Top 20 HS Games of '11: The Top 5
2012-01-26
By Greg Tepper // TexasFootball.com
Dave Campbell's Texas Football is counting down the 20 best games from the 2011 Texas high school football season.
Today, the countdown concludes with the top five games of 2011.
5 – Argyle 35, Carthage 34, 2 OTs (Nov. 25)
A truism in all of sports, but especially football: when two teams are almost inseparably evenly matched, the smallest factors make the biggest difference. Such was the case when Carthage and Argyle – two elite teams in the 3A ranks – squared off in the 3A Division II regional semifinals in Mansfield. The wind was whipping in Mansfield, leading to some uncharacteristically sloppy play at times that ultimately sent the game to the fourth quarter knotted at 21. Carthage soon took the lead back on a 1-yard touchdown run from Trent Jackson, but Argyle would not go away, scoring on a 5-yard run from QB Austin Aune with 3:58 to play to tie the game at 28. From there, the game would be determined by the slimmest of margins. Argyle, after a defensive stand, had a chance to win the game in regulation, but sure-footed kicker Cole Hedlund’s 43-yard field goal as time expired missed. On to overtime, where Carthage’s gamble – going for it on 4th and 1 from the 16 – backfired as Argyle’s defense made a stop. Argyle had another chance to win the game, but Hedlund – who was perhaps the best kicker in the state this season – couldn’t connect on a potential game-winning 27-yard field goal, sending this one to a second overtime. Argyle needed just three plays to find the end zone, as WR Ian Sadler took an end-around in for a 9-yard score to put Argyle up 35-28. Carthage needed even fewer plays, as RB Tevin Pipkin took the first play 25 yards for a score. But remember what I said about the slimmest of margins, the smallest of factors? The Carthage extra point attempt got caught in the wind, clanged off of the post, and gave Argyle a thrilling victory and the Bulldogs an agonizing defeat.
4 – Tyler Chapel Hill 21, West Columbia 16 (Dec. 2)
There are a lot of factors that I put into choosing the top 20 games of the year. How important was the game? How close was the game? How wild was the game? How was the game’s finish? How good were the two teams involved? With this Class 3A Division I state semifinal in Nacogdoches, there was no denying its place high on the list. One of the things that sets this game apart from others is the relative disparity between the first three quarters and the final one; the first, second and third quarters went on in a relative ho-hum fashion, with both defenses dominating their respective offenses and eventually going deep into the final quarter with Chapel Hill and West Columbia knotted up at 14. You can’t say enough about these defenses: the West Columbia defense forced very reliable Chapel Hill QB Avery Saenz into three turnovers, while the Chapel Hill D held the Roughnecks to just 10 first downs. It all seemed for naught for the Bulldogs, however, when with 5:42 left in the game the snap sailed over the punter’s head and out of the back of the end zone for a West Columbia safety, giving the Roughnecks their first lead of the game at 16-14 and possession of the ball. Chapel Hill’s defense, however, stood tall, forcing another West Columbia punt and giving Saenz and the Bulldogs offense one last chance, albeit a longshot one: ball on their own 29, 2:09 to play, no timeouts. The Bulldogs’ drive quickly stalled, facing 4th and 7 from their own 32. But the thrills were only beginning, as Saenz hit WR Tre Allen for a season-saving 43-yard pass down to the West Columbia 25. Next: a 12-yard pass to Avery Henderson down to the Roughnecks 13, with less than 20 seconds left. Finally, as if a movie building to its climax, Saenz found Nelson Onwuzu in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard touchdowns strike, putting the Bulldogs on top to stay, 21-16. It was a sensational ending to a sensational game, and it helped to propel Chapel Hill to the state championship.
3 – Stephenville 48, Aledo 47 (Aug. 26)
While it’s true that Aledo got the sweetest revenge – blanking Stephenville in the playoffs en route to their third straight state championship – there’s no denying the instant classic nature of their Week Zero clash. And talk about a terrific kickoff to the season, as this matchup of the continually budding rivalry absolutely lived up to the billing – and then some. Aledo’s potent offense came out firing, getting touchdown runs from QB Matthew Bishop and Johnathan Gray to take an early 14-0 lead. From there, it was a matter of two truly elite offenses trading haymakers: Gray ran for 222 yards and four touchdowns, while Stephenville’s RB Aiavion Edwards and QB Tyler Jones attempted to match the Bearcats blow for blow. This one would head to the fourth quarter still close, but Aledo was able to pull in front, 41-31. From there, Stephenville chipped away, getting a long Edwards touchdown run, a Jones TD pass to WR Brice Gunter and a Blake Barnes 35-yard field goal to improbably surge ahead of Aledo, who was defending its 28-game winning streak, by a 48-41 count with just minutes remaining. But if you know Aledo, you know the offense is relentless; sure enough, QB Matthew Bishop struck a 35-yard touchdown pass to Willie Gibson to close the gap to within an extra point with just 1:26 to play. But Aledo coach Tim Buchanan opted to ride the momentum, going for a go-ahead two-point conversion…and the Stephenville defense stuffed Gray to maintain its one-point lead. Game over, right? Try again. Stephenville still had to run out the clock, and with just seconds remaining, the Yellowjackets were faced with a 4th down in their own territory. The decision was made: punt it deep, hope to stop Aledo in one (maybe two) plays, and hold on for the win. Only one problem: Aledo blocked the Stephenville punt, giving the two-time defending champs the ball with five seconds left on the Stephenville 25-yard line. All Aledo needed is a field goal…and the 43-yard attempt sails wide, sending the Stephenville faithful into a frenzy. BUT WAIT! A personal foul on the Yellowjackets negates the play, and Aledo has one more chance – a 28-yard field goal this time – to extend its 28-game winning streak. But as the snap went back, Stephenville DB Preston Brown shot in and blocked the field goal, finally giving Stephenville an unforgettable – and historic – win. It’s not the best game of the year – you’ll see my choices for that – but it was perhaps the single wildest.
2 – Refugio 36, Cisco 35 (Dec. 16)
Sure, this game gets bonus points for its importance – the Class 2A Division II state championship game at Cowboys Stadium – but I contend that this would’ve made the top ten regardless of when it happened. The great irony of this game is that Refugio was criticized all year for its relentless style – coach Jason Herring continually said he only did it to prepare his team for the state championship – and it needed every bit of preparation to get past an outstanding Cisco squad in front of a raucous crowd in Arlington. The amazing thing is, with just 8:20 remaining in the game, you’d think this game was headed toward another Refugio blowout: RB Shiloh Whetsel’s 8-yard touchdown run put the Bobcats up 36-19. But Cisco would not go away quietly…not in the least. RB Mason Reed returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, speeding 88 yards to close the gap to 36-26. The Loboes defense then took the opportunity to stand tall, forcing a Bobcats three-and-out, and the offense happily repaid them, marching 53 yards in seven plays in just over two minutes to close the gap to 36-33 with 4:10 left. In the span of four minutes, Cisco had turned an apparent blowout into a nail-biter. Things only got more dicey for Refugio on the next drive, as QB Travis Quintanilla – who carved up Cisco all game – was sacked on three consecutive plays, driving the Bobcats back to their own 10. It was then that Refugio’s coach Herring had a bold stroke, instructing punter (and All-State wide receiver) Lynx Hawthorne not to punt it away, but to instead run out of the back of the end zone for a safety. The strategy was curious but sound: the maneuver closed the gap to just 36-35 and gave Cisco the ball back via a free kick, but it pinned the Loboes deeper than they would’ve been after a punt with just 2:28 to play. Cisco fielded the free kick on their own 34 and began bruising up the field, reaching and passing midfield with just over a minute left. But the Refugio defense firmed up, facing Cisco with a 4th and 3 on the Bobcats’ 43. The Loboes ran perhaps their most classic play – a power lead to star RB Hayden Lewis – and the rusher was stymied right at the line to gain. The sticks came from the sideline and confirmed the old cliché: football is a game of inches, and Refugio had held the Loboes 12 inches short. The Bobcats took over, ran out the clock, and took home not only a trophy, but a victory in one of the best championship games of the last decade.
1 – Southlake Carroll 28, Skyline 24 (Dec. 10)
When folks will be talking about this game for years to come, you have the recipe for the best game of the year. The Class 5A Division I state semifinal at Ford Stadium on the campus of SMU was a must-see event from the outset, and thanks to an improbable comeback and a bit of controversy, it’s must-remember. What’s going to be unfairly forgotten in this game is exactly how dominating the Skyline defense was: the Raiders forced seven Southlake Carroll punts, unthinkable for an offense that averaged over 32 points per game. But the story of this game was the Skyline defense and Raiders QB Devante Kincade, whom the Dragons had no answer for en route to 306 total yards and two touchdowns. And he also led the drive that looked to be the dagger in this one: taking over from his own 1 yard line, leading 21-14 with 8:58 to play, Kincade led a 14-play, 82-yard drive that ate up more than 6½ minutes and ended with Juan Ramos’ 34-yard field goal with just 2:26 to play, putting Skyline ahead by two possessions at 24-14. Ten point deficit, less than 2½ minutes to play…this game, for all intents and purposes, was over. Enter: Kenny Hill. The marvelous junior quarterback for Southlake Carroll took over and calmly marched his Dragons down the field, driving 67 yards in 10 plays in less than a minute. Hill’s 3-yard touchdown plunge made this one a 24-21 game, with an onside kick becoming the only potential life raft for the Dragons’ sinking ship.
Now, before we go any further a word about the onside kick, which you can see here. I’ve watched this play from about six different angles a total of over 100 times. You know what I’ve concluded, definitively? Nothing. There is not indisputable evidence either way as to if the ball traveled ten yards before Carroll WR Ray Crockett snatched it out of the air. It either went 9.9 yards or 10 yards; I can’t tell. And anyone who tells you that they know – they definitively know – that the ball did or did not go ten yards is either mistaken or dishonest. There’s not indisputable evidence to suggest either way, which leaves us with the referee’s call. That call: the ball went 10 yards, Southlake Carroll recovers, first-and-10 for the Dragons at the midfield, trailing 24-21 with a minute left.
And from there, it was Kenny Hill’s moment. After RB AJ Ezzard broke a 15-yard gain down to the Skyline 35, Hill outdid him, taking the snap and running off of right tackle, dancing past defenders and streaking down the sideline for an incredible, improbable, astonishing 35-yard touchdown run. The touchdown run sent the Carroll fans into delirium, and that delirium was only metastasized when Kincade’s last-gasp pass was intercepted near midfield to give Southlake Carroll a berth in the state championship game. From truly evenly matched teams on an elite level, a stage as big as the state, a thrilling finish, a raucous crowd and even a bit of controversy, Southlake Carroll vs. Skyline had it all, making it the best high school football game in Texas in 2011.
What do you think? Which games should have made the cut? Let us know on our Facebook page and on Twitter!
