Two Texas powers started with setbacks but have mowed down competition to face off in the 6A-1 semifinals.
One team lost their quarterback and the other their opener. Both
Southlake Carroll (Southlake) and
Duncanville have responded beautifully and now they meet in Saturday's Texas UIL 6A-Division I semifinals at McKinney ISD Stadium.
The Dragons (14-0) thought they'd have the nation's No. 1 ranked junior quarterback in Quinn Ewers. First, he reclassified for the Class of 2022 and then he left to Ohio State to chase name, image and likeness opportunities.
Carroll simply reloaded with junior
Kaden Anderson and though the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder isn't the recruit Ewers was — he doesn't have a college offer yet — he's been almost as effective.
Anderson has completed 60 percent of his 313 throws for 2,824 yards and 34 touchdowns. He's also rushed for seven more scores.
How to watch
When: Saturday, Dec. 11, 4 p.m. CT
Where: McKinney ISD Stadium, McKinney
Online streaming: NFHS NetworkMore impressive than that, Anderson has led an offense that has put up 658 points — the Dragons have given up 165 — and averaged 452 yards per game. It helps to have one of the state's top junior running backs in
Owen Allen (2,114 rushing yards, 32 touchdowns) and excellent receivers like tight end
R.J. Maryland (59 catches, 1,042 yards, 14 TDs) and wideout
Landon Samson (45, 755, 13).
Samson, who missed five games with an injury, is headed to South Carolina while Maryland will sign with Boston College.
Kaden Anderson, Southlake Carroll
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
The defense is led by Wisconsin-bound cornerback
Avyonne Jones and linebacker
Benecio Porras (84 tackles).
Duncanville had perhaps a tougher setback early, a blowout 45-3 loss to the nation's No. 1 team Mater Dei. Though there was some satisfaction in losing to the country's best, the Panthers' confidence had to have been challenged.
Or perhaps not.
They've come back to outscore their next 12 opponents by a 663-111 count or an average score of 55-9.
The Panthers, led by four-star edge rusher
Omari Abor, Florida State-bound offensive lineman
Jaylen Early and offensive tackle
Cam Williams, had two competitive games following the Mater Dei defeat. They followed that with eight straight games scoring at least 52 points, twice scoring 76-0 victories.
Last week, they beat DeSoto for the second time this season, 38-20, behind 252 yards rushing and three touchdowns from running back
Malachi Medlock, who is one of 10 Panthers on the 247Sports Top 235 Texas list from the Class of 2022.
Others include linebacker
Jordan Crook (Arkansas commit), safety
Pierre Goree (SMU), defensive lineman
Quincy Wright (Oregon State) and wide receiver
Chris Hicks.
Malachi Medlock, Duncanville
Photo by Eddie Kelly
