View on YouTubeAfter three weeks of thrashing opponents in the bi-district, area and regional playoff rounds, No. 3 Manvel and No. 6 Katy will play for the Region III title in Class 6A Division II at NRG (formerly Reliant) Stadium in Houston. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Tradition-rich Katy (12-1) owns a record 12 appearances in state championship games. The Tigers have gone on to capture six state titles.
Success for Katy is built on a powerful rushing game and a rock-solid defense.
Rodney Anderson, an Oklahoma pledge, leads the Katy ground attack with 1,799 yards and 30 touchdowns. He averages 10.8 yards per carry.
Defensively, the Tigers have posted five shutouts and held opponents to seven points or less in five other games with the aid of 31 take-aways. Senior Sy Slater has six of Katy's 19 interceptions.
Manvel (13-0) did not move into the top classification until 2012. But since the promotion, coach Kirk Martin has guided his team to a 36-4 record.
Junior quarterback D'Eriq King leads the Mavericks with 3,050 passing yards and 47 touchdowns. His No. 1 target is Louisiana-Lafayette pledge Gary Haynes with 60 catches for 1,018 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Manvel relishes a rematch with Katy after being embarrassed by the Tigers 56-14 in the 2013 Region III title game.
Katy stumbled once this season in a non-district loss on the road to The Woodlands, but that only seemed to anger coach Gary Joseph's team. The Tigers have reeled off 10 straight wins. In three playoff games, Katy has outscored opponents 212-41.
Another Class 6A Division II showdown looms in San Antonio for a pair of 12-1 teams. No. 8 Steele (Cibolo) and No. 12 Brandeis (San Antonio) will meet in the Region IV title game set for 4 p.m. Saturday at Alamo Stadium. It will be the fifth-straight regional title game appearance for Steele.
Other intriguing regional title games on the docket this weekend:
*Top-ranked Allen vs. No. 5 Trinity (Euless). These two schools have won six of the last nine state titles in the largest classification. Allen, a state champion each of the last two seasons, boasts a 40-game winning streak.
* No. 4 Carroll (Southlake) vs. No. 9 Cedar Hill. Carroll shares the record with Celina for most state titles with eight. Cedar Hill is the defending state champion in Division II.
* No. 2 Skyline (Dallas) vs. No. 21 Klein Oak (Spring). Skyline is bidding to become the first Dallas ISD football state champion since Sunset did it in 1950. Klein Oak is one of three teams from District 15-6A to advance to a regional final this season.
* No. 11 Spring Westfield (Houston) vs. No. 20 Spring in an all-District 15-6A affair.
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D'Eriq King and Manvel have a big-time matchup with Katy this week.
Photo by Leslie Johnson
rushed for 197 yards and four touchdowns and additionally threw for two scores in a 69-54 elimination of 10-3 Martin (Arlington) in a 6A-DI regional semifinal. Allen increased its winning streak to 40 despite having to overcome deficits in the second half. Touchdown contributions came from
Jaylon Jones on an 81-yard kickoff return and
Anthony Taylor on a 46-yard interception return. The Eagles face 12-1 Trinity (Euless) in the Region I title game set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Denton's Apogee Stadium.
2. Skyline (Dallas) 13-0 (2)Darion Lewis' 91-yard interception return for a touchdown midway in the fourth quarter cemented a 34-14 victory over 11-2 Klein Collins (Spring) in a 6A-DI regional semifinal.
K.C. Johnson threw for three touchdowns, two going to
Carlos Strickland.
Savon Rollison also scored twice. The Raiders will face 10-3 Klein Oak (Spring) in the Region II title game set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Waco ISD Stadium.
Ryan Agnew, Carroll
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
threw for 319 yards and five touchdowns in a 63-47 victory over 8-5 Cypress Woods (Cypress) in a 6A-DII regional semifinal. King rushed 10 times for 129 yards and a score.
D'vaughn Pennamon rushed for 101 yards and two scores.
Gary Haynes had six catches for 110 yards and three scores. The Mavs face 12-1 Katy in a Region III title game rematch set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Houston's NRG Stadium.
4. Carroll (Southlake) 13-0 (4)A three-touchdown performance by
Lil'Jordan Humphrey helped to propel the Dragons to a 35-10 victory over 11-2 Central (San Angelo) in a 6A-DII regional semifinal. Humphrey rushed for 114 yards and two scores. A third touchdown came courtesy of a 21-yard pass from
Parker Fentriss.
Ryan Agnew threw for 208 yards and two scores.
Tariq Gordon had seven catches for 153 yards and a touchdown. Defending state champion Cedar Hill (11-2) awaits in the Region I title game set for 2 p.m. Saturday at SMU‘s Ford Stadium.
5. Trinity (Euless) 12-1 (9)A dominating rushing attack carried the Trojans to a 42-14 elimination of 9-4 Permian (Odessa) in a 6A-DI regional semifinal.
Tyler Natee threw only two passes, but rushed 22 times for 214 yards. Fellow junior
Ja'ron Wilson contributed 180 yards and three touchdowns. Trinity, in a regional final for the sixth time since 2007, will face 13-0 Allen for the Region I title with kickoff set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Denton's Apogee Stadium.
6. Katy 12-1 (5)Oklahoma pledge
Rodney Anderson rushed for 265 yards and six touchdowns in a 63-20 elimination of 8-5 Dawson (Pearland) in a 6A-DII regional semifinal.
Tony Mullins had six catches for 100 yards and two scores.
Garrett Doiron threw for 160 yards and two scores as the Tigers opened a 42-0 lead. Next is a showdown against 13-0 Manvel in the Region III title game set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Houston's NRG Stadium.
7. DeSoto 10-2* (6)The Eagles suffered elimination to Allen for the third-straight season, this time in a 6A-DI area playoff, 25-22, on a field goal as time expired.
8. Steele (Cibolo) 12-1 (7)L.G. Williams threw five touchdown passes in a 48-17 elimination of 10-3 Weslaco East in a 6A-DII regional semifinal.
Bryson Denley broke a 66-yard touchdown run on the Knights' first play from scrimmage.
Jaylen Harris rushed for 119 yards on six carries and also had a touchdown catch. Next is a Region IV title game against 12-1 Brandeis (San Antonio) in a 4 p.m. kickoff Saturday at San Antonio's Alamo Stadium.
9. Cedar Hill 11-2 (10)Justin Mcmillan, an LSU pledge, threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in a 36-28 victory over 9-4 Abilene in a 6A-DII regional semifinal.
Damarkus Lodge contributed five catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns. McMillan passed for 141 yards and rushed for 66 more.
Denvre Daniels led the rushing attack with 71 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Up next is 13-0 Carroll (Southlake) in the Region I title game set for 2 p.m. Saturday at SMU's Ford Stadium.
10. Westfield (Houston) 12-1 (11)Dillon Sterling-Cole connected with
Tyrie Cleveland on a 72-yard touchdown pass with 2:38 remaining to send the Mustangs to a 43-38 victory over 12-1 Rockwall in a 6A-DII regional semifinal. Sterling-Cole threw for 222 yards and five touchdowns. Cleveland finished with five catches for 105 yards.
Eric Pouncy turned all three of his catches into touchdowns. The win sets up a Region II title game against 10-3 Spring set for 7 p.m. Saturday at the University of Houston's TDECU Stadium.
11. Dickinson 13-0 (12)Brad Woodard's 6-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter turned out to be the winning score in a 21-19 victory over 9-4 Cy-Fair (Cypress) in a 6A-DI regional semifinal.
Cameron Martin threw for 175 yards and one touchdown, and rushed for 46 yards and a score. Woodard rushed for 75 yards and added 69 receiving yards and a score.
Jordan Myers had seven catches for 70 yards. Up next is 11-2 Cypress Ranch (Houston) in the Region III title game set for 1 p.m. Saturday at the University of Houston's TDECU Stadium.
12. Brandeis (San Antonio) 12-1 (13)Peyton Hall had eight catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-14 elimination of 7-6 Rivera (Brownsville) in a 6A-DII regional semifinal.
Paul Lozano threw for 210 yards.
Jaylon Dukes rushed for 123 yards and a score.
Driton Salihu intercepted two passes and returned one for a 31-yard score. Next is the Region IV title game against 12-1 Steele (Cibolo) set for 4 p.m. Saturday at San Antonio's Alamo Stadium.
13. Aledo 12-1 (17)Jess Anders IV ran for a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to nail down a 37-21 victory over 11-2 Del Valle (El Paso) in a 5A-DI regional semifinal. Quarterback
Luke Bishop threw for two touchdowns and ran for two.
Sam Holzschuh accounted for another touchdown on a 13-yard fumble return. Up next is 12-1 Randall (Canyon) in the Region I title game set for 7 p.m. Friday at Snyder's Tiger Stadium.
14. Martin (Arlington)* 10-3 (19)With
Nic Smith leading the way with 266 rushing yards and two touchdowns, Martin outgained 13-0 Allen 617-504, but lost on the scoreboard, 69-54, in a 6A-DI regional semifinal.
Eric Walker, playing for the first time since a midseason injury, threw for 241 yards.
Krystian Levy had 11 catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
Xavier Castille, Rockwall
Photo by Rnald Roper
The Bears' goal of a second-straight trip to a state title game ended in a 24-12 loss to Steele (Cibolo) in a 6A-DII area playoff.
16. Rockwall* 12-1 (15)The Yellowjackets rallied to take a lead on a 31-yard touchdown reception by
Xavier Castille with 7:28 remaining, but five minutes later 12-1 Spring Westfield (Houston) scored the game-winner for a 43-38 victory in a 6A-DII regional semifinal. Castille finished with 14 catches for 128 yards and 14 rushes for 88 yards.
Will Reed threw for 181 yards and three scores.
Chris Warren, coming off an ankle injury, was held to 72 yards on the ground.
17. George Ranch (Richmond) 12-1 (21)Xavian Marks turned five carries into 206 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Longhorns to a 48-13 rout of 10-2 Bryan in a 5A-DI regional semifinal.
Timon Nolan threw for score and also ran for one. The Longhorns' defense pounced on three fumbles. Up next is 11-1 Temple in the Region III title game set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Round Rock's Reeves Stadium.
18. Reagan (San Antonio) 12-1 (22)The Rattlers intercepted three passes and returned two for touchdowns in a 50-19 elimination of 9-4 Los Fresnos in a 6A-DI regional semifinal.
Garrett Strauss returned an interception 70 yards for a score and
Jacob Killeen followed with a 25-yard return for a touchdown.
Brucks Saathoff picked off his fourth pass of the season and also had another on a conversion try that he returned 93 yards for two points. Up next is 9-4 Judson (Converse) in the Region IV title game set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Converse's Rutledge Stadium.
19. Cypress Ranch (Houston) 11-2 (23)Trailing by a touchdown at halftime, the Mustangs roared back in the second half for a 31-27 victory over 8-5 North Shore (Houston) in a 6A-DI regional semifinal.
Charlie Booker III ran for two scores and
Amaud Willis-dalton returned a fumble 56 yards for a touchdown, one of three fumbles lost by North Shore. Up next is 13-0 Dickinson in a Region III title game set for 1 p.m. Saturday at the University of Houston's TDECU Stadium.
20. Spring 10-3 (24)Alex Woods' 22-yard touchdown pass to
Juwan Hill with 57 seconds remaining was just enough to carry the Lions to a 46-45 victory over 12-1 Midway (Waco) in a 6A-DII regional semifinal.
Xavier Jones rushed for 314 yards and four touchdowns. Woods threw for 200 yards and three scores, two going to Cameron Rose. The Lions defense came up with three interceptions. Next is 12-1 fellow District 15-6A foe Spring Westfield (Houston) in a Region II title game set for 7 p.m. Saturday at the University of Houston's TDECU Stadium.
21. Klein Oak (Spring) 10-3 (NR)Jose Blankenship broke touchdown runs of 99 and 54 yards in a 59-40 victory over 11-2 Horn (Mesquite) in a 6A-DI regional semifinal. Blankenship finished with 279 rushing yards and three touchdowns and also threw for 85 yards.
Derrick Durden rushed for 120 yards and four scores. The Panthers' defense intercepted three passes and recovered a fumble. Up next is the Region II title game against 13-0 Skyline (Dallas) set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Waco ISD Stadium.
22. Ennis 11-2 (25)The Lions rallied from a seven-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat 9-4 The Colony 49-35 in a 5A-DII regional semifinal.
Devin Smith had a hand in five touchdowns, rushing for 110 yards and two scores and throwing for 219 yards and three touchdowns.
Donta Thompson had five catches for 116 yards and two scores. Up next is 10-3 South Oak Cliff (Dallas) in a Region II title game set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mansfield's Newsom Stadium.
23. Temple 11-1 (NR)Cole Martin's 42-yard field goal with no time remaining carried the Wildcats to a 38-35 victory over 12-1 Fort Bend Ridge Point (Missouri City) in a 5A-DI regional semifinal.
Chad President threw for 391 yards and three scores.
Davion Curtis had six catches for 178 yards and two scores.
Marques Hatcher rushed for 91 yards and a score. Up next 12-1 George Ranch (Richmond) in the Region III title game set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Round Rock's Reeves Stadium.
24. South Oak Cliff (Dallas) 10-3 (NR)David Johnson threw for six touchdowns, five of them in a 40-point second quarter of a 78-29 romp over 10-3 Frisco Heritage (Frisco) in a 5A-DII regional semifinal.
J.f. Thomas had seven catches for 125 yards and three scores.
Lamont Clarkson contributed nine catches for 108 yards and two scores.
Jordan Stevenson rushed for 198 yards and three touchdowns. Up next is 11-2 Ennis in a Region II title game set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mansfield's Newsom Stadium.
25. Judson (Converse) 9-4 (NR)Sophomore
Mi'kel Jackson rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns to help the Rockets throttle 8-5 United (Laredo) 55-20 in a 6A-DI regional semifinal. Freshman quarterback
Julon Williams threw for 124 yards and rushed for two scores.
Dominique Ramseyy returned a fumble 18 yards for a score. Up next is 12-1 Reagan (San Antonio) in the Region IV title game set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Converse's Rutledge Stadium.
*Indicates season ended
Dropped out: No. 8 Midway (Waco); No. 14 Klein Collins (Spring); No. 16 Horn (Mesquite); No. 18 Fort Bend Ridge Point (Missouri City).
On the bubble Canutillo 12-1
Cedar Park 10-3
Crosby 12-1
Hutto 11-2
Tyler 11-2
Johnson (San Antonio) 11-2
McKinney North 11-2
Randall (Amarillo) 12-1
Tivy (Kerrville) 10-3
Industrial (Vanderbilt) 11-2
