Lamar (Houston) vs. Pearland (Texas)
Pearland's Jacoby Lewis appears triumphant.
File photo by Leslie Johnson
Two of the top defenses in the Houston area mixing it up with a trip to the Class 5A/I Region 3 championship game awaiting the winner. Lamar (11-0) has shut out two of its last three opponents,
including a 36-0 win over Alief Taylor (Houston) last Saturday. The Redskins, who have four senior defenders committed to FBS colleges, limited Alief Taylor to a mere 5 yards rushing for the game. Pearland (11-1) – an Xcellent 25 team earlier this season – recorded 11 sacks in a
39-15 win against Fort Bend Austin (Sugar Land). The Oilers have dropped the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage a total of 45 times this season.
Just the facts: Pearland's best season in the last 10 years was when it went 16-0 and won a 5A state title in 2010. Lamar's best mark during the past decade was a year ago, when it was 15-0 before losing to nationally ranked Allen in the 5A/I championship game. … Lamar has reached the state championship game only three times since it started playing in 1937. Its only state title was won in 1953.
Mitch Stephens: Lamar 21, Pearland 17
Kevin Askeland: Pearland 38, Lamar 35
Jamie DeMoney: Lamar 26, Pearland 13
Stephen Spiewak: Pearland 17, Lamar 14
Leland Gordon: Pearland 18, Lamar 15
Colin Ward-Henninger: Lamar 42, Pearland 35
