Trinity vs. Pearland game leads Texas championship lineup

When the University Interscholastic League announced it would use predetermined sites for all its football championships, it said it wanted the games to be a "showcase event."

Now that the teams are set for the final weekend of the season, the UIL has to be pleased. Capped by the first matchup of undefeated teams in a Class 5A game since 2005, the lineup is loaded.

A look at the games, from the biggest schools to the smallest:

Trinity (Euless) (15-0) vs. Pearland (15-0)
5A Division I
8 p.m. Saturday, Cowboys Stadium

Trinity has won 28 straight games and is seeking its fourth state title in six years. Senior Brandon Carter, a quarterback/receiver who is orally committed to Oklahoma, is probably the most dangerous offensive threat in the state, with 24 touchdowns: 14 running, six passing and four receiving. He caught the winning touchdown in overtime of Trinity's 41-38 victory over Austin Westlake in last year's 5A Division I title game.



Trinity has three players with more than 1,000 yards rushing this season: Carter (1,173), Tevin Williams (1,285, 19 touchdowns) and Terrrence Tusan (1,392, 20 touchdowns). The Trojans' defense is led by a tough front seven that includes defensive lineman Suleiman Masumbuko, who is committed to Baylor.

Pearland, which upset Katy in the state quarterfinals, is making its first appearance in the title game. Pearland running back Dustin Garrison has rushed for 2,703 yards and 43 touchdowns. Pearland's defense includes standouts in defensive end Samuel Ukwuachu, linebacker Kendall Ehrlich and defensive back Myles Kanipes, who is also a receiver.

Guyer (Denton) (13-2) vs. Steele (Cibolo) (13-2)
Class 5A Division II
4 p. m. Saturday, Cowboys Stadium

Guyer, which opened in 2005, advanced to the 4A Division I state semifinals the last two years. It's led by senior dual-threat quarterback J.W. Walsh, an Oklahoma State commit who has passed for 3,097 yards and 35 touchdowns and has rushed for 1,300 yards and 16 scores. Fellow Oklahoma State commit Josh Stewart is a big-play guy on offense with nine touchdown catches, and he has seven interceptions as a cornerback. Defensive stars include senior linebacker Blake Terry, a Kentucky commit with 112 tackles this season, and junior defensive tackle Dan Kottman, who has 99 tackles and blocked a punt that allowed Guyer to score in the final seconds of last week's 28-27 victory over Longview.

Steele, which like Guyer moved from 4A to 5A this year, features running back Malcolm Brown, who has orally committed to Texas. The punishing running back has rushed for 2,528 yards and 28 touchdowns, and he'll be the key to Steele's attempt to grind out a victory against Guyer's more flashy offense. Senior middle linebacker Ryan Simmons has made an astounding 171 tackles and also has four interceptions.

Ryan (Denton) (15-0) vs. Lake Travis (Austin) (13-2)
Class 4A Division I
Noon Saturday, Cowboys Stadium



Denton Ryan, with one of the state's best defenses, is the rare undefeated team that might be an underdog in a championship game. But that's because it's facing Austin Lake Travis, which has won the last three 4A Division I titles.

Ryan quarterback Nash Knight has thrown for 2,457 yards and 23 touchdowns with only three interceptions, and running back Kaylon Alexander has 1,267 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns. But defense took Ryan to its first title game since 2003, with defensive lineman Ty Hook (Louisiana Tech) and defensive end Mario Edwards, a 6-4, 250-pound junior who might be the state's top recruit next season.

Lake Travis is trying to become the third school to win four state titles, joining Sealy (1994-97 in 3A) and Celina (1998-2001 in 2A). Lake Travis quarterback Michael Brewer (Texas Tech) has played through injuries this season, but still managed to throw for 2,742 yards and 23 touchdowns, and he also leads the team in rushing (665 yards, six touchdowns). He gets nice protection from an offensive line that includes all-state lineman Taylor Doyle. The defense, which held Friendswood to only three points last week, includes all-state linebacker Austin Williams.

Aledo (15-0) vs. La Marque (11-3)
Class 4A Division II
8 p.m. Friday, Cowboys Stadium

Aledo star running back Johnathan Gray, who was selected to the 4A all-state team this week, has rushed for 2,863 yards and 51 touchdowns this season. Injuries have slowed the junior late in the year, however, so junior quarterback Matthew Bishop (2,621 passing yards, 31 touchdowns with only four interceptions) has carried more of the load. Aledo, the defending 4A Division II champion, beat defending 4A Division I champion Lake Travis, 14-10, early in the season.

La Marque has won five titles in the last 15 years and is led by quarterback Emanuell Williams, running back Tim Wright and receiver Brian Allen. La Marque is coached by Darrell Jordan, formerly of Dallas Kimball. La Marque last won a state title in 2006 when Bryan Erwin was coach, and he's now at Dallas-area school Flower Mound Marcus.



Carthage (13-2) vs. Coldspring-Oakhurst (Coldspring) (14-1)
Class 3A Division II
4:00 Friday at Cowboys Stadium

Carthage has won 11 straight games and knocked off two previously undefeated teams the last two weeks: Argyle (44-27) and Brownwood (35-28). Carthage is loaded with speed, including running back Hunter Holland and receiver Jalen Claiborne.

Coldspring-Oakhurst has won 14 straight games. Running back Cody Cummings leads the offense, and linebacker Kedrick Harrison and defensive back Taylor Kelley are defensive standouts.

Other championship games this week:

Daingerfield (13-1) vs. Cameron Yoe (Cameron) (14-0)
Class 2A Division I
8 p.m. Saturday at Mansfield's Newsom Stadium

Lexington (14-0) vs. Idalou (11-3)
Class 2A Division II
4 p.m. Saturday at Mansfield's Newsom Stadium

Mart (12-2) vs. Goldthwaite (12-2)
1A Division I
Noon Saturday at Mansfield's Newsom Stadium

Windthorst (14-1) vs. Falls City (13-1)
1A Division II
7:30 Friday at Mansfield's Newsom Stadium



Matt Wixon is the high school sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News. He can be reached at mwixon@dallasnews.com or on Twitter @mattwixon.