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Covering High School Sports in America

Tag: Texas Region II Football

Nov. 24^th
Big Game Friday: Tyler Jones goes for 581 yards, 8 TDs

File photo by Kyle Dantzler
Tyler Jones, Stephenville
Tyler Jones just missed a major state record Friday night while passing Stephenville (Texas) to a 56-24 football victory over Kennedale during the Class 3A Division I regional semifinals.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior quarterback connected on a career-high eight touchdown passes - one short of the state record set last year by Wesley Harris of Fort Worth Southwest - while completing 22 of 29 for 469 yards. He also rushed for 112 yards. He now has passed for 2,913 yards and 34 touchdowns this year with just four interceptions.

Senior wide receiver Brice Gunter (6-3, 185) had a career-high 10 catches for 223 yards and four touchdowns. That boosted his 2012 totals to 66 catches for 1,023 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Both Gunter and Jones have committed to Texas State, according to the Stephenville Empire-Tribune.

* Wylie East (Wylie, Texas) nipped Whitehouse 63-56 during the Class 4A Division II area playoffs as Jabari Anderson ran 49 times for 385 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Garrett McCain completed 14 of 29 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns, while Marcell Ateman snared 11 passes for 192 yards and all three touchdowns.

Still, the Raiders needed reserve Kevon Mack to produce the winning touchdown on a five-yard run with just 41 seconds remaining.

Whitehouse received an outstanding effort from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who completed 21 of 36 passes for 441 yards and five touchdowns.

* Junior star Jalen Hurd ran 30 times for 394 yards and four touchdowns as Beech (Hendersonville, Tenn.) handed Jackson North Side its first loss 64-31 during the Class 5A state semifinals. North Side held a 24-14 halftime lead before the unbeaten Buccaneers broke loos for 50 points after the intermission.

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By Dave KriderNov. 24^th, 2012, 12:00 AAdd a Comment
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Football, Tennessee, Texas, Tennessee Football, Texas Football
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Travis Smith, Patrick Mahomes, Garrett McCain, Jalen Hurd, Marcell Ateman, Jabari Anderson, Tyler Jones, Logan Hessbrook, Brice Gunter, Kevon Mack
Nov. 20^th
Get 2 The Game powered by American Family Insurance: Jake Raulerson

Senior Jake Raulerson of Celina High School (Texas) is one of the top offensive linemen in his class. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Texas commit is ranked by MaxPreps as the No. 5 offensive tackle in his class, and the No. 54 recruit overall.

Photo by Keith Owens
Jake Raulerson, Celina
Raulerson's calling card is his work ethic and tenacity, pledging to never allow an opposing player to out-work him.

"Jake Raulerson is probably one of the greatest young men I've ever coached," said Celina head coach Bill Elliott. "He's a guy that's so easy to motivate. His motor's always running wide open."

While Raulerson would love to win championships at the high school and college level and then have a career in the NFL, his strongest wish is to help those around him.

Raulerson credits his success to his ever-supportive parents, Jay and Jolene.

"My dream for Jake is for him to achieve his goals," said Jay Raulerson. "To be able to know that at the end of the whole process he left it all out there."

To see more Get 2 The Game vignettes powered by American Family Insurance, click here.

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By Staff ReportNov. 20^th, 2012, 02:41 PAdd a Comment
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Texas, Texas Football
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Jake Raulerson, Celina, Region II Football
Nov. 13^th
Get 2 The Game powered by American Family Insurance: Kameron Miles

File photo by Robbie Rakestraw
Kameron Miles, West Mesquite
Senior Kameron Miles of West Mesquite (Mesquite, Texas) is one of the top safeties in his class. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound athlete has committed to play football at Tennessee next year.

Miles puts in hard work on the field and in the classroom, with the hope of becoming an engineer once his NFL career is over.

"Kam is a great kid," said West Mesquite coach Mike Overton. "Very competitive. Fun to be around. A guy that's relentless with his work ethic."

Miles says his greatest influence is his parents, who have supported him tirelessly throughout his life.

"My dream for Kameron is to go to school, get a good education," said Miles' mother, Kidada Franklin. "Engineering, NFL...whichever makes Kameron happy, I'm happy."

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By Staff ReportNov. 13^th, 2012, 01:00 PAdd a Comment
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Texas, Texas Football
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Nov. 6^th
Presidential Xcellent 25 Football Ratings

Photo by Joe Boyd
Hoover is ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps Presidential Xcellent 25.
Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, is often listed among the worst presidents to ever hold office. But when it comes to high school football, Hoover is No. 1.

Using the MaxPreps Freeman computer football ratings, we've compiled a list of the top 25 football teams with surnames of U.S. Presidents. Hoover (Ala.) tops the list as it is ranked No. 30 overall in the nation by the computer ratings with a record of 10-0 and a rating of 60.7.

Washington (Miami, Fla.) is right behind at No. 2 with an 8-1 record, a 34 overall placement and a rating of 59.4.

Of course we've taken some liberties here. Hoover isn't actually named after Herbert Hoover. Instead, the town is named after a former insurance company owner, William H. Hoover. And Washington isn't actually named after our nation's first president, it is named after famed African-American educator Booker T. Washington.

But for the purpose of this exercise, any surnames similar to those of our past presidents is fair game.

Presidential Xcellent 25 Football Ratings
1. Hoover (Hoover, Ala.), 10-0, 30, 60.7
2. Washington (Miami, Fla.), 8-1, 34, 59.4
3. Washington (Massillon, Ohio), 10-1, 79, 56.2
4. Lincoln-Way East (Frankfort, Ill.), 11-0, 150, 51.3
5. Jackson Prep (Jackson, Miss.), 12-0, 170, 50.3
6. Lincoln (Tallahassee, Fla.), 8-0, 189, 49.8
7. Tyler (Tyler, Texas), 8-1, 211, 49.0
8. McKinley (Canton, Ohio), 8-2, 216, 48.7
9. Madison County (Madison, Fla.), 9-1, 250, 47.7
10. Madison (Rexburg, Idaho), 10-0, 264, 47.3
11. Madison (San Antonio, Texas), 7-2, 400, 44.4
12. Washington (Sioux Falls, S.D.), 11-0, 462, 43.4
13. Wilson (West Lawn, Pa.), 9-1, 472, 43.2
14. Jackson Academy (Jackson, Miss.), 11-1, 42.8
15. Harding (Warren, Ohio), 9-2, 518, 42.2
16. Washington County (Sandersville, Ga.), 9-1, 542, 41.7
17. Jackson (Jackson, Ala.) 9-1, 614, 40.5
18. Madison Central (Madison, Miss.), 8-3, 647, 40.1
19. Madison Comprehensive (Mansfield, Ohio), 10-1, 649, 40.0
20. Hoover (North Canton, Ohio), 8-3, 711, 39.2
21. Jefferson City (Jefferson City, Mo.), 7-4, 722, 39.0
22. Eisenhower (Rialto, Calif.), 7-2, 755, 38.5
23. Jackson North Side (Jackson, Tenn.), 11-0, 817, 37.7
24. Pierce (Pierce, Neb.), 9-1, 895, 36.8
25. Roosevelt (Seattle, Wash.), 7-3, 931, 36.4
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By Kevin AskelandNov. 6^th, 2012, 09:04 PAdd a Comment
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Football
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Madison Central, Lincoln-Way East, Jackson Academy, McKinley, Jefferson City, Washington County, Madison Comprehensive, Tyler, Lincoln, Wilson
Nov. 3^rd
Mt. Pleasant's Monty James accounts for 547 yards, eight touchdowns

Monty James already had completed 33 of 46 passes for 435 yards and seven touchdowns on Senior Night.

However, that wasn't enough as Mt. Pleasant (Texas) suddenly fell behind Hallsville (Texas) 49-48 midway through the fourth quarter. So, this time the 6-foot, 170-pound senior quarterback called his own number and ran for a 33-yard touchdown with just under two minutes remaining in the high-scoring contest. That gave him 112 yards on the ground. Still, the Tigers needed a final interception by junior Ladarius Craddock to clinch the victory 54-49.

See Quixcore account.

Kd Cannon was Jones' top target with 14 catches for 148 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Andrew Flanagan added 12 catches for 148 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The Longview News-Journal reported that the Tigers outgained Hallsville 624-441. The Bobcats were led by MacAilyn Wilder, who ran 23 times for 211 yards and five touchdowns.
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By Dave KriderNov. 3^rd, 2012, 08:00 AAdd a Comment
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Football, Texas, Texas Football
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MacAilyn Wilder, Kd Cannon, Mt. Pleasant, Hallsville, Region II Football
Oct. 22^nd
MNF video rewind: Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions

Matthew Stafford has thrown for almost 10,000 yards and 64 touchdowns in three-plus NFL seasons with the Detroit Lions (in 2010 he lasted only three games with a shoulder injury).

Photo by Scott Huber
Matt Stafford, senior at Highland Park
He had a superb college career at Georgia, and finished on a nigh note, earning MVP honors at the 2009 Capital One Bowl game. That helped launch him to the No. 1 selection in the 2009 NFL draft.

From all his vast archive of football highlights, the 6-foot-3, 232-pound 24-year-old said his single greatest memory on the gridiron was finishing off his senior year in high school at Highland Park (Dallas) with a state 4A championship.

Stafford hopes to create some more highlights tonight when the Lions host the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football.

"There's been no feeling better than to win a state championship with all the kids you grew up playing with," Stafford told me at the 2011 Gatorade Athlete of the Year ceremony in Hollywood. "That was the best time I ever had on the football field."

Highland Park, which has produced such athletic greats as Bobby Layne, Doak Walker, Kyle Rote, Jr., and Clayton Kershaw, didn't exactly squeak out the championship that season, defeating Marshall 59-0 in the finals to finish 15-0.

Stafford threw for more than 4,000 yards that season despite missing three games with a knee injury. Highland Park scored 722 points that season.

"A lot of people thought (Stafford) put up all those numbers because of Highland Park's great offensive system," former Dallas Morning News reporter and now MaxPreps correspondent Randy Jennings said. "Some weren't really sure how good he'd be. Obviously he's proved that he is very good."

Stafford was a baseball star at Highland Park along with Kershaw, but following a mediocre junior football season he gave up baseball. It obviously paid off.

"Everyone knew (Kershaw) was going to be very, very special," Stafford said. "He was always amazing."

Here is some video of Stafford in high school:

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By Mitch StephensOct. 22^nd, 2012, 04:00 PAdd a Comment
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Football, Texas, Texas Football
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Highland Park, Region II Football
Oct. 20^th
Jake Oliver sets Texas record for career receptions

Friday night was bittersweet for Jake Oliver, a standout wide receiver from Dallas Jesuit (Dallas, Texas).

File photo by Lonnie Erickson
Jake Oliver, Jesuit
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound senior, who has committed to the University of Texas, set a state record for career pass receptions, but his team was dealt a 20-17 loss by Lake Highlands (Dallas, Texas). He snared 15 passes for 174 yards to run his career total to a record 274. He had needed just six catches to surpass the record of 264.

Oliver told the Dallas Morning News, "We just made too many mistakes (including four interceptions - two in the end zone) tonight. It's a great memory to get this record, but I wanted to get the win really bad. But it's a great honor."

Meanwhile, Mitchell Henton stole the show by kicking the winning 42-yard field goal as time expired. He had won an earlier game this year with a 44-yarder. The winning kick was set up by Tyree Britton's diving catch of a 40-yard pass from Trent Jones with two seconds left.

"I live for this," Henton exclaimed. "I trusted my offense. I knew they would come through for me."

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By Dave KriderOct. 20^th, 2012, 12:00 AAdd a Comment
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Football, Texas, Texas Football
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Jake Oliver, Lake Highlands, Dallas Jesuit, Region II Football
Oct. 15^th
Football notebook: Ryan Timmons' 80-yard kickoff return at 0:00 produces 56-52 win

Joe Rose kicked a 24-yard field goal to give Anderson County (Lawrenceburg, Ky.) a 52-50 lead over Franklin County (Frankfort, Ky.) with just 14 seconds left to play.

Game over, right? Wrong!

Lorenzo McCaskell fielded the following kickoff and handed off to Mr. Football candidate Ryan Timmons. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound speedster avoided the first wave of tacklers by cutting to his right, went back to his left to find running room and went all the way for a spectacular 80-yard touchdown as time elapsed for a scintillating 56-52 victory.

Franklin County coach Chris Tracy told Mike Fields of the Lexington Herald-Leader that Timmons' clutch touchdown was "absolutely, 100 percent, the best play he's ever made. That's why he's the best player in the state. You can tell people what he does, but unless they see it for themselves, see it live, they can't appreciate it."

Senior quarterback Logan Woodside passed for 300 yards and five touchdowns, besides making two interceptions, as the Flyers raised their record to 9-0. Anderson County sophomore quarterback Zach Carmichael also was outstanding, passing for 288 yards and four touchdowns and running for three more touchdowns from one yard.

* Sulphur Springs (Texas) outlasted Mt. Pleasant (Texas) 71-65 as Buddy Ivery ran 24 times for 304 yards and two touchdowns. His cousin, Willy Ivery, added 108 yards and four touchdowns on just 12 carries.

Mt. Pleasant senior quarterback Montravious James completed 30 of 55 passes for 404 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing 15 times for 128 yards and three touchdowns. He already has broken the Tigers' single-season passing record in just six games. Junior wide receiver Kd Cannon caught 14 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns.

* Emanuel Gant completed 32 of 42 passes for 493 yards and five touchdowns as Tempe (Ariz.) defeated Arcadia (Phoenix) 49-39.

* Junior quarterback Will Grier fired eight touchdown passes (23 of 28 for 388 yards) to spark Davidson Day (N.C.) to a 68-28 victory over Metrolina Christian Academy (Indian Trail, N.C.).

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By Dave KriderOct. 15^th, 2012, 02:00 PAdd a Comment
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Football
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Logan Woodside, Buddy Ivery, Willy Ivery, Will Grier, Emanuel Gant, Zach Carmichael, Joe Rose, Kd Cannon, Ryan Timmons, Lorenzo McCaskell
Oct. 9^th
Dallas Jesuit to host St. Joseph's Prep

Photo by Ken Inness
St. Joseph's Prep will head to Texas next season.
Dallas Jesuit (Dallas) and St. Joseph's Prep (Philadelphia) have agreed to a two-year, home-and-home deal that will send St. Joseph's Prep to Texas on Labor Day Weekend next fall, according to St. Joseph's Prep head coach Gabe Infante.

Both teams had a hole to fill on next year's schedule. This season on that same weekend, St. Joseph's Prep played a road game at Cocoa (Fla.) while Dallas Jesuit played fellow Jesuit high school Loyola Academy as part of the Global Ireland Football Tournament, coming from behind to win 30-29.

Infante mentioned that he's been in talks with several other Jesuit high schools to potentially create an early season football event strictly for Jesuit high schools, similar to what occurs in both lacrosse and basketball.

The Jesuit Lacrosse Classic has traditionally been hosted by Georgetown Prep (North Bethesda, Md.) and Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), but in the next two years will be hosted by Strake Jesuit (Houston) and Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.) respectively.

According to Infante, the vision for the football event is to move host cities to different geographic regions.

He mentioned St. Xavier (Cincinnati) and Gonzaga as possibilities for 2014. St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) and St. Ignatius (Cleveland) would be other teams that would make sense geographically for the inaugural classic.

St. Joseph's Prep is currently undefeated at 5-0. With a wealth of underclassmen, the team should be even stronger in 2013.

At 4-1, Dallas Jesuit has looked strong this fall; the team's only loss was a 56-24 setback to Skyline.

The matchup next year will be the first time that teams from Texas and Pennsylvania have played since 2008, when Northwest (Justin, Texas) defeated Woodland Hills (Pittsburgh), 13-12.

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By Stephen SpiewakOct. 9^th, 2012, 12:01 AAdd a Comment
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Jesuit, St. Joseph's Prep, Strake Jesuit, St. Peter's Prep, St. Xavier, Dallas Jesuit, Georgetown Prep, St. Ignatius, Gonzaga, Region III Football
Sep. 28^th
Lufkin defeats A&M Consolidated 71-68 in four-overtime thriller

File photo by John Godwin
Lufkin
We're still several weeks away from basketball season, but two football teams from Texas put up a basketball score Friday night.

In a game that lasted around four hours, visiting Lufkin (Texas) defeated host A&M Consolidated (College Station, Texas), 71-68, in four overtimes.

Lufkin finished the game with 741 yards of total offense, while A&M Consolidated had 688.

Lufkin's Tyler Stubblefield threw for 562 yards and 8 touchdowns, while SMU recruit JaBryce Taylor finished with 14 catches for 259 yards, including two touchdowns, for the Panthers.

With the game tied 45-45 at the end of regulation, each team scored and kicked extra points on each of its first two overtime possessions.

Lufkin also got into the end zone on its third possession but, according to the rules, had to go for a two-point conversion. The Panthers failed the try and A&M Consolidated took over.

The Tigers scored yet another touchdown but failed their own 2-point conversion attempt, sending the game into a fourth overtime.

With the game tied at 65, the Lufkin defense forced A&M Consolidated into a field goal, setting the Panthers up for the game-winning drive — and it didn't take long.

On the first play of Lufkin's fourth overtime possession, Kendrick Mapp ran the ball 25 yards into the end zone for the improbable 71-68 victory.

A&M Consolidated (3-2) entered the game on the heels of a 30-28 upset over Lake Travis last week. Lufkin (3-2) came into the game attempting to rebound after a 45-14 loss to Longview.
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By Colin Ward-HenningerSep. 28^th, 2012, 10:14 P2 Comments
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Football, Texas, Texas Football
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JaBryce Taylor, A&M Consolidated, Lufkin, Region II Football