Everything has gone according to plan for North Crowley this Fall.
The Panthers are firing on all cylinders in every facet of the game, which has earned them the distinction of being ranked as the No. 2 team in Texas (No. 9 in the nation), according to MaxPreps.
Following yet another undefeated regular season -- and their third-consecutive district championship -- coach Ray Gates and co. have steam-rolled their way to the Regional Final, with wins against Byron Nelson (56-21), Permian (72-14), and Coppell (35-24) over the past three weeks.
Now, North Crowley (13-0) has the opportunity to make back-to-back appearances in the state final-four.
The connection between quarterback Chris Jimerson (North Texas-signee) and senior wideout Quentin Gibson (Colorado) has been virtually impossible for opposing secondaries to contain.
If the passing game isn't enough, Cornelius Warren III (UNLV) and Daniel Bray (Utah) are always a threat to score from out of the back-field, behind a formidable offensive line -- anchored by Henry Fenuku (Missouri) --that's allowed the unit to average a ridiculous 57 points per game.
Defensively, the Panthers have limited their opponents to just 17 points a contest, which is a testament to the equally capable athletes they have on that side of the ball -- Jonathan Cunningham (Texas), Ja'Brelle Asberry (Sr. MLB), Gaylon McNeal (Washington State), and sophomore Avery Dotson being chief among them.
NCHS was eliminated in the State Semis of last year's postseason, at the hands of eventual 6A-D1 champion Duncanville. Suffice it to say, they'd love to get the chance to return the favor a week from now.
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However, No. 7-ranked Allen won't just stand idly by and give up a spot in the final-four.
With coach Lee Wigington at the helm, the Eagles (13-0) haven't dropped a game this Fall, either -- most recently outlasting Trinity in a 22-21 nail-biter last Friday -- which advanced them to their first appearance in Round No. 4 since 2021.
The offense's aerial attack has been incredibly sufficient with 2023 Offensive Newcomer of the Year Brady Bricker behind-center, along with the various targets he has in the WR room -- Donnell Gee Jr. (Tulsa-signee), Carter Harris (Sr.), and freshman break-out player Josyah Johnson.
Furthermore, Allen possesses not one, not two, but three explosive running backs -- Jaden Hambric (Jr.), Micah Ellis (Sr.), and Lyndon Spriggs (So.) -- who can keep defenses honest.
But, it can be argued that the most valuable asset towards the Eagles' success in 2024 has been their lock-down defense, which is averaging a mere 11.3 points allowed per game.
Its leading figures include second-team, all-district selections Kai Wheaton (Sr. CB), Mitchell Neu (Sr. LB), and Camden Clark (Sr. S).
This is the best that Allen has looked in years. Can they punch their ticket to the State Final-Four, marking the first time since 2018 they've done so?
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The battle of the undefeated will take place this Saturday (2:00 PM) at Vernon Newsom Stadium in Mansfield, TX. The victor might just become a favorite to reach AT&T.
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College football celebrated its annual “Rivalry Week” last week – with an understandable special emphasis on a certain little shindig in College Station. To the folks from Westlake and Lake Travis High Schools, however, the revival of the “Lone Star Showdown” was likely little more than an appetizer for the game that really matters the most: the Chaparrals and the Cavaliers meeting for the second time this year in the 6A D1 Region IV Finals/State Quarterfinals.
When they meet at 7:00 Friday at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex, it will mark the second consecutive year these two District 26-6A rivals will clash in a sequel with a spot in the state semifinals on the line.
Both teams have turned away rising Austin area 6A powerhouses such as Vandegrift – also playing in a 6A D2 regional final on Friday – and Dripping Springs the past few seasons to remain the top programs in Central Texas.
Both cruised through their regular seasons relatively unscathed. Westlake (12-1) saw its 44-game regular season winning streak halted by a 39-21 loss to Humble Atascocita back on September 13. (Fear not, Chaps fans; the Eagles clash with North Shore on the other side of the 6A D1 bracket. A win Friday might set up a second sequel.)
Junior quarterback Rees Wise (148-219, 2,121 yds., 19 TD, 6 INT; 12 rushing TDs) guided 3rd-year Head Coach Tony Salazar’s club to an undefeated District 26-6A title and playoff wins so far over Vista Ridge (46-17), SA Brennan (24-7) and Buda Johnson (52-14) to reach the rematch.
Senior quarterback Chaston Ditta (194-331, 2,796 yds., 27 TDs, 4 INTs) and junior running back Vann Hopping (192-1,482, 7.7 YPC, 28 TDs) have guided veteran Head Coach Hank Carter’s Lake Travis squad to its own superb season. At 12-1 overall, the Cavs suffered their only loss of the season back on Oct. 25 to – you guessed it – the Chaparrals. That 28-16 Westlake win in 2024’s first “Battle of the Lakes” at Cavaliers Stadium marked their fifth straight victory over Lake Travis.
Lake Travis regrouped quickly with two district wins, followed by playoff victories over Round Rock (41-14), SA Johnson (55-27) and last week over SA East Central (52-7) to get another crack at the Chaps.
The Cavaliers dominated this series up until just under a decade ago, taking 12 straight games from 2008 to 2016 on their way to six state titles (and five straight from 2007-11). Since then, it’s been all Chaps, as Westlake has won the last five meetings on their way to four state titles of their own.
Battle of the Lakes II will showcase Texas High School football at its finest. And with a berth in the state semifinals on the line, there’s much more than bragging rights at stake this time around.
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