Adam Taylor and No. 2 Katy keep on rolling in the Texas playoffs, but a showdown with No. 3 Steele looms in the distance.
Photo by Keith Owens
The top five teams in MaxPreps Texas Top 25 Football Rankings managed to pass through the third-round of the playoffs unscathed. That's not a given, especially in this year's Class 5A Division I minefield.
DeSoto (13-0) held on to the state's top spot thanks to a defense that shut out Bowie (Arlington) in the second half of 24-6 regional playoff victory.
No. 2 Katy (13-0) wasn't lacking for motivation in its 55-10 rout of La Porte, the team that ended Katy's unbeaten season in 2011 in the same round.
Steele (Cibolo), also 13-0, remains No. 3 after a 38-0 blanking of Edinburg North.
View the complete Texas high school football playoff brackets
This week in Class 5A Division I, DeSoto and No. 6 Carroll (Southlake) face off in the Region I final while No. 4 Allen and No. 6 Skyline (Dallas) collide for the Region II title.
Katy and Steele are a win away from a Class 5A Division II state semifinal showdown next week.
Here's the MaxPreps Texas Top 25 going into the fourth playoff round in Week 14.
MaxPreps Texas Top 25 Football Rankings
1. DeSoto 13-0 (Last Week 1)
Oregon commit Dontre Wilson scored two of his three touchdowns in the second half of a 24-6 Class 5A Division I regional playoff victory over 11-2 Bowie (Arlington). Wilson rushed for 123 yards and upped his season touchdown total to 44. The Eagles' defense held explosive Bowie scoreless in the second half. Up next is 12-1 Carroll (Southlake) for the Region I title set for 2 p.m. Saturday at SMU‘s Ford Stadium.
2. Katy 13-0 (2)
A year removed from a season-ending playoff loss to La Porte, the Tigers made sure history would not repeat, scoring a 55-10 statement victory over the Bulldogs Saturday at Houston's Reliant Stadium. Adam Taylor rushed for 216 yards and three touchdowns to lead Katy in the Class 5A Division II regional playoff. The Katy defense limited 11-2 La Porte to 41 yards. Up next is 9-4 Cypress Ranch (Houston) in the Region III final set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Rice Stadium in Houston.
3. Steele (Cibolo) 13-0 (3)
Jordan Sterns contributed touchdowns on a punt return and an interception return in a 38-0 rout of 10-3 Edinburg North in a Class 5A Division II regional playoff. Steele has outscored three playoff opponents 132-17 and the Knights defense limited the Cougars to 111 total yards. Up next is 12-1 Brandeis (San Antonio) in the Region IV title game set for 4 p.m. Saturday at San Antonio's Alamodome.
4. Allen 12-1 (4)
The Eagles broke open a close game with a 28-point second quarter and rolled to a 56-24 elimination of 9-4 Round Rock Westwood (Austin) in a Class 5A Division I regional playoff in Waco. Sophomore quarterback Kyler Murray rushed for two touchdowns in the second quarter and also threw for a score. Christian Sam and Chad Adams returned interceptions for touchdowns. Up next in the Region II final is 12-1 Skyline (Dallas) set for 3 p.m. Saturday at Mesquite's Memorial Stadium.
Steven Bergmark, Carroll
Photo by Dan Wozniak
Junior linebacker
Steven Bergmark made all sorts of big plays in the Dragons' 16-7 victory over 10-3 Trinity (Euless) in a Class 5A Division I regional playoff. Bergmark blocked a field goal, intercepted a pass, recovered a fumble and scored his team's only touchdown on a 1-yard run.
Drew Brown added three field goals in the 12th straight victory for the 5A DI defending state champs. Up next is 13-0 DeSoto in the Region I finals set for 2 p.m. Saturday at SMU's Ford Stadium.
6. Skyline (Dallas) 12-1 (10)
Senior running back
Ellis Onic scored three touchdowns, including a game-winning 71-yard sprint with 3:26 remaining, to help Skyline eliminate 12-1 Spring Westfield (Houston) in a Class 5A Division I regional playoff in Georgetown. Onic rushed for 97 yards and added 85 receiving yards.
Derrick Dixon contributed an important 28-yard fumble return for another Raiders touchdown. Up next is Allen in the Region II title game set for 3 p.m. Saturday at Mesquite's Memorial Stadium.
7. Midway (Waco) 13-0 (17)
Kramer Robertson's 10-yard touchdown pass to
Hunter Jarmen with 12 seconds remaining carried the Panthers to a thrilling 34-31 victory over 12-1 Abilene in a Class 5A Division II regional playoff. Midway went 80 yards for the game-winner in the final 1:35, a drive that included a conversion on fourth-and-20 from its own 10. Up next is 9-4 Cedar Hill in a Region I title game is set for 2 p.m. Saturday in Midlothian.
8. *Abilene 12-1 (6)
West Texas' last Class 5A state championship contender was eliminated in heartbreaking fashion. Midway (Waco) edged Abilene 34-31 on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds remaining.
Marcell Porter led Abilene with 275 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Abilene was making its ninth appearance in the regional round in the last 10 years.
9. North Shore (Houston) 12-1 (14)
Jared Pendleton's 21-yard touchdown run with three minutes remaining in the third period put the Mustangs on top for good in a 17-10 ousting of 9-4 Alief Elsik in a Class 5A Division I regional playoff at Houston's Reliant Stadium. Pendleton also accounted for the other North Shore touchdown on a 7-yard pass from
Micah Thomas. Up next is the Region III title game against 13-0 Lamar (Houston) set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Pasadena's Memorial Stadium.
10. Lamar (Houston) 13-0 (22)
Darrell Colbert rushed for one touchdown and threw for two in a 24-7 triumph over 8-5 Fort Bend Travis (Richmond) Saturday in a Class 5A Division I regional playoff at Houston's Reliant Stadium.
Beau Wells and
Justin Hollie had touchdown catches for the Redskins and the defense came up with three turnovers. Up next is the Region III title game against 12-1 North Shore (Houston) set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Pasadena's Memorial Stadium.
11. Brandeis (San Antonio) 12-1 (19)
The Broncos exploded for 28 points in the second quarter of a 63-7 rout of 10-3 Del Rio in a Class 5A Division II regional playoff in Eagle Pass.
Trinton Ynclan accounted for 58 of his 167 rushing yards on a fourth-down touchdown scamper and
Kadarius Lee broke a punt return for a 52-yard score. Up next is the Region IV title game against 13-0 Steele (Cibolo) set for 4 p.m. Saturday in San Antonio's Alamodome.
Greg Ward, Tyler
Photo by George Walker
Trailing 21-17 at halftime, the Lions roared back in the second half to pull away from 9-4 Frisco 45-28 in a Class 4A Division I regional playoff. Quarterback
Greg Ward, a University of Houston commit, threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for two scores. He was intercepted for the first time this season. Up next is 12-1 Centennial (Frisco) in the Region II title game set for 7:30 p.m. Friday in Ennis.
13. Fort Bend Marshall (Missouri City) 13-0 (20)
J.W. Ketchum's 11-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds remaining carried the Buffaloes to a thrilling 31-28 victory over 8-5 Elgin in a Class 4A Division II regional playoff Saturday in Cypress. Ketchum rushed for 103 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 159 yards and a score. Up next is 10-3 Manor in the Region IV title game set for 8 p.m. Saturday at San Antonio's Alamodome.
14. *Bowie (Arlington) 11-2 (8)
The Volunteers' season ended in the third round for the second consecutive year at Bedford's Pennington Field, this time at the hands of DeSoto, 24-6, in a Class 5A Division I regional playoff.
Eric Rivers accounted for the only Bowie points on a 4-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that cut the DeSoto lead to 10-6 at intermission.
15. *Westfield (Houston) 12-1 (9)
The Mustangs owned a 16-7 halftime lead, but in the end came up one touchdown short in a 38-33 season-ending loss to 12-1 Skyline (Dallas) in a Class 5A Division I regional playoff in Georgetown.
Emmitt Raleigh led the Mustangs with 109 rushing yards, 96 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
16. *Coppell 11-1 (7)
Eliminated by DeSoto 42-14 in a Class 5A Division I area playoff.
17. *Mesquite 11-1 (15)
Eliminated by Allen 42-28 in a Class 5A Division I area playoff.
18. *Trinity (Euless) 10-3 (11)
In front of a full house of 13,000, the Trojans were eliminated by 12-1 Carroll (Southlake) 16-7 Saturday in North Richland Hills. In a defensive battle Carroll had the better defense, particularly in the second half when Trinity was held to 103 yards. Despite facing a fierce pass rush,
Matt Hawkins threw for 133 yards and the lone Trinity touchdown.
19. *Smithson Valley (Spring Branch) 11-1 (21)
Eliminated by Brandeis (San Antonio) 28-20 in a Class 5A Division II area playoff.
20. Nederland 12-1 (NR)
A 25-yard touchdown pass from
Carson Raines to
Seth Barrow in overtime sent the Bulldogs past 12-1 Dawson, 22-19. Nederland trailed the Class 4A Division I regional playoff 19-16 after a Dawson field goal at the start of overtime. Up next is a Region III title game against 13-0 Georgetown set for 3 p.m. Saturday at Cypress' Berry Center.
21. *Dawson (Pearland) 12-1 (12)
The Eagles rallied from a 16-0 deficit to force overtime, but were ousted by 12-1 Nederland, 22-19, in a Division I regional playoff at Houston's Reliant Stadium.
Jacob Hood kicked a 32-yard field goal on the final play of regulation to send the game into overtime and then a 28-yarder on Dawson's overtime possession for a brief 19-16 lead. Dawson out-gained Nederland, 359-200 in total yards, but was penalized 13 times for 115 yards.
22. Lancaster 12-1 (24)
Daeshon Hall's 9-yard touchdown reception of a
Demarcus Ayers pass late in the third period put the Tigers ahead for good in a 36-29 Class 4A Division II regional playoff victory over 10-3 Prosper. Ayers hooked up with Hall earlier on a 27-yard score. Running back
Joseph Paden provided insurance with a 4-yard touchdown with five minutes remaining. Up next in the Region II final is 11-2 Poteet (Mesquite) set for 7:30 p.m. Friday in Allen.
Jake Hubenak, Georgetown
Photo by Jim Redman
Jake Hubenak passed for three touchdowns and rushed for two in a 49-39 elimination of 10-3 Angleton in a Class 4A Division I regional playoff. Hubenak, who missed seven games last year with a knee injury, threw for 268 yards and rushed for 79 as the Eagles reached the 13-win threshold for the first time. Up next is 12-1 Nederland in the Region III title game set for 3 p.m. Saturday at Cypress' Berry Center.
24. Cypress Ranch (Houston) 9-4 (NR)
Keith Ford's five-yard touchdown run with 11 seconds remaining and an extra point by
Ian Marshall capped a 43-42 comeback victory over 11-2 Manvel in a Class 5A Division II regional playoff. Ford scored three touchdowns and
Cole Martin threw for three scores. Up next is 13-0 Katy in the Region III title game 1 p.m. Saturday at Houston's Rice Stadium.
25. *Manvel 11-2 (16)
The Mavericks gave up 15 points in the final 1:38, including the game-winning touchdown with 11 seconds remaining in a 43-42 loss to 9-4 Cypress Ranch (Houston).
Shane McCarley brought Manvel back from behind with three touchdown passes in the second half to build a two-touchdown lead in the Class 5A Division II regional playoff.
*Indicates season ended.
Dropped out: No. 13 La Porte; No. 23 Fort Bend Bush (Richmond).
On the bubble
Birdville (North Richland Hills) 13-0
Cedar Hill 9-4
Centennial (Frisco) 12-1
Flour Bluff (Corpus Christi) 13-0
Guyer (Denton) 11-2
Madison (San Antonio) 11-2
Navasota 13-0
O'Connor (Helotes) 11-2
Plano West (Plano) 9-4
Poteet (Mesquite) 11-2
Stephenville 12-1
Westlake (Austin) 9-4
