Ridge Point repeats as 23-5A champion
Ridge Point shook off an 0-2 start to its season and loss in the middle of the district play, giving itself a chance Friday to do what it did a year ago.
Win a district championship.
The Panthers did just that, going on the road and beating Texas City 48-36 to claim the 235A title for the second straight season.
But unlike 2014, Ridge Point (7-3, 6-1) will be heading to the 5A Division II playoffs. With Bush’s 21-14 win over Galveston Ball, Elkins and the Broncos will head to the Division I bracket.
Ridge Point and Texas City will be 23-5A’s two Division II teams, with the Panthers facing Port Lavaca Calhoun to open the playoffs. Texas City (73, 6-1) will face Angleton.
In Division I, Bush will face 24-6A champion George Ranch, which rallied to beat Port Lavaca Calhoun 27-26 on Friday, and Elkins will face Foster.
Ridge Point led Texas City going into the second half, but the two went back and forth down the stretch.
But it didn’t last. A 26yard touchdown run from running back B.J. Rainford and a scoop-and-score fumble recovery from Omari Houston allowed Ridge Point to take the lead for good and seize the district crown.
Mavericks run to the playoffs
Morton Ranch is heading to the postseason after beating Seven Lakes 31-24 in a head-to-head contest for the fourth seed in District 19-6A.
Morton Ranch junior quarterback Nicolas Hernandez scored on a 42-yard run to start off the night before Seven Lakes answered with a matching 42-yard touchdown run by Bryan Moore.
From there, the teams went back and forth. The last push however, went to Morton Ranch.
With the Mavericks pinned at their 10-yard line, Dartavious Dixon broke free for a 90-yard touchdown with 1:37 remaining. The Mavericks’ defense sealed the deal with an interception in the closing seconds.
Morton Ranch, in the playoffs for the third time in five years, will open against Lamar in the 6A Division I bracket.
St. Thomas nabs 4th title in a row
St. Pius X led at the end of the first quarter, but once St. Thomas took control in the second, it was all Eagles the rest of the way.
As a result, St. Thomas claimed the TAPPS DI-3 championship — its fourth in a row — with a 49-19 victory on the road over rival St. Pius X. The Eagles are 19-1 in district play since 2012.
Both teams are heading to the playoffs, where the Houston area is waiting for a team to break through for a state title. The area hasn’t won a TAPPS championship — or let alone play for one — since St. Pius X won back-to-back titles in 2006-07.
St. Thomas (9-1, 4-0) reached the state semifinals last season. St. Pius X (8-2, 3-1) lost in the first round.
The Panthers had momentum early, leading 10-8 going into the second quarter and cutting a St. Thomas lead just before halftime 21-16.
But it was too much St. Thomas, which outscored St. Pius X 21-3 in the second half.
Quality schedule goes to the end
The Houston area saw numerous powerhouse matchups Friday night, as games decided district championships and final playoff spots.
But the high stakes weren’t just relegated to Friday as a number a meaningful games will go on throughout the city Saturday.
The biggest showdown is between a pair of 9-0 teams at 11 a.m. at Rhodes Stadium. Katy will try to win its 47th consecutive game in district play; Cinco Ranch — the last team to beat the seventime state champions — is trying to grab its first 10-0 season in program history.
Katy hasn’t lost a district game since 2008. That loss to Cinco Ranch ended another long winning streak in league play (24 games dating to 2005). It won’t be easy for Cinco Ranch — four of its last six losses to Katy have been by an average of 42 points.
At 6 p.m. at Butler Stadium, North Forest looks to capture its second undefeated district championship in four years. All that stands in the way is second-place Sharpstown. If the Apollos win, District 20-5A will have a three-team tie for the league title with North Forest (6-0), Sharpstown (5-1) and Madison, which beat Yates 33-0 on Friday to finish 6-1 in district.
Road to SPC final through Houston
For the seventh year in a row, the Southwest Preparatory Conference Large School Champion will come through Houston.
And for the seventh consecutive season, it will be Episcopal or Kinkaid.
The two meet at 4 p.m. Saturday at Round Rock’s Dragon Stadium.
Each has won three titles, with Episcopal looking for back-to-back titles.
Bulldogs win Magnolia Bowl
Magnolia held off Magnolia West 24-14 to win the game and bragging rights, giving the Bulldogs their first victory over the Mustangs since 2008.
The win also gives Magnolia (9-1, 6-1) sole possession of second place in District 19-5A. The Bulldogs will be the district’s top seed in the 4A Division II bracket and face North Forest or Sharpstown, who play Saturday to decide the 20-5A championship.