STATE SEMIFINAL GAMES TOWATCH Class 6A Class 5A
DIVISION I
North Shore (14-0) vs. AustinWestlake (12-0) 2 p.m. Saturday at Legacy Stadium
No surprises here. Eight-time state champion Southlake Carroll takes on powerhouse Duncanville, a former state champion seeking its third straight state final, in the other semifinal; and four-time state champ North Shore collides with reigning 6A Division II champWestlake in this one. The Chaparrals, who are nine-time state finalists, secured their first title since 1996 in last year’s 24-0 win over Denton Guyer – which is back in the Division II semis. The Mustangs are back-to-back defending Division I champs thanks to consecutive wins over Duncanville in Arlington, and they beatWestlake 21-14 in overtime for their 2015 state championship, the first in the coach Jon Kay era. North Shore also dispatchedWestlake 49-7 in the 2003 semis – before beating TheWoodlands for the program’s first state title. Westlake won Region IV with a 34-0 shutout of Cibole Steele. North Shore knocked off Ridge Point 56-14.
DIVISION II
Katy (12-1) vs. Buda Hays Consolidated (10-3)
2 p.m. Saturday atMcLane Stadium
Katy is in the state semifinals for the 17th time since 1994, but this is only the Tigers’ second semi in the last five years while dealing with the deeper 6A Division I bracket. Back in Division II, they rolled through Region III. Elkins forfeited their bi-district game because of COVID-19, and the Tigers dispatched their next three foes 160-45. Hays is in the final four for the first time since 1996, when it ousted Texas City 21-17 before falling to Grapevine in the state finals. The Rebels are Region IV champs after a convincing 38-10 victory against Austin Vandegrift, but the biggest threat to the Tigers is looking past Hays to a potential reunion with Cedar Hill in the finals. Katy and Cedar Hill met three times from 2012 to 2014, with Cedar Hill taking the last two meetings. But the Tigers reiterated in last week’s 51-14 win over Clear Falls that they respect every team – but fear none.
DIVISION II
Crosby (11-3) vs. Liberty Hill (12-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday at Merrill Green Stadium
Crosby has been one the biggest Houston-area surprises in the playoffs. The Cougars are back in the state semifinals for the first time since 2014, and few outside the Crosby locker room likely saw this run coming. They oneupped their 32-29 overtime win over previously undefeated Huntsville by toppling two-time reigning state finalist Fort Bend Marshall 37-38 in a thriller for the Region III trophy. Reggie Branch continued to shine for the Cougars, logging 200 yards and three TDs on 25 rushes, with six receptions for 71 yards and a score. Liberty Hill snared the Region IV title with a 56-53 shootout win over Mission Pioneer.