Tim Polzer: 8-5A Is Toughest District In Texas

By Tim Polzer I can already see the headlines in the upcoming 2009 Texas high school football previews - which will probably hit bookstore and convenience store shelves just after the stroke of midnight January 1: What's the toughest district in Texas? Two VYPE-area districts have already staked their claims thanks to four teams still playing for glory in the state playoffs. Allen and Wylie are representing District 8-5A, while Prosper and Celina are still flying District 9-3A colors. While giving props to Prosper's breakout season, and having long noted Celina's historic eight state titles, district 8-5A is on the brink of an historic postseason. Allen and Wylie have exposed the pretenders on their way to Saturday's respective Class 5A state semifinal games. Word of Allen's upset (or was it?) of VYPE's nationally No. 1-ranked Trinity has spread across the nation. The Eagles preceded that conquest by knocking out District 2-5A Odessa Permian without their starting quarterback. Wylie, which lost to Allen by seven points and previously state-ranked Plano by three points, has gone on to dispatch the champions of Districts 4-5A (Arlington Bowie), 6-5A (Hebron, twice in '08) and 7-5A (Cedar Hill). If Allen and Wylie manage to win their next two playoff games, they will be the first 5A state champions hailing from the same district since 1995, when Converse Judson and San Antonio Roosevelt achieved the feat. As a third-place team, Wylie can give 8-5A a bit of a historical edge, considering that Roosevelt won District 26-5A and Judson finished second that season. Wylie's third-place finish in District 8-5A can be deceiving considering the Pirates lost to district champion Allen and second-place Plano by a combined 10 points. Class 5A Division I State Semifinal Allen vs. Round Rock Stony Point 2 p.m., Saturday, Floyd Casey Stadium, Waco Allen (13-1) The Eagles flew under the radar of heavily hyped Trinity and Plano for much of the season, letting an explosive offense led by quarterback Matt Brown and an underrated defense win 8-5A. Allen has also proven playoff tested after losing Brown - its leading passer and rusher - to a collarbone injury prior to playing Permian. The Eagles' confidence and execution helped new starter Tucker Crawford neutralize Permian's Mojo and get folks talking about a state title. Carter proved efficient again against Trinity, but the Eagles also turned running back Jeremiah Williams loose for 180 yards on the ground. So will Allen be booking buses for a trip down Interstate 45 and the state final game in Houston's Reliant Stadium come Sunday? As you'll read shortly, Carter and Company will encounter the toughest defense they've faced all season. Stony Point Tigers (13-1) Unlike Allen, Stony Point is not used to deep playoff runs. Coach Craig Chessher, who was the defensive coordinator for Galena Park North Shore's 2003 5A Division I state title, survived a 6-24 record in his first three seasons to take the Tigers farther into the playoffs than any previous Round Rock ISD team. Chessher has brought a defensive philosophy to a nine-year-old school that had not made the playoffs until last season. Stony Point wins with a reliable offense backed by a good old fashioned defense. The Tigers have allowed just 8.5 points in four playoff games and just 12 ppg for the season. Stony Point held better-than-average Garland and Skyline offenses to a little more than 200 offensive yards in their last two playoff games. If you want proof that the Tigers aren't slouches offensively, take note of last week's game against Skyline. Stony Point scored on three long drives - 70, 80 & 73 yards - in their first four possessions against the area's top-ranked defense. Quarterback Nykolas McKissic, running back Glasco Martin and receiver Gerard Shillow are the key contributors to an offense that is capable of grinding out the clock or striking with a big play. Prediction: Stony Point's defense is impressive, but the Tigers' bracket has not been early as challenging as Allen's. I can't pick against a team coming off convincing wins over storied programs like Permian and Trinity. Allen 20, Stony Point 14 Class 5A Division II State Semifinal Wylie vs. Copperas Cove 6 p.m., Saturday, Waco ISD Stadium Wylie (12-2) Wylie's third season in Class 5A has been one of the area's best stories of 2008. The Pirates, playing in the shadow of powerhouse programs Allen and Plano, have established themselves as one of the area's top teams. The Pirates are known for playing physical defense, anchored by nose guard Nikita Whitlock, but haven't been impenetrable, allowing an average of 23 points in their last three playoff games. Yet, in today's age of the spread offense, Wylie' defense ranks just behind Stony Point's when it comes to playoff points allowed. Wylie's offense is just as tested and true with quarterback Jerod Monk, running back Nick Knott contributing to the Pirates averaging 37 points per playoff game. Wylie knows how to come from behind, just ask playoff victims Hebron and Cedar Hill. The Pirates have made themselves at home in winning four games at Texas Stadium, so a trip to Waco will be their longest playoff trek this year. Copperas Cove (13-1) Copperas Cove quarterback Nic Greene was forced into action when starting quarterback Cody Vaughn injured a shoulder in the Bulldogs' final regular-season game. On defense, Copperas Cove is led by linebacker Tanner Brock, a TCU commitment and one of the state's top 60 recruits. There's a reason why Copperas wanted this game at Waco ISD Stadium: the Bulldogs are 3-0 in the year's playoffs. Were the Bulldogs just getting used to playing with Greene at quarterback when they scored just 21 points against Mesquite Horn in the bi-district round followed by 16 points against Naaman? If so, Greene must have found his game legs in the Bulldogs' next two games, a 55-48 shootout with Houston Cypress Ridge and a 45-7 domination of a highly thought of Klein Oak team. Prediction: Perhaps the game to review is a 16-9 second-round win over Garland Naaman Forest. Wylie was a notch above Naaman's district championship team. Wylie 31, Copperas Cove 21 Class 3A Division I State Final Prosper vs. Waco La Vega 4 p.m., Saturday, Texas Stadium Prosper (13-1) Prosper's offense is centered around quarterback Hunter Nix who has rushed for 1,106 yards and 20 touchdowns, while also passing for 1,839 yards and 22 TDs. When Nix isn't keeping the ball, he's handing off to Bryan Monroe and DaJuan Williams who have combined for more than 1,800 rushing yards. Waco LaVega (12-2) LaVega's entrance into the playoffs created some controversy among skeptics. The Pirates lost their final regular-season game against Lorena with many of their best players sitting out. Conspiracy theorists are convinced Pirates coach Willie Williams wanted his team in what he perceived to be an easier Division I bracket. More important to Prosper's chances is the Pirates' flair for the dramatic. In its last two games, La Vega has built big leads, only to see their advantage disappear before winning in the fourth quarter. Prediction: Coming out of tough District 9-3A, Prosper knows a thing or two about late-game dramatics, too. Their OT win over Abilene Wylie has them prepared for what could be a thrilling ride to their first state football title. Prosper 31, LaVega 28 Class 3A Division II State Semifinal Celina vs. Liberty Hill 5 p.m., Saturday, Midlothian High School Celina (11-3) Has Celina's mantra changed from "Finish It" to "Forget It" - as in forget that the Bobcats lost three regular-season games for the first time anyone can remember, lost start rusher Charley Waldrep? Whatever the Bobcats are chanting, it's working. Celina, which finished second in 9-3A to Prosper, has rebounded and put fear in the hearts of 3A powers who thought they could avoid the Bobcats in a rebuilding year. And Celina isn't just getting by, scoring 50-plus points in each playoff game. Liberty Hill (14-0) If Celina's dreams of a ninth state title are to be realized, the Bobcats will have to get by an old nemesis in Liberty Hill. The two-time defending 3A state champs were ranked No. 1 in most polls thanks to quarterback Braden Fickel and more running backs than you can count. Prediction: Records point to a Liberty Hill win, but the Panthers trailed Bridgeport by 13 points last week before rallying to win. And Celina's just having one of those years. Celina 35, Liberty Hill 31