Texas Football

By Travis Stewart/Texas Football and Dennis Hall/Texas Football

5A DII Title Game: Euless Trinity 41, Austin Westlake 38 (OT)
Did he have possession? That is the question Westlake fans were asking after Euless Trinity’s Brandon Carter made the game-winning touchdown reception in overtime to lift the Trojans to victory against Westlake for Trinity’s third state title this decade. Trinity had the ball at the Westlake 18-yard line on its second play in overtime. Quarterback Willie Hubbard lofted a high pass toward the end zone, where Carter was locked up with a defender one-on-one. Carter leaped and grabbed the ball. As he fell on his back, the ball shifted in his hands, and his feet touched out of bounds. But the referee ruled that he had possession when he came down with the ball, giving Trinity its third state title in five years and leaving Westlake fans stunned as their team fell to 1-6 in title games. It was a miracle finish for Trinity, which trailed most of the game thanks to a tremendous performance by Westlake QB Tanner Price (237 passing yards, 92 rushing yards). Westlake had an early 10-0 lead and a third-quarter lead of 28-14. But the Trojans then scored three consecutive TDs to take the lead at 35-28 before Price led a game-tying TD drive at the end of regulation. Westlake kicked a field goal on its overtime possession to set the stage for Carter’s heroics. -- Dennis Hall

5A DII Title Game: Abilene 28, Katy 17
A groin injury limited Abilene QB Ronnell Sims throughout the playoffs, but in the state title game, Sims once again had his burst back and the results were impressive. Sims rushed for 215 yards and three TDs to lead the Eagles past Katy for Abilene’s first state championship since 1956. Running sweeps left and right, Sims was able to turn the corner and bust off multiple long runs against Katy’s outstanding defense. And Ronnell wasn’t the only Sims family member breaking through the Katy defense. His cousin, RB Herschel Sims, added a back-breaking 60-yard TD run in the fourth quarter to give Abilene the seventh state title in school history. Ronnell’s performance put him over 1,000 rushing yards for the season. He said his groin wasn’t completely healed but that he was running at about 95 percent effectiveness. Herschel Sims surpassed 2,300 rushing yards for the season. Abilene completed a 15-0 season, while Katy fell to 14-2. Katy was going for its third consecutive state championship, a feat accomplished by only a handful of teams in state history, including Abilene from 1954-56. For Abilene, the fun doesn’t stop here. Both Sims cousins are juniors, which means the Eagles will be among the favorites to win a state championship in 2010. -- Dennis Hall

4A DII Title Game: Lake Travis 24, Longview 17
Three programs had a chance to three-peat this season -- and yet only Lake Travis managed to seal the deal. A week after Canadian fell to Goldthwaite and hours before Abilene would topple Katy in the 5A DII game, Lake Travis jumped out to an early lead and held off a late charge from Longview to clinch its third-straight 4A state title. And Andy Erickson was key -- he opened the game with a 57-yard touchdown catch to put the Cavs out to a 7-0 lead, and then scored again in the third quarter to give his team a 24-10 advantage. Erickson hasn't been discussed much by the state-wide media, but the versatile athlete is worthy of his new-found attention. Though he's technically a running back, he's dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield and plays as a wideout in five-wide sets. That's important, and you're going to see us utilize that versatility in the postseason magazine coming out in January. Just saying. But, like I thought it would (like I have any credibility, after stumbling to a 4-3 finish in picks this weekend), the Lake Travis defense ended up being the critical element. It forced a punt on the opening series of the game, held the Lobos to a field goal on the next one, and didn't allow another point until the second half. Even then, despite giving up two touchdowns, Ian Lazarus and Trevor Gillette combined for a sack and fumble from Longview QB Aaron Johnson that set up Erickson's second touchdown and ultimately the winning points. But the other key play had to be the final one of significance -- Lake Travis lined up to draw Longview offsides on a fourth-and-three from the Lobo 42 with the clock winding down, only to accidentally snap the ball! Lake Travis QB Michael Brewer turned the play into a title-winner -- a 35-yard completion down the sidelines, and Lake Travis won its 46th-straight game. -- Travis Stewart

4A DII Title Game: Aledo 35, Brenham 21
Aledo's state title victory this past weekend was a microcosm of the season as a whole -- defense and a whole lotta' Johnathan Gray. Gray, still just a sophomore, rushed for 252 yards and four touchdowns, upping his season total to 59, giving him the fourth-most total points in a single season in state history. As a sophomore! Gray struck from all lengths of the field -- 21 yards, 25 yards, 36 yards and finally an 89-yarder that put the game out of reach. The opening stages of the game showed us both brilliance and nerves -- Gray started the game with two touchdown runs to put Aledo out to an early 14-0 lead, but then Brenham battled back to a tie with two straight Ty Schlottman touchdown passes (also reflective of the season, as Brenham posted comebacks numerous times this season). But Gray scored once more before the half to make it a 21-14 game, giving Aledo a narrow lead that it would nurse until his final touchdown of the evening -- the 89-yarder with 1:36 left to go that capped his sensational year. But lost in all this could be Aledo's defense, which held potent offensive teams like Denison and Brenham to just 21 points in back-to-back weeks. And while we're looking back, let's not forget the game that may have jump started all of this -- an overtime win against Stephenville in the second round that came down to a fourth-and-goal play from the one. Aledo bypassed a field goal in favor of a game-winning touchdown. The gamble paid off, and Aledo lived to fight another day. Think how different history would have been if Gray came up short. -- Travis Stewart

3A DII Title Game: Carthage 13, Graham 12
I was at this game, and I can safely say that it was one of the weirder games I can remember. This game was a tale of two halves -- Carthage scored all 13 of its points in the first half, and Graham scored all 12 of its in the fourth quarter. Early on, Carthage looked like it was by far the better team -- it's opening drive resulted in a touchdown, and then the Steers fumbled the following kickoff, giving Carthage the ball back again deep in scoring position. But then the Graham defensive line started a stretch of play that really made the difference -- those Steers stood up to the Carthage run game and made play after play all night long. Without that group, this game could have been a blowout. Carthage was turned away on that drive and wouldn't score again until the second quarter, when a reverse play turned into a 15-yard scoring run. The PAT was blocked, leaving the score at 13-0. Graham battled back in the fourth quarter, completing a 99-yard drive with a short touchdown pass from QB Case McCoy to tight end Ethan Hiser. But Graham's kicking game has been a problem all year -- the PAT was wide right, and still Graham needed help with 6:25 to play. Minutes later, Graham scored yet again -- this time off a Cameron Bailey one-yard run with just 1:22 to go. But then came the decision -- a game-tying (but uncertain) PAT attempt, or a game-winning two-pointer. Graham lined up for the PAT, but then shifted to a run -- and Carthage sniffed it out immediately. The run was short, and Carthage went on to win its 29th straight game and second straight state title. It's the first 16-0 team in school history, and Jalen Claiborne became the first 1,000-yard receiver (1,046) in program history. -- Travis Stewart

2A DII Title Game: Daingerfield 62, Bushland 14
People had been asking me all season if Daingerfield could have won a 3A title this season -- my answer, as always, was probably not. After all, Gilmer (the eventual 3A DI champs) had already downed the Tigers once this year, and that was evidence enough for me. But after Daingerfield's performance this weekend against Bushland ... phew. You have to wonder, right? The Tigers were flawless against high-powered Bushland, as RB KoKo Smith detonated for 277 yards and two scores on just 20 carries and QB Tyler Boyd headed into halftime sitting at 9-of-9 for 152 yards and five touchdown passes. Bushland didn't even get on the board until the third quarter, when Daingerfield was up 41-0. But as pretty as the offensive numbers were, it was without question the defense that made the difference. Bushland couldn't get more than just a single first down on any of its first-half possessions and turned the ball over three times -- not including a failed fourth down conversion attempt. And those key plays consistently set up the Tigers offensively -- Daingerfield finished with 598 yards on the night and rang up 13 plays of 20+ yards. One reader emailed me and asked if the presence of Sawyer Cornelius, the Bushland QB who went down with an injury a few weeks back, would have made a difference Saturday night. Sure it would have -- Cornelius is a great player, and his absence was noticeable. But Daingerfield was the better this weekend, and its second-straight 2A title may become a third next year. A number of its most talented players are back for another run, and there's been talk that they might be dropping down to 1A. -- Travis Stewart

1A DII Title Game: Cayuga 38, Albany 24
Though RB Traylon Shead ended up winning the 1A AP Offensive Player of the Year Award, Cayuga QB Malcome Kennedy officially closed his case as the man that probably should have won it. Kennedy, in just his first year as a quarterback, capped his sensational senior year with 242 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns to give his team all the points it would need to win the 1A DII title that eluded it last season. But like last season, when the Wildcats lost to Stratford, things didn't start well -- Albany jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter after a touchdown, onside kick and field goal. Even though Cayuga fired back with a touchdown on its first offensive series, Albany didn't cave and came right back with a touchdown of its own to make it 17-7. But that's when Kennedy and Shead took over, scoring touchdowns on its next five possessions, including a 21-yard TD reception for Shead shortly before the half ended, one of three scores on the night. Shead now closes his career with 146 touchdowns, easily eclipsing the previous record of 136, held by Lamar Consolidated's Jacquizz Rodgers. -- Travis Stewart