The Manvel Mavericks have done it again. They beat the Barbers Hill Eagles 55-35 to punch their ticket to the UIL 5A Division II Region III Final. The Mavs pulled it out on Friday afternoon with a great show on both sides of the ball.

The Mavericks started the game on defense, but that unit was in and out with a quick three and out. The offense took advantage with a touchdown from senior QB Tucker Yarbrough to junior receiver Jalen Walthall on a quick slant to bring the score to 7-0. Barbers Hill quickly responded with a QB run, which brought the Eagles to first and goal and allowed them to set up a tying 7-7 score.

On the Mavs' second drive, it only took two plays before Tucker Yarbrough connected with Jalen Walthall again for another touchdown and a new 14-7 lead. With three minutes left in the first quarter, Barbers Hill muffed a punt return and the Mavs recovered on the Eagles' 24-yard line. Senior running back Donovan Eaglin found the end zone to bring the score to 21-7.

It was a high scoring first quarter for both teams. The Eagles would add a score on a short run, but the Mavs returned with another touchdown by Donovan Eaglin to enter the second quarter with a 27-14 lead.

The Manvel defense would hold the Eagles to one touchdown in the second period, while Jalen Paxton and Donovan Eaglin added scores to advance the Mavs' lead to 41-21 before halftime.

The Eagles were down, but not out. They would score two more touchdowns in the second half, but it just wasn't enough. The Mavs' offense wasn't letting up, and Donovan Eaglin scored two more touchdowns to finalize the score at 55-35.

Senior running back Donovan Eaglin was a name you heard a lot from in Friday's game. He finished with five touchdowns and over 280 rushing yards. Throughout the playoffs, he has run for 723 yards and 12 touchdowns in just three rounds. This young man is a force to be reckoned with. Since the playoffs started, he has earned three college offers and, if he keeps up the pace, many more should arrive.

Manvel said earlier in the year that we would see it in December, and defended that prediction. The Mavericks are continuing to take each game one at a time and have earned their Monday each week. Their goal is to play for a state title in AT&T Stadium before the end of the month. The Mavs' next test is Fort Bend Marshall in this week's fourth round of the playoffs.