MaxPreps Texas Top 25 high school football rankings

For its many selling points as the top-ranked team in MaxPreps Texas Top 25, Allen had never demonstrated an ability to come from behind in the second half of a game this season.

With a winning margin of at least 19 points in every game, a competitive fourth quarter was uncharted waters for the Eagles.

In Saturday's Class 5A Division I state semifinal, DeSoto (14-1) finally put Allen (15-0) to the test. But Tom Westerberg's Eagles, trailing by 15 points in the final nine minutes, responded with the game‘s final 22 points for a 42-35 victory.

Both quarterbacks, DeSoto's Desmon White and Allen's Kyler Murray were brilliant, but it was Murray's 24-yard touchdown run that was the difference with only 11 seconds remaining.

Allen will play for its second straight state title against Pearland (14-1) in the second of three state finals Saturday at Arlington‘s AT&T Stadium.

Katy (15-0), riding a 31-game winning streak and moving up a spot to No. 2 this week, will be shooting for its second consecutive Class 5A Division II state title when it faces last year's finalist Cedar Hill (13-2) on Saturday evening.

Another state championship would be the eighth for the Tigers' storied program, equaling the University Interscholastic League state record held by Celina and Carroll (Southlake).

National season scoring record holder Aledo jumps to No. 4 in the state rankings this week and plays Brenham at noon Saturday for the Class 4A Division II title.

The Bearcats, averaging 65.7 points per game, are within 15 points of the 1,000-point threshold.

Aledo is taking aim at its fourth state title in five years including one in 2009 that came at Brenham's expense.

The UIL state finals at AT&T Stadium begin on Thursday with four championship games in the 1A and 2A Divisions. Three more title games in the 3A and 4A classifications follow on Friday.

See the complete 2013 Texas high school football playoff brackets

Here's the MaxPreps Texas Top 25 following Week 15 games.

Be sure to check out our Metro pages for Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio.


1. Allen 15-0 (Last week 1)
Kyler Murray's tie-breaking 24-yard touchdown run with 11 seconds remaining carried the defending 5A-I state champions to a 42-35 state semifinal victory over 14-1 DeSoto Saturday at Mesquite Memorial Stadium. The late score capped a 22-point fourth quarter rally that began with Murray's 68-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Guyton. Murray threw for 228 yards and rushed for 159. The Eagles will go for their third state title in six seasons against 14-1 Pearland, set for 4 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

2. Katy 15-0 (3)
The Tigers couldn't have been much more dominant, routing 12-3 Johnson (San Antonio) 52-0 in a 5A-II state semifinal Saturday at Reliant Stadium. Katy rushed for 486 yards and out-gained Johnson 503-88 while winning the first down battle, 31-5. Texas A&M pledge Rodney Anderson rushed for 225 yards and Kyle Porter chipped in with 126. The Katy defense suffocated a Johnson team that came into the game averaging 44.8 points and 453 yards per game. The Tigers, riding a 31-game winning streak, go for their eighth state title when they meet 13-2 Cedar Hill in a rematch of last year's final set for 8 p.m. at AT&T Stadium.

3. DeSoto 14-1 (2), season complete
For the second consecutive year, a 14-0 season ended in a 5A-I state semifinal loss to Allen. The Eagles led Allen by 15 points with nine minutes to play, but lost 42-35 with the decisive touchdown coming with 11 seconds remaining. TCU-bound quarterback Desmon White closed out a 28-2 record as a starter by rushing for 189 yards and four touchdowns and throwing for 134 yards and one score.

4. Aledo 15-0 (10)
A week after breaking the national single season scoring record, Aledo was scoreless at halftime of its 4A-II state semifinal against 14-1 Ennis. But the Bearcats broke it open with a 19-point third quarter and defeated the Lions 29-6 Saturday in Midlothian. Jess Anders (29 carries, 166 yards) and Ryan Newsome had touchdown runs and Luke Bishop threw a 22-yard scoring pass to Taco Anderson. The Bearcats shoot for their fourth state title in five years against 14-1 Brenham set for noon Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

5. Pearland 14-1 (4)
Jacoby Lewis returned a kickoff 97 yards for the winning touchdown with 1:36 remaining to spur the Oilers' 38-34 come-from-behind victory over 11-4 Madison (San Antonio) in a 5A-I state semifinal Saturday in Waco. The Oilers rallied from a 14-point deficit in the third period to tie the score going to the fourth quarter, setting up three lead changes in a wild final six minutes. Lewis' touchdown, his second of the game, came 15 seconds after Madison had scored for a 34-31 lead. The Oilers, in their second title game in four seasons, face defending state champion Allen (15-0) set for 4 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

6. Cedar Hill 13-2 (12)
Justin McMillan had only two completions, but both went to Damarkus Lodge for touchdowns in the Longhorns' 19-10 5A-II state semifinal victory over 12-2 Lake Travis (Austin) Saturday in Waco. Trailing 10-6 entering the fourth quarter and having done little since the first quarter, the Longhorns marched 91 yards in 13 plays for the go-ahead touchdown, a 13-yard McMillan to Lodge completion. Aca'cedric Ware rushed for 63 of his 189 yards on the drive. The Longhorns face 15-0 Katy at 8 p.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium in a rematch of last year's title game won by Katy, 35-24.

7. Trinity (Euless) 11-3 (6), season complete
The Trojans proved to be a tough out in the playoffs as usual, taking DeSoto to the wire before losing in the final six seconds of the fourth-round playoff game, 48-41.

8. Coppell 9-2 (7), season complete
The only losses on the Cowboys ledger were to Allen on the road and DeSoto in the final seconds of a 5A-I area playoff.

9. Carroll (Southlake) 11-2 (8), season complete
After losing its opener to Allen, the Dragons strung together 11 straight wins before being eliminated 42-38 by Trinity (Euless) in the third playoff round.

10. Cy-Fair (Cypress) 12-2 (11), season complete
The Bobcats' blueprint for wins revolved around playing great defense. Pearland matched Cy-Fair's defense, winning the 5A-I Region III title game, 10-3.

11. Lake Travis (Austin) 12-2 (13), season complete
The Cavaliers season ended a victory short of reaching a sixth state final in a seven-year span. Lake Travis couldn't make a 10-6 lead stand up in the fourth quarter of a 19-10 loss to 13-2 Cedar Hill in a 5A-II state semifinal Saturday in Waco. Varshaun Nixon, a Texas A&M pledge, scored the Cavs' only touchdown on a 32-yard run, but was held to 29 yards on his other 22 carries.

12. North Shore (Houston) 12-1 (14), season complete
After an impressive string of 12 straight wins, the Mustangs could manage only one touchdown in a 9-7 third-round elimination by Cy-Fair (Cypress).

13. Lamar (Houston) 11-1 (15), season complete
Momentum from a 5A-I state final appearance in 2012 helped carry the Redskins to an 11-0 start, but Pearland ended Lamar's season with a 21-13 third-round ouster.

14. Manvel 12-2 (16), season complete
The Mavericks advanced to the fourth playoff round in just their second season in the 5A ranks before being dispatched by Katy.

15. Westfield (Houston) 13-1 (17), season complete
The Mustangs' unbeaten season ended in a fourth-round loss to Allen. That's one round more than the prior season in what was supposed to be a rebuilding year for coach Corby Meekins.

16. Martin (Arlington) 10-3 (18), season complete
In a season of ups and downs, including three forfeits that were later overturned, the Warriors were a third-round playoff victim of DeSoto, 56-34.

17. Madison (San Antonio) 11-4 (22), season complete
Cody Ennis' 22-yard touchdown pass to Bryon Daniels vaulted the Mavericks to a three-point lead with 1:51 remaining, but Pearland returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and a 38-34 victory in a 5A-I state semifinal Saturday in Waco. Ennis, a senior, threw for 237 yards and accounted for three touchdowns. Dominique Daniels rushed for 96 yards and a score.

18. Skyline (Dallas) 11-2 (19), season complete
The Raiders carried the Dallas ISD banner to the third round, but a double-overtime, 55-48 loss to Spring Westfield (Houston) spelled elimination.

19. Johnson (San Antonio) 12-3 (5), season complete
The Jaguars' magical playoff run ended with a thud in a 52-0 loss to Katy in a 5A-II state semifinal Saturday at Reliant Stadium. After playoff wins over three of the San Antonio area's top programs, the Jags were dominated in total yardage, 503-88. Quarterback Hunter Rittimann, who came in with over 2,800 passing yards and 32 touchdowns, was limited to 61 yards.

20. Steele (Cibolo) 12-2 (9), season complete
The Knights' choice of going for a two-point conversion and the win instead of a point-after kick and overtime backfired in a 42-41 fourth-round loss to Johnson (San Antonio).

21. Guyer (Denton) 13-2 (20)
Jerrod Heard, a Texas Longhorns commit, capped a desperation 57-yard touchdown drive with a 1-yard run with 55 seconds remaining for a 22-16 victory over 13-2 Highland Park in a 4A-I state semifinal in Allen. Guyer, the defending state champion, trailed 10-0 going into the fourth quarter. Heard finished with 143 rushing yards and 150 in the air. Guyer will make its third state final appearance in four years when it faces 15-0 Brennan (San Antonio) at 8 p.m. Friday.

22. Brennan (San Antonio) 15-0 (NR)
Just three years removed from an 0-10 inaugural season, the Bears are on their way to the 4A-DI state title game after routing Stratford (Houston) 31-7 in a state semifinal at Reliant Stadium. Texas Longhorns pledge Derick Roberson contributed four sacks and Da'Shawn Key handled the offensive heroics, rushing for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Brennan has outscored opponents 816-51, with nine shutouts. Defending state champion Guyer (Denton) awaits in the final set for 8 p.m. Friday at AT&T Stadium.

23. Brenham 14-1 (21)
Caleb Hill threw for 253 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Cubs to a 56-21 rout of 13-2 Calhoun (Port Lavaca) in a 4A-II state semifinal Saturday at Reliant Stadium. The defense got into the act when Bradon Baird and Desmond Lockett had 11-yard fumble returns for touchdowns 14 seconds apart late in the first half. The victory earned Brenham a state title rematch with 15-0 Aledo set for noon Saturday at AT&T Stadium. Brenham lost to Aledo 35-21 in the 2009 championship game.

24. Highland Park (Dallas) 13-2 (24), season complete
The Scots drove 67 yards, capped by Stephen Dieb's 1-yard touchdown run for a 16-14 lead with 2:18 remaining, only to see victory slip away on a late scoring drive in a 22-16 victory by 13-2 Guyer (Denton) in a 4A-I state semifinal. Quarterback Brooks Burgin threw for 190 yards and the Scots defense blanked Guyer for the first three quarters.

25. Ennis 14-1 (25), season complete
The Lions for a half shut out record-setting Aledo, but had a tough time scoring as well in 15-0 Aledo's 29-6 victory in a 4A-II semifinal.

Dropped out: No. 23 Stratford (Houston)

On the bubble
Argyle 15-0, Cameron Yoe (Cameron) 14-1, Carthage 14-1, Cisco 15-0, Fairfield 15-0, Kilgore 14-0, Refugio 14-1, Wall 15-0