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 fifth and final installment, counting down the top 25 games of 2010 with #’s 5 through 1.

#5 Pearland 28, Euless Trinity 24

Pearland defeated Euless Trinity in the 5A Division I State Championship game in front of 43,321 fans at Cowboy Stadium.   As they did in the 2009 Championship game vs. Austin Westlake, Trinity had a chance to come from behind with 2 minutes left in the game.  Euless Trinity took over after Pearland missed a field goal trying to extend the lead. On the final play of the game, they ran the same pass play to Brandon Carter that won the championship the year before, but Pearland had done their homework scouting the Trojans.  Pearland’s star running back, Dustin Garrison was back playing defensive back on that last play and was just able to get a finger on the ball to knock it away from Carter.  The play of the game for Pearland happened in the 3rd quarter when they were up 14-10 and Coach Tony Heath called the “dead man” play. While the Pearland players were looking around, the ball was snapped and the players acted like it was a dead ball. With Trinity thinking the ball was not live, WR Samuel Ukwuacha caught the long pass down the sideline for the score.

#4 Wimberley 31, Sealy 30

Wimberley had built a 31-17 lead with just over one minute left and nearly everyone was convinced the game was over – everyone except Sealy.  The Wimberley offense fumbled in their own end zone and it was recovered by Sealy for a touchdown.  The Tigers then recovered the ensuing onside kick and drove down to score again with only 7 seconds remaining.  Trailing now by only one point, Sealy decided to go for two and the win. After a run up the middle, the officials took a few minutes to determine the call. It was decided that the runner did not cross the goal and Wimberley held on to the 31-30 lead with those 7 seconds remaining. The Sealy sideline was penalized for coming on to the field to argue the call. After things settled down, the Tigers lined up for another onside kick and got it. They had time enough for one more play and after a bit of trickery that turned into a long run, the Sealy quarterback was stopped inside the Wimberley 15 yard line to end the game (remember that unsportsmanlike penalty).

#3 Denton Guyer 28, Longview 27

Denton Guyer and Longview were meeting up in their 3rd consecutive semifinal game. Longview had won the past two seasons when they were both in Class 4A and it appeared they were going to win again after leading 17-0.   Guyer fought back to take the lead but things once again swung the Lobos way.  Up 27-21, Longview took over at their own 5 yard line with 5:51 left in the game. They went on an 11 play drive that took the ball to midfield before stalling with 25 seconds left in the game. Longview lined up to punt the ball away and salt away the time, but it was blocked and Guyer took over deep in Longview territory. Guyer’s Star quarterback J.W. Walsh was able to throw a touchdown pass with only ten seconds remaining for the win.

#2 Euless Trinity 41, Coppell 40

Euless Trinity and Coppell played in front of 13,000 fans during this 5A Division I Quarterfinals game.   With Coppell leading 37-35 in the fourth quarter, they had the ball, 1st and goal at the Trinity 7. They had to settle for a field goal and a 40-35 lead with 4:03 left in the game. Trinity took over and drove the length of the field to the Coppell 2 yard line with time enough for one more play.  Trinity running back Tevin Williams appeared stopped but was able to get into the end zone to give Trinity their first lead of the game and the victory.   Coppell scored every time they had the ball during this game and still got the loss (8 possessions…4 touchdowns…4 field goals…no punts…no turnovers).

#1 Jacksonville 84, Nacogdoches 81 (12 OT)

Despite another season of amazing finishes and shocking comebacks, it was clear which game would go down as the #1 game of 2010 – and that is probably because it is likely to go down as one of the greatest games of all time.

The Nacogdoches Dragons and Jacksonville Indians played an amazing 12 Overtime game!!  This was easily a national record for overtimes in a game. Jacksonville finally won it 84-81!!! The 165 points breaks the all-time record for Combined Points-Regular Season Game which was 143 – El Paso Burgess 87, El Paso Austin 56 (2004). The game lasted for 5 1/2 hours which was well past midnight. The game was tied at 28 at the end of regulation before the teams played for an additional 2 1/2 hours. Jacksonville recovered a fumble which set up a 19 yard FG to get the win. With the victory, Jacksonville made the playoffs and Nacogdoches was eliminated.

Top 25 Games of 2010 – Games 1-5
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

by Michael Wright & Chris Doelle
Lone Star Gridiron