Video: Duncanville beats Rockwall in 6A Division 1 semifinals The Panthers head to the finals after 56-14 win over the Yellowjackets.
It seems only fitting that after 10 regular-season games and five more win-or-go-home playoff contests, the battle for No. 1 in MaxPreps Texas Top 25 between Duncanville and North Shore (Houston) will be decided on the field.
Not just any field either, but Arlington's AT&T Stadium.
Duncanville (15-0) goes into the Class 6A Division I title game in the top spot, a position it's held since the season's second week. North Shore (14-1), the defending champion, is a close No. 2. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. Saturday.
Tickets will not be hard to sell to the 42,363 that witnessed North Shore's miraculous 41-36 victory in the 2018 title game, the winning score coming on
Dematrius Davis' 45-yard Hail Mary pass to
A.J. Carter with no time remaining.
Duncanville thought it had won on quarterback
Ja'Quinden Jackson's five-yard scoring run to go up 36-35 with 1:02 remaining, the third of four lead changes in the last 10 minutes.
In Saturday's semifinal matchups , North Shore rolled up 389 rushing yards in a 49-38 win over Lake Travis (Austin). Senior
Zachary Evans led the way with 176 yards and two touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Duncanville leaped to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter and coasted to a 56-14 rout of Rockwall. Of the four Duncanville touchdowns in the opening quarter, the shortest was Jackson's 59-yard run.
Trysten Smith ran for 151 yards and two scores.
Duncanville-North Shore is one of 12 state title games on tap over four days beginning with the smaller enrollment classifications on Wednesday and working up. Three games will be played each day.
Notes: North Shore is one of six teams attempting to defend its 2018 state title. The others are Aledo in Class 5A-DII, La Vega (Waco) in 4A-DI, Grandview in 3A-DI, Mart in 2A-DII and McLean in 1A-DI (six-man).
Making a re-appearance in the Top 25 this week is Midland Lee (Midland). Debuting this week is Class 4A-DI power Carthage with its 15-0 record.
Here is a look at this week's Texas Top 25 going into the state finals:
The Fort Bend Marshall defense swarms.
Photo by Ralph Mawyer
15-0
Last week: Beat Rockwall 56-14
Next game: Dec. 21, 3 p.m. vs North Shore (Houston), AT&T Stadium, Arlington
2. (2) North Shore (Houston)Record: 14-1
Last week: Beat Lake Travis (Austin) 49-38
Next game: Dec. 21, 3 p.m. vs Duncanville, AT&T Stadium, Arlington
3. (3) KatyRecord: 12-1
Next game: Season over
4. (4) Carroll (Southlake)Record: 13-1
Next game: Season over
5. (5) Guyer (Denton)Record: 14-1
Last week: Beat Westfield (Houston) 35-17
Next game: Dec. 21, 7 p.m. vs Westlake (Austin), AT&T Stadium, Arlington
6. (11) Ryan (Denton)Record: 15-0
Last week: Beat Lone Star (Frisco) 35-7
Next game: Dec. 20, 7 p.m. vs Shadow Creek (Pearland), AT&T Stadium, Arlington
7. (8) Lake Travis (Austin)Record: 13-2
Last week: Lost to North Shore (Houston) 49-38
Next game: Season over
8. (9) Westlake (Austin)Record: 14-1
Last week: Beat Katy Taylor (Katy) 63-3
Next game: Dec. 21, 7 p.m. vs Guyer (Denton), AT&T Stadium, Arlington
9. (10) AllenRecord: 11-1
Next game: Season over
10. (13) Shadow Creek (Pearland)Record: 15-0
Last week: Beat Wagner (San Antonio) 45-21
Next game: Dec. 20, 7 p.m. vs Ryan (Denton), AT&T Stadium, Arlington
11. (14) Longview Record: 11-1
Next game: Season over
12. (15) Fort Bend Marshall (Missouri City)Record: 14-1
Last week: Beat Boerne-Champion (Boerne) 56-21
Next game: Dec. 21, 11 a.m. vs Aledo, AT&T Stadium, Arlington
13. (16) Aledo Record: 14-1
Last week: Beat Cooper (Lubbock) 28-21
Next game: Dec. 21, 11 a.m. vs Fort Bend Marshall (Missouri City), AT&T Stadium, Arlington
14. (7) Westfield (Houston)Record: 13-2
Last week: Lost to Guyer (Denton) 35-17
Next game: Season over
15. (6) RockwallRecord: 12-3
Last week: Lost to Duncanville 56-14
Next game: Season over
16. (12) Lone Star (Frisco)Record: 14-1
Last week: Lost to Ryan, (Denton) 35-7
Next game: Season over
17. (17) Highland Park (Dallas)Record: 11-2
Next game: Season over
18. (18) Judson (Converse)Record: 12-2
Next game: Season over
19. (19) Cy-Fair (Cypress)Record: 11-1
Next game: Season over
20. (20) Martin (Arlington)Record: 11-2
Next game: Season over
21. (21) ManvelRecord: 13-1
Next game: Season over
22. (23) Atascocita (Humble)Record: 12-2
Next game: Season over
23. (25) Cooper (Lubbock)Record: 13-2
Last week: Lost to Aledo 28-21
Next game: Season over
24. (NR) Midland Lee (Midland)Record: 11-2
Next game: Season over
25. (NR) CarthageRecord: 15-0
Last week: Beat Lampasas 49-42
Next game: Dec. 20, 11 a.m. vs La Vega (Waco), AT&T Stadium, Arlington
Ranking by classification
Class 6A1. Duncanville (15-0)
2. North Shore (Houston) (14-1)
3. Katy (12-1)
4. Carroll (Southlake) (13-1)
5. Guyer (Denton) (14-1)
6. Lake Travis (Austin) (13-2)
7. Westlake (Austin) (14-1)
8. Allen (11-1)
9. Longview (11-1)
10. Westfield (Houston) (13-2)
Kaedric Cobbs rushed for 212 yards and four touchdowns to help Guyer ease past Westfield 35-17 in a Division II semifinal. Guyer's defense limited Westfield to 50 rushing yards on 26 attempts. In the other DII semifinal, the surprise playoff run for Katy Taylor (Katy) came to a startling end at the hands of Westlake, 63-3.
5A-11. Ryan (Denton) (15-0)
2. Shadow Creek (Pearland) (15-0)
3. Lone Star (Frisco) (14-1)
4. Highland Park (Dallas) (11-2)
5.
Wagner (San Antonio) (13-2)
The amazing Shadow Creek story adds another chapter. In its second year of varsity football, the Sharks qualified for their second state final by pulling away from Wagner in the second half, 45-21. Junior
Kyron Drones threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another while running back
Jayveon Bell plowed for 149 yards and a score. After three seasons of state semifinal disappointment, Ryan was not going to be stopped this time. The Raiders got 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns from
Emani Bailey in a 35-7 victory over Lone Star and face Shadow Creek in the title game set for 7 p.m. Friday in Arlington.
5A-21. FB Marshall (Missouri City) (14-1)
2. Aledo (14-1)
3. Manvel (13-1)
4. Cooper (Lubbock) (13-2)
5.
Ennis (12-2)
Quarterback
Jake Bishop's 45-yard run on fourth-and-six in in the final four minutes keyed the game-deciding touchdown drive in Aledo's 28-21 state semifinal victory over feisty Cooper (Lubbock). Oklahoma pledge
Jase McClellan capped the drive with his third touchdown run of the game with 1:55 remaining to send Aledo back to the state title game for the fourth consecutive season. It faces explosive Fort Bend Marshall in rematch of the 2018 title game won by Aledo 55-19. Marshall earned a return trip for the 11 a.m. Saturday kickoff with a 55-21 winner over Boerne-Champion (Boerne).
Malik Hornsby threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more to help Buffaloes fashion a 48-7 halftime lead.
Devon Achane rushed for 154 yards and three scores.
4A-11.
Carthage (15-0)
2.
La Vega (Waco) (14-1)
3.
Lampasas (13-2)
4.
Springtown (13-2)
5.
Argyle (13-1)
The Carthage defense surrendered 392 passing yards and still was able to prevail 49-42 over Lampasas. Carthage snapped a 42-all deadlock with a 68-yard scoring drive that ended on
Kelvontay Dixon's three-yard catch with 13 seconds remaining to earn its eighth appearance in a state final. Carthage, state champ in 2016 and 2017, faces 2018 state champion La Vega, a 27-14 semifinal winner over Springtown. La Vega's defense forced six turnovers with two turning into touchdowns: a two-yard fumble return by
DeMarrquese Hayes and a 77-yard interception return by
Jordan Rogers.
4A-21.
Pleasant Grove (Texarkana) (14-1)
2.
Wimberley (12-3)
3.
Iowa Park (12-2)
5.
Greenwood (Midland) (14-1)
5.
Silsbee (9-4)
Pleasant Grove locked down its third consecutive state title game appearance with a 48-20 semifinal victory over Greenwood. With Greenwood defenders committed to stopping the Pleasant Grove Wing-T running plays, quarterback
Ben Harmon was able to throw for 301 yards and four touchdowns. The Hawks face Wimberley, a 56-43 winner over Silsbee, for the state title at 3 p.m. Friday. Wimberley senior quarterback
Cooper McCollum threw for 326 yards and five touchdowns.
3A-11.
Pottsboro (15-0)
2.
Grandview (14-1)
3.
Brock (12-3)
4.
Malakoff (11-2)
5.
Columbus (12-3)
For the second straight week, it took a defensive play to save a one-point Pottsboro victory. This time it was an interception by
Tyler Farris that allowed Pottsboro to defeat Brock 36-35 and send the Cardinals, down by 11 points after three quarters, to their first state championship game. The opponent will be defending state champion Grandview, a 41-21 winner over Columbus. Grandview running back
Tremayne Gullatte rushed for 128 yards and three touchdowns while the Zebras' defense was putting the brakes on the Columbus ground attack. Title-game kickoff is 3 p.m. Thursday.
3A-21.
Gunter (14-1)
2.
Pewitt (Omaha) (14-1)
3.
Canadian (14-1)
4.
East Bernard (14-1)
5.
Abernathy (12-2)
In perhaps the most exciting of the four consecutive state semifinals matching Gunter vs. Canadian, it was Gunter rallying in the fourth quarter for a 27-20 victory. But it took a tackle at the goal line by
Bryson Rigsby on the final play to keep preserve the win.
Peyton Lowe had 189 combined offensive yards and scored a pair of touchdowns to lead Gunter, which will make its third championship game appearance in the last four years. The opponent for the 7 p.m. Thursday contest will be Pewitt, a 24-18 semifinal winner over East Bernard.
La-Jathen Allen intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown and also forced and recovered a fumble to end a East Bernard scoring threat. Offensively, Allen rushed for 100 yards on 20 carries.
2A-11.
Refugio (15-0)
2.
Post (15-0)
3.
San Augustine (14-1)
4.
San Saba (13-1)
5.
Valley View (12-2)
For the fourth time in five years, Refugio plays for the state title after a 29-21semifinal victory over San Augustine.
Ysidro Mascorro carried 24 times for 160 yards to lead the Refugio attack.
Antwaan Gross and
Jordy Martinez contributed interceptions. The opponent in the 7 p.m. Wednesday contest is Post, a 35-7 victor over Valley View in the other semifinal. Junior quarterback
Slayden Pittman ran for three touchdowns and threw for another to help Post reach the state championship game for the first time.
2A-21.
Hamlin (12-2)
2.
Mart (12-3)
3.
Falls City (13-2)
4.
Stratford (13-2)
5.
Bremond (12-2)
Defending state champion Mart makes its third consecutive state title game appearance after downing Falls City 28-8 in a semifinal. Mart was paced by running backs
Klyderion Campbell (seven carries, 96 yards) and
Roddrell Freeman (20-103). Hamlin, beaten earlier in the season by Stratford 39-6, turned the tables in the rematch, 56-23. Hamlin intercepted seven passes, four by
Austin Brown. Offensively,
Braydin Warner had a hand in four touchdowns. The title game is set for 11 a.m. Thursday.
