HS FOOTBALL
Area contingent well-positioned in bid to sweep 6A titles again
What to watch for in the regional final round.
Stacking the deck
Regional semifinal wins by The Woodlands, Klein Collins and Westfield increased the Houston area’s odds of sweeping the Class 6A championships for the second straight year — even without Katy or Cypress Ranch in the mix — though several notable roadblocks remain for that to happen, including Allen (13-0) and Lake Travis (12-1) in Division I and DeSoto (13-0) and Cedar Hill (11-2) in Division II. But with seven of the eight 6A regional finalists from Regions II and III, H-Town is in good shape for both final fours, and two all-Houston state finals are a real possibility if Collins or Westfield beats the Region I champ in Division II. Interestingly, the last time The Woodlands made a state final, in 2003, it took on Region III champion North Shore and lost 23-7, giving the Mustangs their first state championship.
Play it one more time
The regional finals include eight rematches between teams that met in district this season. The biggest one here is North Shore-Atascocita, round 2. The Mustangs took the first game 31-21 on Oct. 7 at Turner Stadium. The Eagles trailed 17-14 late in the third before the Mustangs pulled away. Lake Travis and Austin Westlake tangle again in 6A Division I, Region IV; DeSoto and Cedar Hill reunite in Region 1-6A, Div. I; Aledo and Fort Worth Boswell in Region I-5A, Div. II; La Vega and China Spring in Region IV-4A, Div. I; Sweetwater and Seminole in Region I-4A, Div. II; Hallettsville and Yoakum in Region IV-3A, Div. I; and Crawford and DeLeon in Region II-2A, Div. I. Lake Travis (49-7), DeSoto (3318), Aledo (49-24), La Vega (17-10), Sweetwater (39-22), Hallettsville (35-28) and Crawford (45-7) won the district meetings.
Usual suspects in 6A Division I lineup
The 6A Division I field includes five teams that have played in state championship games since 2000. Lake Travis leads the way with six appearances in the span, winning five straight titles in the UIL’s second-largest classification before falling 34-7 to Katy in last year’s 6A Division II final. Westlake is second with five appearances, but it went 0-for5 in those games, including last year’s 21-14 overtime loss to North Shore. In fact, Westlake is 1-7 in state finals, with its only win in 1996 courtesy of future Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees. Conversely, Allen is 4-0 in state finals this century (2008, 2012-14). North Shore is 2-0, finishing on top in
2003 and 2015, and The Woodlands lost to North Shore in its only final.
Guess who’s back, back again
Highly regarded QB Sam Ehlinger, who is verbally committed to Texas, injured both knees Aug. 26 in Westlake’s season-opening 32-29 win over Katy. He underwent surgery on his left knee three days later and miraculously returned to the field Sept. 30 against Buda Hays — only to injure his thumb the next week against Lake Travis and miss the rest of the regular season. Well, he’s back again, making his second return in the second round of the playoffs by helping the Chaparrals clip Converse Judson 24-21 in OT. The senior threw for 208 yards and two TDs and ran for 56 yards in last week’s 55-15 win over Laredo United.
Haven’t we seen this?
The Westfield Mustangs started 0-3, stumbling against Lamar (38-28), Euless Trinity (28-27) and North Shore (36-16), but they haven’t lost since, reeling off 10 straight wins to pull within two wins of their first state championship appearance since 2004. Sound familiar? It should. Last year, North Shore’s Mustangs started 0-3, losing to Clear Springs, Manvel and Westfield, then won 10 straight to close in on their first final since 2003. Of course, North Shore went on to win it all, and Westfield has a long way to go to complete our déjà vu, but Lamar and Trinity are out of the playoffs, and North Shore is in Division I.
Ryan, Manvel, Foster still perfect
The 5A Division I field boasts three undefeated teams in Denton Ryan — which has five state finals and two titles since 2000 — Manvel and Foster, all 13-0 after last week’s regional semifinals. Ryan faces Colleyville Heritage (103), with the winner taking on Dallas Highland Park (11-2) or Mansfield Legacy (11-2) in the state semis. If Manvel beats Temple (10-3) and Foster ousts Dripping Springs (121), they’ll collide in the semis with perfect 14-0 records.
All eyes on Aledo
Six-time state champ Aledo is the team to beat in 5A Division II. They’ve won five championships since 2009 and they’re 13-0 after falling to Mansfield Lake Ridge in last year’s state semis. College Station also is 13-0, Lancaster made the state finals in 2012, falling to Cedar Park in 4A Division II, and Corpus Christi Calallen lost 28-0 to Carrollton Hebron in the 2005 4A Division II final.
Klein Collins vs. Westfield, 7 p.m. today, Woodforest Stadium
The Tigers (12-1) and Mustangs (10-3) met in district every year from 2006 to 2015, with Westfield going 6-4. Collins won 24-19 last year to snap Westfield’s three-game winning streak in the series.
North Shore vs. Atascocita, 7:30 p.m. today, NRG Stadium
The Mustangs (12-1) and Eagles (11-1) reunite after meeting in district. Both made regional finals last year, with the Eagles falling 49-28 to Westlake and North Shore winning 45-14 over Dickinson.
Cypress Ridge vs. Cinco Ranch, 1 p.m. Saturday, TDECU Stadium
Cy Ridge (11-2) and Cinco Ranch (10-3) met nine times between 2004 and 2013, with the Cougars going 7-2 in those non-district contests. They’ve won five straight, including 49-26 in 2013.