5A Division I
SHADOW CREEK (15-0) VS. DENTON RYAN (15-0)
7 p.m. Friday, AT&T Stadium, Arlington
One game. That’s all Shadow Creek has lost in two varsity seasons that led to AT&T Stadium, compiling an incredible 30-1 record. Now the Sharks, 0-1 all-time in state finals, can remedy their only negative result by winning Friday and, in the process, add a state championship to their already impressive young résumé. They won’t, however, be able to exact revenge against Dallas Highland Park, the only team to have figured a way to beat them so far. The reigning back-to-back state champion Scots lost 33-27 in the regional semifinals to Frisco Lone Star, which fell to Ryan in the state semifinals. Ryan lost to Highland Park in the state semis the last three years, but with the Scots out of the way, Ryan rolled over Lone Star 35-7 en route to its first state-title game appearance since 2010. Ryan, now a six-time state finalist, won titles in 2001 and 2002. It lost to La Marque in the 2003 state final — 43-35 in three overtimes.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Emani Bailey, Denton Ryan: The 5-9, 200-pound running back signed with Louisiana-Lafayette on Wednesday. Bailey has 1,644 yards and 24 TDs on 153 carries.
Kyron Drones, Shadow Creek: The 6-3, 200-pound junior quarterback stepped up big this season, ensuring the Sharks suffered no setbacks after QB Jamarian George graduated. Drones has completed 189 of 327 passes for 3,217 yards and 46 TDs with eight INTs. He also has 690 yards rushing and 16 TDs on 110 carries.
Seth Jones, Shadow Creek: The 6-0, 180-pound senior receiver signed with Baylor on Wednesday. Jones has 688 yards and nine TDs on 41 receptions.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Denton Ryan:
The 6-3, 220-pound four-star recruit is listed on Ryan’s roster as a wide receiver/defensive end. The elite twoway star verbally committed to Texas in September. Sanders has 683 yards and five TDs on 41 receptions as a receiver and four sacks as a defensive end.