Previews and predictions for the best Texas high school football regional final playoff games of 2024
Alvarado (13-0) vs Celina (13-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Grapevine’s Mustang-Panther Stadium: It’s a battle of unbeaten teams in Grapevine as the state’s No. 1 team, Celina, tangles with Alvarado, who ended the season No. 3 in the state. Alvarado has lived on the edge the last two weeks, but the Indians have escaped with back-to-back three point wins over Celina’s district rivals. Last week, Alvarado ran out to a big lead and held on late for a 42-39 win over Sulphur Springs. QB Cardea Collier again had a monster night with two touchdown passes and two touchdown runs to pace the explosive AHS attack. Celina’s plenty explosive too as the Bobcats did get pushed, but held off an Aubrey rally for a 63-49 win a week ago. Celina’s offensive line paved the way for RB’s Logan Gutierrez (238 yards 3 TDs rushing) and Harrison Williams (173 yards 1 TD rushing), while junior QB Bowe Bentley had another big game with 133 yards and two touchdowns passing and another three touchdowns on the ground. Celina’s defense did get touched up for 577 yards a week ago and that’s a concern as Alvarado features one of the state’s top offensive units. In the end this game will come to down to which defense can get a stop or two in key moments and Celina’s defense in 2024 has been more consistent. Stepp’s Pick: Celina by 11