By: Mark Lyon
After a great season by teams across the state and nation, high school football playoffs are winding down. Texas still has two commits competing for state championships in Toby Weathersby (Houston Westfield) and Garrett Thomas (Many, LA).
This week, I’m making predictions on the games remaining in each classification. Let’s get started.
Division 6A D1
STATE SEMIFINALS
Allen (14-0) vs. Skyline (14-0)
Saturday at SMU’s Ford Stadium, tentatively at 7:00
Cypress Ranch (12-2) vs. Converse Judson (10-4)
3:00 Saturday at SA’s Alamodome
I get the sense that Allen is vulnerable. Lots of teams are playing them close. Skyline may take it a step further.
My Call:
Skyline 28
Allen 23
Cy Ranch caught my attention by beating Dickinson while Judson should have beaten Brandeis by much more.
I see:
Cy Ranch 31
Judson 17
Division 6A D2
STATE SEMIFINALS
Cedar Hill (12-2) vs. Spring Westfield (13-1)
2:00 Saturday at Georgetown
Katy (13-1)vs. Cibolo Steele (13-1)
4:00 Saturday at Houston’s NRG Stadium
Cedar Hill-Westfield should be a helluva game. No clear favorite. CH is on a roll since playing down toward the end of the regular season. Westfield has continued to roll. Texas (Longhorns) commit Toby Weathersby plays for Westfield. Should be a tight one:
Cedar Hill 38
Westfield 31
Someone on HornSports pointed to Katy several weeks ago. Said they may make a run. He and they have made a believer out of me.
Katy 42
Steele 14
Division 5A D1
STATE SEMIFINALS
Aledo (13-1) vs. Tyler John Tyler (12-2)
2:00 Saturday at Hanby Stadium
Temple (12-1) vs. Austin Vandegrift (12-2)
7:30 Saturday at San Antonio’s Alamodome
Aledo looks vulnerable. Canyon Randall gave them quite a game. John Tyler seems to be a team of destiny and they’ve had to play some tough competition this season. Longhorn commit to-be Ryan Newsome plays for Aledo.
John Tyler 32
Aledo 30
Temple was impressive in their win. They played in a tough district with its teams going deep in the playoffs. Vandegrift seems to be another team of destiny this season. However, Temple may determine their destiny in this case.
Temple 36
Vandegrift 21
Division 5A D2
STATE SEMIFINALS
Canutillo (13-1) vs. Ennis (12-2)
8:00 Friday, Lubbock’s Plains Capital Park
Crosby (13-1) vs. Cedar Park (11-3)
8:00 Friday, Austin’s Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
As good as I think Ennis is, everyone and their dog has picked against El Paso Canutillo. And Canutillo defies them every time. I’m going with the emotional pick here and think Canutillo plays better in W Texas than Ennis does.
Canutillo 19
Ennis 17
Cedar Park did not look like a playoff team when the season began. However, the machine began clicking on all cylinders about midway and have never looked back. Crosby is methodical, mistake-free football but with some speed. Should be a dandy.
Cedar Park 44
Crosby 41
Division 4A D1
STATE SEMIFINALS
Graham (12-2) vs. Argyle (14-0)
7:30 Friday at Aledo
Navasota (14-0) vs. Liberty Hill (12-2)
7:00 Friday at Waco’s McLane Stadium
Argyle received quite a scare this week against 5-loss Liberty-Eylau. But it was team speed that hurt Argyle, something Graham won’t have.
Argyle 35
Graham 18
Liberty Hill and Henderson are very similar teams. Navasota just beat Henderson handily and will do the same with Liberty Hill.
Navasota 45
Liberty Hill 21
Division 4A D2
STATE SEMIFINALS
Celina (12-2) vs. Gilmer (14-0)
7:30 Friday at SMU’s Ford Stadium
West Orange-Stark (12-2) vs. Sinton (11-3)
TBD
Gilmer will hang 60 on Celina. Celina may score 40. Texas target Kris Boyd will score often.
Gilmer 60
Celina 40
West Orange Stark is just killing it. Last week, it was might La Grange. This week, they’ll beat Sinton. Sinton’s QB is hobbled and about 50% of their offense is him.
West Orange Stark 44
Sinton 14
Division 3A D1
STATE SEMIFINALS
Shallowater (13-1) vs. Mineola (11-3)
7:30 Friday at Brownwood
Cameron Yoe (10-4) vs. Edna (9-5)
7:30 Friday at Cypress’ Berry Center
Mineola hasn’t been this far in the playoffs in decades. Cinderella is about to have her clock strike 12.
Shallowater 34
Mineola 12
Cameron Yoe just keeps winning. Last week, they beat a Rockdale team that won Yoe’s district. Edna is surging after a rather ordinary regular season. Surging teams are scary, but both these teams are surging.
Cameron Yoe 26
Edna 24
Division 3A D2
STATE SEMIFINALS
Sonora (11-3) vs. Waskom (13-1)
7:30 Friday at Glen Rose
Newton (11-3) vs. Blanco (14-0)
7:30 Friday at Waller
Sonora plays tough West Texas football for 4 quarters. Waskom hasn’t had to play 4 quarters all year. Could be a set up!
Sonora 24
Waskom 23
Newton has put it together late this season and is returning to their dominant ways. Blanco always seems to have problems with East Texas teams. It still does.
Newton 32
Blanco 24
Division 2A D1
STATE SEMIFINALS
Canadian (13-0) vs. Mart (13-0)
7:30 Friday, Wichita Falls’ Memorial Stadium
Centerville (10-3) vs. Mason (13-0)
7:00 Friday, Georgetown ISD Stadium
With all due respect to Canadian and Centerville, we’re looking at a Mart-Mason final. And what a final that will be.
Mart 41
Canadian 14
Mason 31
Centerville 16
Division 2A D2
STATE SEMIFINALS
Seagraves (13-0) vs Albany (13-0)
7 p.m. Friday at Snyder, Tx
Tenaha (11-1) vs Bremond (13-0)
7:30 Friday, Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches
Seagraves and Albany are as close as match as you’ll find in the playoffs.
Seagraves 28
Albany 29
Bremond is undefeated but Tenaha is a seasoned playoff team and will have a sort of home field advantage.
Tenaha 31
Bremond 24
Louisiana 2A
LOUISIANA CLASS 2A FINALS
Many (15-0) vs. Kinder (15-0)
8:00 Friday, Louisiana Superdome
(Texas commit Garrett Thomas plays for Many)
Both undefeated and both have substantial margins of victory over most of their opponents. I’ll lean towards Many and Garrett Thomas in this game.
Many 28
Kimber 21
