State title recaps: A number of thrillers on hand from final week of season

ByTravis Stewart/Texas Football and Dennis Hall/Texas Football

5A DII Title Game: Euless Trinity 41, Austin Westlake 38 (OT)
Did he have possession? That is the question Westlake fans were asking after Euless Trinity’s Brandon Carter made the game-winning touchdown reception in overtime to lift the Trojans to victory against Westlake for Trinity’s third state title this decade. Trinity had the ball at the Westlake 18-yard line on its second play in overtime. Quarterback Willie Hubbard lofted a high pass toward the end zone, where Carter was locked up with a defender one-on-one. Carter leaped and grabbed the ball. As he fell on his back, the ball shifted in his hands, and his feet touched out of bounds. But the referee ruled that he had possession when he came down with the ball, giving Trinity its third state title in five years and leaving Westlake fans stunned as their team fell to 1-6 in title games. It was a miracle finish for Trinity, which trailed most of the game thanks to a tremendous performance by Westlake QB Tanner Price (237 passing yards, 92 rushing yards). Westlake had an early 10-0 lead and a third-quarter lead of 28-14. But the Trojans then scored three consecutive TDs to take the lead at 35-28 before Price led a game-tying TD drive at the end of regulation. Westlake kicked a field goal on its overtime possession to set the stage for Carter’s heroics. -- Dennis Hall