Playoffs start early for some teams
The Class 6A and 5A Texas high school football playoffs start in 20 days but ask many Houstonarea teams and postseason intensity couldn’t feel any closer.
The schedule is full of games carrying playoff implications such as Magnolia West and Porter’s clash at Randall Reed Stadium on Friday. Porter won 44-35 and stands alone in fourth place in the district standings.
It was plain and simple between Langham Creek and Cypress Park on Friday at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium — winner clinches the playoff spot in District 16-6A. Cypress Park won, 42-29.
Ridge Point wins 20-6A crown
Ridge Point defeated Travis, 27-21 on Friday to win the District 20-6A championship.
Keith Jackson’s touchdown run tied the game at 21 in the third quarter. Ezell Jolly’s 26-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter was the eventual winning score.
Ridge Point won the district title in 2018 and the crown went to Travis in 2019 before the Panthers bounced back to the top of the league this season.
Wildcats could be dark horse
Tomball Memorial muscled past Klein Collins in a 49-48 overtime win on Thursday. A late goal line stand helped the 8-0 Wildcats to the win. Klein Collins led 35-27 heading into the fourth quarter.
Tomball Memorial is again one of Houston’s best teams after winning 10 games a year ago.
Making this season especially impressive is the Wildcats overcoming quarterback Colton Marwill’s midseason injury, Marwill has since returned to lead what could be a Class 6A Region II dark horse.
Baytown Lee clinches berth
In another nugget from Thursday’s action, Baytown Lee defeated Beaumont United, 28-21 to clinch its first playoff berth since 2009.
The Ganders were close last year at 5-5, which was their first .500 campaign since 2012.
This year? Lee is 6-2 with Baytown Sterling on deck.
Lee hasn’t had seven wins nor finished over .500 since 2006.
TAPPS playoffs off and running
The Southwest Preparatory Conference did not conduct official football championships this year, but the state is not without playoffs in the private school division.
The TAPPS postseason started Friday.
A few area teams were ousted in the opening round. Plano John Paul defeated Concordia Lutheran, 51-17. Brownsville St. Joseph took down Lutheran South, 56-48.
St. Pius X hosts Midland Christian at 3 p.m. Saturday with the winner moving on to face St. Thomas.
St. Thomas is 7-2, winners of seven straight and is on a bye this week awaiting the St. Pius X-Midland Christian winner.
Small school playoffs roll on
Huffman Hargrave, in the Class 4A Division I Region III bracket, is into regional semifinals for the first time in school history after a 42-12 win over Brazosport.
El Campo fell to Kilgore in 27-14 in 4A-DI Region III’s area round.
Sealy defeated Center in a 38-7 to advance to the semifinals in 4A-DII Region III.
In a shocker, China Spring defeated the second-ranked Class 4A Division II team in the state in West Orange Stark, 35-22. China Spring meets Sealy in the next round
Tyler Chapel Hill, led by former Crosby coach Jeff Riordan, meets Stafford at 6 p.m. Saturday at Randall Reed Stadium in the 4A-DI Region III area round.
Willis secures first victory
Willis nabbed its first win of the year with a 44-28 win over Grand Oaks.
Willis was 3-7 in 2019 in Class 5A and dealt one of the tougher hands during last spring’s realignment with a move up to Class 6A.
It hadn’t worked in the team’s favor for most of the year but there is a chance for a strong finish with a win this week.