Decatur (11-3) vs. China Spring (13-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mansfield’s Newsom Stadium: First year head coach Steve Huff has Decatur back playing at an elite level and into the state semifinals after they took down district rival Wichita Falls for the second time this season with a 35-21 win. Oklahoma commit RB Nate Palmer ran for 161 yards and had an 82-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that broke a 21-21 tie and gave the Eagles the lead for good. QB Preston Escobar ran for a pair of scores and had 214 yards of total offense in the victory.China Spring ended Anna’s magical run with an impressive 31-14 win on Friday night, the Cougars who won the 4A-Division II state title a year ago look poised to win the Division I crown after another impressive performance. The Cougars running game was the key as Kyle Barton and QB Cash McCollum combined for 251 yards of offense and three touchdowns on the ground, while the China Spring defense led the way holding a dynamic Anna offense to just one single touchdown as Anna’s other score came off a blocked punt. China Spring isn’t the flashiest or most dynamic team in the state, but the Cougars are brutally efficient, they are going to make Decatur beat them throwing the football and if the Cougars can make Decatur one dimensional, that’s a formula for a win. Stepp’s Pick: China Spring by 10
Tyler Chapel Hill (12-2) vs. Boerne (14-0), 7 p.m. Friday at San Antonio’s Alamodome: Tyler Chapel Hill takes the long trip to San Antonio from East Texas to take on a Boerne squad about 30 minutes down the road from the Alamodome, but don’t expect the travel to faze the Bulldogs who in Region III have made multiple trips to the Houston area. Chapel Hill last week in front of a packed house at Rose Stadium knocked off district rival Kilgore for the second time this year in a thrilling 24-21 win. Sophomore QB Demetrius Brisbon ran for two touchdowns, passed for another and accounted for 315 yards of offense to lead the CHHS offense which was contained for the most part by a swarming and very fast Kilgore defense. Boerne in a showdown of unbeaten teams totally dominated Corpus Christi Calallen in a 49-19 win, BHS did most of their damage before halftime leading 42-12 at the break. QB Jaxon Baize led the Boerne offense with 233 yards passing and three touchdowns, while TJ Dement had 146 yards rushing and a touchdown and also chipped in 61 receiving yards as well. Boerne’s defense was the story in the game limiting an explosive Calallen attack to just 19 points. Chapel Hill’s team speed on an indoor track will be a tough matchup for Boerne and the Bulldogs have been in this spot before after falling in the state semifinals a year ago, Boerne gets an edge up front and they are close to home, but Chapel Hill’s big play ability is key as long as they don’t make unforced errors. Stepp’s Pick: Tyler Chapel Hill by 7