5A/4A Recap

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By Greg Tepper // TexasFootball.com It's funny, but if you think about it, my job as a high school football scribe fluctuates greatly the next two weeks. For one, this is the final full wrap-up of the 5A and 4A ranks for the regular season, meaning that we're eliminating more than half of the teams of the state by virtue of them missing the playoffs. But we're also now past the time of "unimportant games," games that ultimately don't shape the playoff picture. Now, every game is big. And yet, from here on out, we reduce the number of teams playing by exactly half every week. My job's weird. Here is your 5A and 4A recap for Week 10 of the 2011 Texas high school football season, starting with, as always, the Five Most Significant Results Longview 23, DeSoto 21 It's so, so, so refreshing to see a game live up to the hype. Such was the case between Longview and DeSoto. This is a game that we had circled on our calendars all year, not only for the outright District 11-5A championship but also as a clash of two teams with legitimate shots at a state title. We had a little bit of everything in this one: spectacular plays (the touchdown run that DeSoto backup QB Desmon White made was highlight reel-worthy), big hits (the pads were popping at Lobos Stadium) and even some trash-talking. But in the end, Longview got DeSoto to play its game: low-scoring, and decided on a late defensive play when Longview DE Jalen Porter got around the end, hit White in the end zone, forced a fumble and got the eventual game-winning safety. You could technically call it an upset -- DeSoto was ranked higher than Longview -- but this was a matchup of two elite teams on a big stage. They'd both better get used to it, too; the stage only gets bigger from here. Lake Travis 24, Cedar Park 21 I'd suggest that these two teams play every week, but I'm not sure the coaches' hearts can take it. The Cavaliers and the Timberwolves gave us another classic, much in the same vein of their two games last year. And really, early in the third quarter, this one looked like church for Cedar Park. Lake Travis' do-it-all running back/receiver Collin Lagasse was unstoppable, scoring three times in the first 26 minutes of the game to help push the four-time defending 4A state champions out to a 24-0 lead. But back came Cedar Park, riding a sturdy running game of Thomas Middleton and Nathan Harwell, and a number of outstanding decisions by QB Brian Hogan, to claw back within 24-21 with 12 seconds remaining. But the onside kick went Lake Travis' way, and the Cavs finished their 10-0 season. What's there to be said that hasn't already been said about Lake Travis? They're undoubtedly the team to beat in 4A Division I. But do not sleep on Cedar Park; this is a talented Timberwolves team that proved not only that it can hang with the state's best, but that it can take a punch. That's important. Friendswood 35, Texas City 34 You want drama in Week 10? Look no further than Texas City on Friday night. Friendswood, fighting for their playoff lives in a de facto playoff game with Texas City, falls behind 28-13 with 4:31 left in the third quarter after Texas City RB D'Onta Foreman runs in from a yard out (he also had an interception return for a touchdown in this one). But Friendswood says "no problem", rattling off 16 straight points, including a safety and a go-ahead touchdown run by QB Jordan Wood with 7:20 left in the game. Back comes Texas City, as QB Andrew Allen connects with Armanti Foreman for a 44-yard TD pass to put the Stingarees back up 34-29 with 6:52 to go. Back comes Friendswood, capping off a drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass from QB Matt Morris to WR T.J. Scott to take a 35-34 lead with 2:28 left! Now, catch your breath. Ready? Texas City gets the ball at its own 23 and, thanks to a long scramble from Allen on 4th-and-11, the Stingarees have a chance for a 32-yard game-winning field goal with 15 seconds left...and the Mustangs block it. Friendswood advances to the playoffs, nabbing the fourth playoff spot out of District 24-4A. That, friends, is exactly why we love Texas high school football. Buda Hays 34, Smithson Valley 28 (OT) Smithson Valley has, for the most part, looked like the complete package all year long. The Rangers are a dangerous passing team with Parker McKenzie hooking up with Easton McIntosh and Baron Hill, and a dangerous running team with RB Lawrence Mattison leading the way, and a dangerous defensive team with playmakers like Aaron Porter and Ryan Griffith. But for one night, Buda Hays pressed all the right buttons and toppled the previously undefeated Rangers in overtime. Bouyed by a big night from QB Caleb Kimbro, Hays was able to rack up 352 yards on the usually stout Rangers defense, and it was only Parker McKenzie's 20-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that forced overtime between the two district foes. In the extra frame, the Hays defense stood tall, forcing Smithson Valley to turn the ball over on downs. From there, it was a methodical movement for Hays before RB Michael Romero punched in the game-winning touchdown from three yards out. It's a surprising upset considering how strong Smithson Valley looked, but it's an important reminder as we approach playoff season: in any one game, there are no favorites. Keller Central 28, Coppell 7 With Keller Fossil Ridge's win over Keller the night before, the stage was set for a District 7-5A showdown to determine the final playoff spot. This was, in the truest sense of the term, a playoff game. Coppell had to be encouraged when it took an early 7-0 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by QB Connor Wilson...but it would never get close again. Keller Central methodically controlled the clock with the running game, racking up 219 rushing yards between Martin Alvarez (three touchdowns) and Jimmari Morris (a touchdown) as the Chargers clinched their first playoff berth in school history with the win over Coppell. What a terrific story for Keller Central, a team with an oustanding QB in Tanner Tausch, an elite WR in Zack Sanchez and a defense that's capable of shutting down anyone. Running into Allen in the first round isn't ideal, but the Chargers will meet the challenge head-on. Meanwhile, it ends perhaps the season for perhaps the most disappointing team in the state in Coppell. I know injuries hurt them -- QB Jake Larson's injury was brutal -- but the bottom line was the Cowboys' defense, usually a mainstay, just wasn't good enough this year. Fun fact: two of the state quarterfinalists from 5A Division I last year -- Coppell and Round Rock Stony Point -- failed to make the playoffs this year.