State Semifinal Predictions, 2 UT commits still playing

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