Wall (15-0) vs. Newton (14-2), 7 p.m. Thursday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium

In what may the most anticipated game of the entire weekend, unbeaten Wall carries the hopes of the Concho Valley and all of West Texas into this one as they take on a surging Newton squad that’s playing their best football of the year.

A week ago, Wall ended Gunter’s chances of four consecutive state titles with a heart-stopping 28-25 win.

The Hawks went up 14-0 after a Landon York-to-Kellan Oliver touchdown pass before GHS rallied for 17-straight points to take a 17-14 lead halfway through the fourth. In a reversal of roles from 2024’s meeting, Wall mounted a comeback as York threw a touchdown pass to Ben Robertson and then Ben Taylor recovered a fumble in the end zone to put the Hawks up 28-17 with just under four minutes left.

Gunter rallied to score and make it 28-25 and the Tigers got the ball back with under a minute left, but Wall’s defense came up with the stop to hold on for the win to get to the state title game for the first time since 2013.

No one in the state is playing as well as Newton is at the moment. The Eagles ripped through their fifth straight playoff opponent with a dominant 74-20 win over East Bernard last Thursday. Newton rolled up 596 yards of offense and the defense tallied 10 sacks in a complete performance.

Freshman QB Izayah Foster was sensational in throwing for 243 yards and three touchdowns on just six pass completions, and RB Kendray Porter, Jr. ran for 157 yards and two scores and caught a touchdown pass on the night.

If you like speed, this will be a game to see as both teams have incredible burst at the skill spots. Wall’s got the edge in QB experience with York leading the way, but Foster is playing great for Newton.

I’m leaning to Newton in this one because of their sensational defensive line and because they are playing at an absolute elite level, despite Wall being the No. 1 team heading into the playoffs.

Stepp’s Pick: Newton 36, Wall 31

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Wall

Sr. QB Landon York - The 6-foot-3, 200-pound signal-caller is putting together one of the best seasons in recent memory, having thrown for nearly 4,000 yards and over 55 TDs. He's protected by one of the best line's in Texas, which had surrendered just six sacks on 338 drop-back attempts going into the state semifinals.

Sr. WR Reid Robertson - York's No. 1 WR is putting up monster numbers himself. Heading into the state semifinals, Robertson had caught 59 passes for 1,251 yards and 19 touchdowns. He had eight catches for 153 yards and two TDs in the regional finals against Idalou. Just throw it up and the 6-foot-2 Robertson will come down with it.

Sr. OL Baine Jenschke - The leader of Wall's Wall is this 6-foot-3, 290-pound right guard who plays with a mean streak and isn't afraid to let you know about it. He has over 70 pancake blocks this season and would love nothing more than to add a few more to his plate at Jerry World.

Newton

Fr. QB Izayah Foster - Directing one of, if not the most explosive offense in all of Texas is this sensational freshman, who has put the state on notice this postseason. There's really nothing Foster can't do. He's mature beyond his years, but can he handle the bright lights of AT&T Stadium?

Jr. RB Kendray (KJ) Porter, Jr. - The most electric player on the field in this one will be Porter, Jr., who ran for 2,218 yards and 36 TDs last year as a sophomore. He's picked up in-state offers from Houston and Texas Tech already thanks to his elusiveness, ability to run in between the tackles and catch out of the backfield. A game-changer, simply put.

Sr. LB/RB Cavland Hunter - One of the leading tacklers for the Eagles, Hunter will be called upon to disrupt Wall's vaunted passing attack early and often, which he's adept at doing. He's also used as a change-of-pace back for Porter, often barrelling over defenders for tough yards.

- William Wilkerson

PREDICTIONS

THE PICK