DeSoto came up with a dramatic comeback win against Southlake Carroll on Saturday to maintain its undefeated record and No. 1 ranking.
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
In its quest to become the state champion, DeSoto had to beat the champion.
That's just what the Eagles did in Week 14, defeating defending Class 5A Division I state champion Carroll (Southlake)
49-45 Saturday in a Region I final thriller.
Because of the win, DeSoto remains No. 1 in this week's MaxPreps Texas Top 25. The Eagles meet No. 4 Allen (13-1) in a state semifinal Saturday at SMU's Ford Stadium.
View the Texas football playoff bracketsThe feature game this week matches two 14-0 giants, No. 2 Katy and No. 3 Steele (Cibolo) in a Class 5A Division II state semifinal set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Baylor's Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco.
It is no surprise that it comes down to Katy and Steele for a state final trip to Arlington's Cowboys' Stadium. Katy has been more explosive, but both teams rely on defense and a running game to overwhelm opponents.
And there is the matter of tradition. Katy is 53-4 over the last four seasons. Steele has won 42 of its last 43.
Here's the MaxPreps Texas Top 25 going into the fifth playoff round in Week 14.
MaxPreps Texas Top 25 Football Rankings1. DeSoto 14-0 (1)
A dramatic goal-line stand as time expired enabled the Eagles to edge 12-2 Carroll (Southlake) 49-45 in a memorable Class 5A Division I Region I final. DeSoto halted Carroll quarterback Kenny Hill on two scoring attempts from the 1. DeSoto quarterback
Desmon White led his team back from an 18-point deficit, throwing for 376 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for 139 yards and another score. The Eagles will meet 13-1 Allen in a state semifinal set for 6 p.m. Saturday at SMU's Ford Stadium.
2. Katy 14-0 (2)
The Tigers continued a dominating playoff run with a 70-21 foreclosure of 9-5 Cypress Ranch (Houston). Three Katy running backs went for over 100 rushing yards.
Adam Taylor led with 169 yards and four touchdowns.
Rodney Anderson sped for 147 and two scores on just six carries.
Ricky Bickham had 115 yards. The Tigers put up 56 points before Cypress Ranch found the scoreboard. The victory sets up a Class 5A Division II state semifinal showdown against 14-0 Steele (Cibolo) set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Waco's Floyd Casey Stadium.
Jordan Sterns, Steele
Photo by Lester Rosebrock
The Knights tuned up for a Class 5A Division II state semifinal showdown with 14-0 Katy by eliminating 12-2 Brandeis (San Antonio) 28-12 for the Region IV title.
Jordan Sterns played running back for the first time this season and rushed for a pair of touchdowns.
Justin Stockton, out sick for part of the week, contributed 202 yards and two touchdowns. For the third time in the playoffs, the Knights held an opponent to negative yardage in the first quarter. Steele, winners of 42 of 43 games, will take on Katy 2 p.m. Saturday at Waco's Floyd Casey Stadium.
4. Allen 13-1 (4)
Sophomore quarterback
Kyler Murray continues to perform well beyond his years, rushing for 122 yards and two scores and passing for 129 yards and another touchdown in a 37-17 victory over 12-2 Skyline. Senior running back
Marcus Ward rushed for 125 yards and
Carlos Arochi booted three field goals. Up next is 14-0 DeSoto in a Class 5A Division I state semifinal set for 6 p.m. Saturday at SMU's Ford Stadium.
5. *Carroll (Southlake) 12-2 (5)
The defending Class 5A state champion was eliminated in a 49-45 heart-breaker by 14-0 DeSoto in a Class 5A Division I Region I final. Quarterback
Kenny Hill was halted on three running plays inside the DeSoto 3 in the final 12 seconds. Hill, a Texas A&M commit, rushed 40 times for 99 yards and five touchdowns and threw for 339 yards. The Dragons failed to hold an 18-point first half lead.
6. Lamar (Houston) 14-0 (10)
Darrell Colbert threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 58 yards and another touchdown in a 28-7 elimination of 12-2 Galena Park North Shore (Houston). The Redskins played turnover free and came up with three Mustang turnovers in the Class 5A Division I Region III title game. Lamar held the Mustangs scoreless until the game's final five minutes. Up next is 12-2 O'Connor (San Antonio) in a state semifinal set for 3 p.m. Saturday at Austin's Burger Stadium.
7. Tyler 13-1 (12)
Greg Ward, a University of Houston commit, threw for 307 yards and two touchdowns, including a 46-yard go-ahead throw to
Fred Ross, in a 38-24 victory over 12-2 Centennial (Frisco) in the Class 4A Division I Region II title game. Ward rushed for 81 yards and a score. Up next is 12-2 Guyer (Denton) in a state semifinal set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Midlothian ISD Athletic Complex.
8. Georgetown 14-0 (23)
The offense started slowly, but the Eagles defense took up the slack in a 38-6 thumping of 11-2 Nederland in a Class 4A Division I Region II title game. The biggest of the defense's five turnovers was
Brandon Boone's 60-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter. Quarterback
Jake Hubenak got on track in the second half and passed for 260 yards and two scores. Up next is 10-4 Rouse (Leander) in a state semifinal set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Cedar Park's Gupton Stadium.
Nick Harvey, Lancaster
Photo by Robbie Rakestraw
Junior
Nick Harvey rushed for 80 yards and the Tigers final two touchdowns in a 21-13 victory over 11-3 Poteet (Mesquite) in a Class 4A Division II Region I final. The victory wasn't secured until the Lancaster defense tackled Poteet receiver Nathaniel Gaines at the Tigers 4-yard-line as time expired. Up next is 12-2 Rider (Wichita Falls) in a state semifinal set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Justin's Northwest ISD Stadium.
10. *Bowie (Arlington) 11-2 (14)
Eliminated by DeSoto 24-6 in a Class 5A Division I regional playoff.
11. *Skyline (Dallas) 12-2 (6)
As if a 10-point halftime deficit wasn't bad enough, the Raiders fumbled on consecutive kickoff returns in the second half of a 37-17 loss to Allen in the Class 5A Division I Region II final. The Raiders suffered four turnovers and with elimination extended the Dallas ISD's streak without a state football champion to 62 years.
12. *Westfield (Houston) 12-1 (15)
Eliminated by Skyline 38-33 in a Class 5A Division I regional playoff.
13. *Coppell 11-1 (16)
Eliminated by DeSoto 42-14 in a Class 5A Division I area playoff.
14. *Mesquite 11-1 (17)
Eliminated by Allen 42-28 in a Class 5A Division I area playoff.
15. *Trinity (Euless) 10-3 (18)
Eliminated by Carroll (Southlake) 16-7 in a Class 5A Division I regional playoff.
16. Cedar Hill 10-4 (NR)
Quarterback
Damion Hobbs, a Arkansas State commit, completed 17 of 19 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns in a 49-34 elimination of 13-1 Midway (Waco) in a Class 5A Division II Region I final. Hobbs rushed for 77 yards and two scores.
Jonathan Buffin supplied the key defensive play with an 84-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the second quarter. The Longhorns meet 10-4 Westlake (Austin) in a state semifinal set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Waco ISD Stadium.
Derek Cohen, Westlake
Photo by Jim Redman
Derek Cohen's second interception and the fourth of the game by the Chaps clinched a 42-35 victory over 9-5 Plano West in a Class 5A Division II Region II final. In four playoff games, Westlake has come up with 15 turnovers.
Keith Carter led the offense, rushing for three touchdowns. Up next is 10-4 Cedar Hill in a state semifinal set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Waco ISD Stadium.
18. *Midway (Waco) 13-1 (7)
The Panthers' first year in Class 5A was a rousing success despite a 49-34 loss to 10-4 Cedar Hill in a Division II Region I final. The Midway defense had trouble containing Longhorns quarterback Damion Hobbs.
B.J. Kelly rushed for four touchdowns for the Panthers.
19. *Abilene 12-1 (8)
Eliminated by Midway (Waco) 34-31 in a Class 5A Division II regional playoff.
20. O'Connor (Helotes) 12-2 (NR)
A couple of crucial special teams gambles sent the Panthers on a run of 28 straight points in their 52-49 elimination of 11-3 Madison (San Antonio) for the Class 5A Division I Region IV title. A 43-yard run by
Luke Farmer on a fake punt set up one score and a successful onside kick led to another. The Panthers advance to face 14-0 Lamar (Houston) in a state semifinal 3 p.m. Saturday at Austin's Burger Stadium.
21. *North Shore (Houston) 12-2 (9)
The only score the Mustangs could manage in a 28-7 loss to 14-0 Lamar (Houston) was a consolation touchdown by
Jared Pendleton in the final five minutes. North Shore committed three turnovers and managed to gain only 209 yards.
22. *Brandeis (San Antonio) 12-2 (11)
Star running back
Trinton Ynclan was limited to 51 yards and no touchdowns in the Broncos' 28-12 loss to 14-0 Steele (Cibolo) in a Class 5A Division II Region IV final. Ynclan finished his career with 4,153 yards and 56 touchdowns.
23. *Smithson Valley (Spring Branch) 11-1 (19)
Eliminated by Brandeis (San Antonio) 28-20 in a Class 5A Division II area playoff.
24. Guyer (Denton) 12-2 (NR)
Quarterback
Jerrod Heard threw for 172 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 167 yards and two scores in a 52-42 triumph over 13-1 Birdville in a Class 4A Division I Region I final. Up next is 13-1 John Tyler (Tyler) in a state semifinal set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Midlothian ISD Athletic Complex.
25. Rider (Wichita Falls) 12-2 (NR)
Carlos Fleeks rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-7 elimination of 12-2 Frenship (Wolfforth) in a Class 4A Division II Region I final.
Chase London threw for two touchdowns and Rider won a fourth-round playoff game for the first time after five unsuccessful tries. Up next is 13-1 Lancaster in a state semifinal set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Justin's Northwest ISD Stadium.
*Indicates season overDropped out: No. 13 Fort Bend Marshall (Missouri City), No. 20 Nederland, No. 21 Dawson (Pearland), No. 24 Cypress Ranch (Houston), No. 25 Manvel.
On the bubble
Cameron Yoe (Cameron) 13-0
Cedar Park 12-2
El Campo 14-0
Gilmer 13-1
Graham 13-1
Manor 11-3
Navasota 14-0
Newton 13-0
Rouse (Leander) 10-4
Stephenville 12-1
