Each year, Lone Star Gridiron reviews thousands of great games and picks out the best of the best from the previous season. This year, we had over 200 games in the running for those top 25 spots so narrowing it down was tougher than ever. It will long be debated which ones were better than others and which games should have made the list that didn’t. What is certain, however, is that this IS Texas high school football, and it doesn’t get any better than this!

This is the third installment, counting down the top 25 games of 2010 with #’s 15 through 11.

# 15 Carthage 35, Brownwood 28

Nearly 12,000 fans watched this 3A Semifinal game.   With 3:41 remaining in the game and the score tied at 28, Carthage scored to take a 35-28 lead – their 5^th lead on the night.   Brownwood then took over at their own 20 and drove it seventy-six yards to the Carthage 4 yard line.   With 28 seconds remaining, Brownwood’s two incomplete passes to Jaxson Shipley, followed by a quarterback scramble saw the Lions facing a fourth down play from the 5 yard line with only 2 seconds to go in the game.   The final play was yet another incomplete pass to Shipley, who was covered by four Carthage players.  Carthage running back, Hunter Holland finished with 306 yards and 2 TDs on 37 carries.   Brownwood star wide receiver Jaxon Shipley caught 12 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown but came up a tad short on that all-important final drive.

#14 Kerrville Tivy 39, San Antonio Madison 34

The previous time San Antonio Madison’s Aaron Green faced Kerrville Tivy, he rushed for 428 yards and a city-record nine rushing TDs in a 69-56 victory.  The two teams once again put together an amazing football game.  Kerrville Tivy needed a defensive stand in a game where the two teams combined for 1,133 total yards of offense.   Madison drove down to the Tivy 4 yard line in the final minute with a chance to win the game, but missed on two incomplete passes in the end zone.   Tivy defeated San Antonio Madison 39-34.  Tivy QB Johnny Manziel broke an all-time state record with 75 passing attempts in the game.  He finished the night 41 of 75 passing for 503 yards and four TDs, and also rushed for 78 yards and a score. Madisons superstar running back Aaron Green rushed for 217 yards and two TDs even on an injured ankle.

#13 Canadian 34, Albany 27

This Quarterfinals game featured a battle of unbeaten teams who had been ranked #1 and #2 all season long.   Albany had led 20-13 at halftime as the teams settled in for what would be a hard-fought contest.  Canadian began their final drive with under 2 minutes to go in the game.  In what was the ninth tie or lead change of the game,  Canadian scored a touchdown with only 7 seconds left to defeat Albany 34-27.

#12 Aledo 14, Austin Lake Travis 10

Lake Travis had won 48 games in a row going into the game against Aledo.    Both teams won state championships in 2010.   In the end, Aledo was able to pull off a 14-10 victory in front of a packed house.  Aledo’s star running back Jonathan Gray, scored the game winner on a fourth down with six minutes left in the game.  He finished with 145 yards on 31 carries and the touchdown.  It was the Cavaliers first loss since they were defeated 28-21 by Austin Westlake in week 2 of the 2007 season.  Lake Travis star quarterback Michael Brewer did not play because of a shoulder injury.

#11    Cedar Hill 42, Denton Guyer 41 (OT)

Cedar Hill and Denton Guyer put on a great show in the 3rd game of the Kirk Herbstreit National Kickoff Classic.  They traded scores throughout the game and Cedar Hill finally won in OT 42-41.  Guyer scored first in the overtime period but they missed the extra point.  Cedar Hill responded with a touchdown of their own and the kick to give Cedar Hill the 1 point victory.  Cedar Hill’s quarterback Driphus Jackson had 62 yards rushing and 270 yards passing with four touchdowns.  Guyers quarterback J.W. Walsh had all of their touchdowns with five rushing and one passing.  He finished with 184 yards rushing and 135 yards passing yards.

by Michael Wright & Chris Doelle
Lone Star Gridiron

Top 25 Games of 2010 – Games 1-5 (coming soon)
Top 25 Games of 2010 – Games 6-10
Top 25 Games of 2010 – Games 11-15
Top 25 Games of 2010 – Games 16-20
Top 25 Games of 2010 – Games 21-25