Texas High School Football Roundup for the Houston Area

Regional Playoffs

Manvel, Katy Set for Showdown in Regional Final: Right now, D’Eriq King is playing like the best player in the conference. He has a chance to solidify that claim in the Regional final against Katy, the conference’s best team. King was brilliant again for Manvel, throwing for 141 yards and two touchdowns in a 49-21 rout of Houston Memorial. In typical fashion, he also added 72 yards and four touchdowns with his legs. Next up for his Mavericks will be the seven-time champion Katy Tigers, who just creamed Elkins 56-26. Rodney Anderson led the way for Tigers, scoring five touchdowns and rushing for 161 yards. Katy has now won 29-straight, and are as balanced a team as any in the state. But any team with King at the helm has a chance, so this one figures to be an absolute thriller.

Westfield Advances With 2OT Win Over Skyline: Up 14 at the half, Westfield seemed like it would easily avenge last season’s playoff loss to Dallas Skyline. But the Raiders refused to quit, storming back and outscoring the Mustangs 21-7 in the second half to send it to overtime. Senior quarterback Courtland Greenwood ran the game-winning touchdown in from five yards out, ultimately preserving the Mustangs’ undefeated season. He finished with 230 yards of offense and accounted for five touchdowns in the win. Skyline quarterback Sederian Copeland was every bit as impressive, throwing for six touchdowns in the furious comeback. In the end it would not prove enough as the Mustangs pulled away 55-48, and will put their season on the line against powerhouse Allen.

Cy-Fair Toughs Out Defensive Battle Versus North Shore: This was all 1960s, slug-it-out football. Cypress Fairbanks and Galena Park North Shore both do two things very well – pound the ball on the ground, and smother you on defense. The result was like two wrecking balls colliding in Cy-Fair’s 9-6 win. Bobcat tailback Dillon Birden scored one of the game’s two touchdowns late in the first to give his team the lead for much of the game. The Mustangs would not answer until their opening drive of the second half, when Kevian DeLeon took a screen 15 yards for the score. But Birden, who finished with 219 rushing yards, broke free again in the fourth to see up Braden Mann’s 18-yard field goal that would prove to be the difference. The Bobcats will face Pearland on Saturday.

George Ranch, Brenham Will Meet After Scoring Major Upsets: It’s time we all start believing in George Ranch. The Longhorns ran all over undefeated Elgin in a 37-28 win, racking up 420 rushing yards on the day behind three 100-yard rushers. This was an under-the-radar team that played an underwhelming schedule, but has been winning in convincing fashion throughout the 4A playoffs. Now they are a win over Brenham away from playing in the Division II Final Four. That will be easier said than done after the Cubs proved their mettle in a 37-34 win over undefeated Texas City behind junior quarterback Caleb Hill. Brenham will be considered the favorite, but all bets are off for this George Ranch squad.

Lamar Botches Shot at Regional Final, Pearland Advances: Three turnovers and two missed field goals later, Houston Lamar is left wondering what could have been this season. Pearland was able to convert just nine first downs against the stout Redskin defense, but found a major edge in the turnover battle. The Oilers played turnover-free ball, and converted three picks of Darrell Colbert into 14 points in the 21-13 victory. Lamar did have one last shot at the victory, with Butler heaving a Hail Mary from around midfield that fell incomplete. The Oilers face Cy-Fair for right to go to the 5A Division I Final Four.