from the likes of Alabama, Texas, and Texas A&M. Last week, he ran for 173 yards, including a 92-yard touchdown run, threw for 54 more, and racked up four total touchdowns in the upset victory over Allen. For North Shore, their offense runs through Zachary Evans, regarded as the top ranked running back in the nation in the class of 2020. He rose to the occasion last Saturday as he rushed for 196 yards and four touchdowns in their semi-final victory. Whether or not Evans can repeat this type of performance against a vaunted Panther defense could be the key to who wins this game.
