Video: Rockwall beat Allen in instant classic Yellowjackets advance in Class 6A Division 1 playoffs.
The second round of the UIL state playoffs was the end of the line for five teams in the MaxPreps Texas Top 25 but also finalized a much-awaited third-round match-up between Katy and North Shore (Houston).
The victims included two previously undefeated powerhouse programs ranked in the top six, Allen and Longview. Rockwall's two-point conversion in the dying minutes beat Allen, 60-59, and Jesuit (Dallas) edged defending Class 6A-D2 state champion Longview, 27-25.
Rockwall was sparked by a 252-yards, five-touchdown receiving performance by Ohio State pledge
Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Dallas Jesuit was led by the 164-yard, four touchdown rushing game from
EJ Smith, son of former Cowboys' star Emmitt Smith.
Among those avoiding a second-round elimination were Katy and North Shore (Houston), Nos. 2 and 3 respectively for 13 straight weeks in the state ranking. They collide again in a regional semifinal set for a 4 p.m. Friday kickoff at Houston's NRG Stadium. In the season opener, Katy (12-0) rallied in the second half to defeat North Shore (11-1), the defending Class 6A-D1 state champion, 24-21. They met twice last year with North Shore getting a sweep, 35-21 in the opener and 49-38 in the playoffs.
Katy has had the tougher playoff road so far including a 27-14 area-round victory over previously unbeaten Cy-Fair (Cypress).
Two newcomers have fought their way into the Top 25 this week, 11-1 Klein Collins (Spring) and 10-2 giant-killer Rockwall.
The last time Allen failed to reach the third round of the playoffs was in 2011. Since that season, Allen has won four state titles including three in succession from 2012-14. Allen makes a strong case for Texas team of the decade consideration with a record of 137-8 and four state championships since 2009 in Texas' largest division.
Here is a look at this week's Texas Top 25 going into the regional semifinal round:
Rockwall took down Allen with a two-point conversion in the dying minutes to win 60-59.
Photo by Michael Horbovetz
12-0
Last week: Beat Flower Mound 59-13
Next game: Nov. 29 vs Martin (Arlington) at AT&T Stadium, Arlington
2. (2) KatyRecord: 12-0
Last week: Beat Cy-Fair (Cypress) 27-14
Next game: Nov. 29 vs North Shore (Houston) at NRG Stadium, Houston
3. (3) North Shore (Houston)Record: 11-1
Last week: Beat Dawson (Pearland) 58-35
Next game: Nov. 29 vs Katy at NRG Stadium, Houston
4. (5) Carroll (Southlake)Record: 12-0
Last week: Beat DeSoto 37-15
Next game: Nov. 30 vs Midland Lee (Midland) at Shotwell Stadium, Abilene
5. (10) Westfield (Houston)Record: 11-1
Last week: Beat Memorial (Tomball) 36-26
Next game: Nov. 30 vs Midway (Waco) at Merrill Green Stadium, Bryan
6. (9) Guyer (Denton)Record: 11-1
Last week: Beat Cedar Hill 50-41
Next game: Nov. 29 vs Arlington at Ford Center, Frisco
7. (16) Martin (Arlington)Record: 11-1
Last week: Beat Permian (Odessa) 71-28
Next game: Nov. 29 vs Duncanville at AT&T Stadium, Arlington
8. (17) Lake Travis (Austin)Record: 11-1
Last week: Beat Madison (San Antonio) 49-21
Next game: Nov. 29 vs Weslaco at Alamo Stadium, San Antonio
9. (18) Westlake (Austin)Record: 11-1
Last week: Beat Brennan (San Antonio) 24-6
Next game: Nov. 29 vs Weslaco East (Weslaco) at Alamo Stadium, San Antonio
10. (4) AllenRecord: 11-1
Last week: Lost to Rockwall 60-59
Next game: Season over
11. (7) Ryan (Denton)Record: 12-0
Last week: Beat Coronado (Lubbock) 56-14
Next game: Nov. 29 vs Cooper (Abilene) at Collins Athletic Complex, Denton
12. (8) Shadow Creek (Pearland)Record: 12-0
Last week: Beat Hutto 63-14
Next game: Nov. 29 vs Foster (Richmond) at Challenger-Columbia Stadium, Webster
13. (6) Longview Record: 11-1
Last week: Lost to Jesuit (Dallas) 27-25
Next game: Season over
14. (12) Lone Star (Frisco)Record: 12-0
Last week: Beat College Station 45-30
Next game: Nov. 29 vs Highland Park (Dallas) at AT&T Stadium, Arlington
15. (13) Highland Park (Dallas)Record: 11-1
Last week: Beat Magnolia 63-28
Next game: Nov. 29 vs Lone Star (Frisco) at AT&T Stadium, Arlington
16. (14) Aledo Record: 11-1
Last week: Beat Royse City 52-24
Next game: Nov. 29 vs Red Oak at AT&T Stadium, Arlington
17. (15) ManvelRecord: 12-0
Last week: Beat Lamar Consolidated (Rosenberg) 62-34
Next game: Nov. 29 vs Barbers Hill at NRG Stadium, Houston
18. (20) Judson (Converse)Record: 11-1
Last week: Beat Reagan (San Antonio) 49-20
Next game: Nov. 29 vs United (Laredo) at Alamodome, San Antonio
19. (11) Cy-Fair (Cypress)Record: 11-1
Last week: Lost to Katy 27-14
Next game: Season over
20. (21) Fort Bend Marshall (Missouri City)Record: 11-1
Last week: Beat A&M Consolidated (College Station) 32-27
Next game: Nov. 30 vs Huntsville at Woodforest Bank Stadium, Shenandoah
21. (22) Brandeis (San Antonio)Record: 12-0
Last week: Beat Clemens (Schertz) 35-21
Next game: Nov. 29 vs Vela (Edinberg) at Laredo United ISD Student Activity Center
22. (24) Tompkins (Katy)Record: 11-1
Last week: Beat Cypress Falls (Houston) 30-27
Next game: Nov. 30 vs Atascocita (Humble) at NRG Stadium, Houston
23. (25) Atascocita (Humble)Record: 11-1
Last week: Beat Dickinson 46-27
Next game: Nov. 30 vs Tompkins (Katy) at NRG Stadium, Houston
24. (NR) Klein Collins (Spring)Record: 11-1
Last week: Beat Vandegrift (Austin) 28-14
Next game: Nov. 29 vs Jesuit (Dallas) at McLane Stadium, Waco
25. (NR) RockwallRecord: 10-2
Last week: Beat Allen 60-59
Next game: Nov. 30 vs Klein Oak (Spring) at McLane Stadium, Waco
Ranking by classificationClass 6A1. Duncanville (12-0)
2. Katy (12-0)
3. North Shore (Houston) (11-1)
4. Carroll (Southlake) (12-0)
5. Westfield (Houston) (11-1)
6. Guyer (Denton) (11-1)
7. Martin (Arlington) (11-1)
8. Lake Travis (Austin) (11-1)
9. Westlake (Austin) (11-1)
10. Allen (11-1)
No. 1 Duncanville still has a couple of hurdles to clear in Division I with 11-1 Martin (Arlington) this week and possibly 12-0 Carroll in the next round. The Katy-North Shore winner should be the favorite in Region III. Lake Travis and Judson (Converse) are the teams to beat in Region IV. Allen's loss makes for a wide-open Region II with all four remaining teams having at least two losses. In Division II, Westfield and Guyer become the highest-ranked teams in Division II after Longview's exit.
5A-11. Ryan (Denton) (12-0)
2. Shadow Creek (Pearland) (12-0)
3. Lone Star (Frisco) (12-0)
4. Highland Park (Dallas) (11-1)
5.
Lancaster (10-2)
No. 3 Lone Star and No. 4 Highland Park stage a rematch in a third-round playoff set for 3:30 p.m. Friday at AT&T Stadium. Highland Park, attempting to win a fourth consecutive state title, suffered its only loss this season to Lone Star 30-19 in a Sept. 13 pre-district game. Both teams are scoring at a 55-point per-game clip.
5A-21. Aledo (11-1)
2. Manvel (12-0)
3. FB Marshall (Missouri City) (11-1)
4.
Calallen (Corpus Christi) (11-1)
5.
Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu) 11-1
Manvel is the only unbeaten team remaining in this division after 12 games with a 62-34 elimination of Lamar Consolidated (Rosenberg).
Donovan Eaglin rushed for 262 yards and four touchdowns to power the attack. A tough task awaits this week for Manvel as it faces the newest member of the top five, Barbers Hill, and its 11-game winning streak.
4A-11.
Argyle (12-0)
2.
Carthage (12-0)
3.
La Vega (Waco) (11-1)
4.
Decatur (12-0)
5.
Dumas (12-0)
No. 1 Argyle defeated Stephenville 42-14 in the season opener in August. The playoff rematch was a lot closer. The teams were tied at 42 after three quarters, but Argyle prevailed 63-49 behind a 452-yard, eight-touchdown passing performance by
Bo Hogeboom.
Cole Kirkpatrick was on the receiving end of five of the scores and finished with 289 receiving yards. Another test awaits Argyle in the third playoff round when the opponent is 11-1 Brownwood.
4A-21.
Greenwood (Midland) (12-0)
2.
Pleasant Grove (Texarkana) (11-1)
3.
Navarro (Geronimo) (12-0)
4.
Estacado (Lubbock) (12-0)
5.
Connally (Waco) 12-0
Greenwood running back
Trey Cross is Mr. Consistency, having rushed for at least 100 yards in 11 of the Rangers' 12 games. The junior has scored 27 of his 29 touchdowns via the rush and is over 2,000 yards. He had three touchdowns in Greenwood's 36-16 area-round victory over Aubrey. Estacado continues to roll in Region I after a 40-21 victory over Graham. Junior quarterback
Jay'lon Dobbins threw for 529 yards and five touchdowns, four of the scores to
Ty Steele who had 256 receiving yards.
3A-11.
Wall (12-0)
2.
Whitney (11-1)
3.
Grandview (11-1)
4.
Malakoff (11-1)
5.
Pottsboro (12-0)
No. 4 Malakoff and No. 5 Pottsboro will be opponents in a third-round playoff on Friday. Both teams are coming off 12-point victories in the area round. Malakoff prevailed over Jefferson 53-41 and Pottsboro remained undefeated with a 47-35 triumph over Sabine.
3A-21.
Canadian (12-0)
2.
East Bernard (12-0)
3.
Gunter (11-1)
4.
Rogers (11-1)
5.
Abernathy (11-1)
Abernathy joins the ranking at No. 5 this week following a 50-14 rout of Childress in the area-playoff round. Abernathy's only loss this season was to 12-0 Post, 14-13. Senior quarterback
Bryson Daily has rushed for 1,862 yards and thrown for 1,294. He has accounted for 49 touchdowns, 32 of those coming on the ground.
2A-11.
Refugio (12-0)
2.
San Saba (12-0)
3.
Shiner (12-0)
4.
San Augustine (12-0)
5.
Holland (12-0)
Two big weekend third-round playoff games are on tap in this division. No. 1 Refugio takes on No. 3 Shiner in a match-up of unbeaten teams while defending state champion Mason (10-2) will face No. 5 Holland.
2A-21.
Bremond (11-1)
2.
Stratford (11-1)
3.
Wellington (11-1)
4.
Falls City (11-1)
5.
Flatonia (11-1)
No. 4 Falls City, new to the ranking this week, is allowing fewer than 10 points per game and has forced 27 turnovers including 17 interceptions. Senior
Kevin Jendrusch is the leading tackler with 110. No. 5 Flatonia is also new to the ranking, coming off a 35-24 win over La Pryor.
Dakory Willis led Flatonia with 118 rushing yards and up next is a third-round playoff against No. 1 Bremond.
TAPPS 1.
Parish Episcopal (Dallas) 10-1
2.
Trinity Christian (Cedar Hill)11-1
3.
John Paul II (Plano) 9-3
4.
Antonian Prep (San Antonio) 9-3
5.
Regents (Austin) 10-1
John Paul II (Plano) pulled off a stunner in the TAPPS state playoffs by eliminating the previous No. 1 team Nolan Catholic (Fort Worth) 49-15. Quarterback
Grayson James completed 23-of-37 passes for 402 yards and five touchdowns. John Paul, coached by former Cowboys defender George Teague, fell behind early but closed with a 42-2 scoring run. Nolan (11-1) suffered four turnovers.
