The state quarterfinals. Since I started following Texas High School Football in the 1970s, I've always been enamored with the term. It's one that rings with accomplishment. Make it to the quarterfinals, and you've done something. In today's game, it means you are halfway to the ultimate goal - the state championship. After three rounds of elimination, only 80 teams statewide (including 21 remaining unbeatens) are still playing 11-man football this week. That's 40 games with huge implications. Call them the quarterfinals or the regional finals. Either way, we should be in for another outstanding weekend. Here are the fourth-round matchups:
CLASS 6A
Division I
Region I
Southlake Carroll 49, Midland Lee 27
Duncanville 45, Arlington Martin 17
Regional Final
Southlake Carroll (13-0) vs Duncanville (13-0), 2:30 p.m. Saturday at McKinney’s McKinney ISD Stadium
SERIES TIED 1-1 SINCE 2004
LAST MEETING: Duncanville 51, Southlake Carroll 7 (12/8/18)
Carroll:
WON 13 STRAIGHT...Soph. QB Quinn Ewers was 25 of 30 passing for 357 yards and 4 TD in win over Midland Lee...Ewers also ran for two scores...Fr. RB Owen Allen ran for 116 and a TD last week...WR Brady Boyd had nine receptions for 166 yards and a TD...Carroll's last win over Duncanville came in 2011
Duncanville:
WON 13 STRAIGHT...QB Ja' Quinden Jackson ran for 164 yards and 3 TD in third-round win...RB Trysten Smith ran for 130 and 2 TD...Panthers ran for 391 yards last week, held Arlington Martin to 121 rush yards...DL Kevon Ivy rumbled 80 yards on a fumble return for TD...Experience could be key vs. young Carroll team
Region II
Rockwall 37, Klein Oak 27
Prosper 38, The Woodlands 14
Regional Final
Rockwall (11-2) vs Prosper (11-2), 6 p.m. Saturday at Frisco's Ford Center
FIRST RECENT MEETING
BOTH WERE DISTRICT RUNNERS-UP
Rockwall:
WON 8 STRAIGHT...Yellowjackets went on 23-0 rally in comeback win over Klein Oak...RB Zach Henry was injured last week, status unknown for Prosper game...WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba had six receptions for 91 yards last week, scored on a catch and on a run...WR Brenden Bayes had key TD reception from Soph. QB Brayden Locke...DB Corey Kelley had 42-yard INT return for TD...Rockwall was held to 121 rushing yards last week
Prosper:
WON 4 STRAIGHT...QB Jackson Berry threw for season-high 312 yards in win over The Woodlands...Berry threw for two scores and ran for two...RB JT Lane ran for 115 yards last week...WR Hayden Metcalf had ten catches for 141 yards and a TD
Division II
Region I
Denton Guyer 42, Arlington 21
Amarillo Tascosa 46, Flower Mound Marcus 14
Regional Final
Denton Guyer (12-1) vs Amarillo Tascosa (10-3), 11 a.m. Saturday at Frisco’s Ford Center
FIRST MEETING
Denton Guyer:
WON 8 STRAIGHT...Jr. QB Eli Stowers ran for 132 yards and 2 TD in win over Arlington...Guyer ran for 296 as a team last week...Was strong in all three phases in third-round victory...Held Arlington to 72 yards rushing on 31 carries (2.3 yards per carry)...HC John Walsh: "We looked comfortable being here."
Tascosa:
WON 5 STRAIGHT...QB Joseph Plunk ran for 257 yards and 6 TD last week...Rebels ran for 468 yards with ZERO passing yards (on two attempts)...Guyer will have to stop Tascosa's powerful Flexbone attack...Tascosa's losses are to 5A Amarillo, Midland Lee and Odessa Permian
Region II
Dallas Jesuit 28, Klein Collins 21
Spring Westfield 38, Waco Midway 7
Regional Final
Dallas Jesuit (9-4) vs Spring Westfield (12-1), 6 p.m. Saturday at Houston's NRG Stadium
FIRST MEETING
Jesuit:
WON 4 STRAIGHT...This is the deepest playoff trip for Jesuit since it joined UIL competition in 2004...Sr. RB EJ Smith scored 4 TD last week, has 11 in three playoff games...Soph. DB Robert Fitzgerald sealed win over Klein Collins with late end zone INT
Spring Westfield:
WON 10 STRAIGHT...Westfield is highest remaining ranked team in 6A Division II...Only loss came to Galena Park North Shore (24-21) on 9/13...Quick strike offense had three one-play scoring drives in rout of Midway...Has allowed seven points or less to 9 of 13 opponents this season
CLASS 5A
Division I
Region I
Colleyville Heritage 24, Birdville 17
Denton Ryan 58, Abilene Cooper 20
Regional Final
Colleyville Heritage (9-4) vs Denton Ryan (13-0), 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Frisco’s Ford Center
DISTRICT REMATCH
DENTON RYAN LEADS RECENT SERIES 6-2 (RYAN HAS WON 4 STRAIGHT IN SERIES)
LAST MEETING: Denton Ryan 35, Colleyville Heritage 9 (10/11/19)
Colleyville Heritage:
WON 4 STRAIGHT...Jr. RB Braxton Ash ran for 167 yards and game-winning TD in fourth quarter last week...Soph. RB Isaac Shabay ran for two scores in revenge win over district rival Birdville...Last win over Denton Ryan came in 2007
Denton Ryan:
WON 13 STRAIGHT...Raiders went on 44-0 run after sluggish start last week...Billy Bowman, Jr., had three TD catches...Ryan defense scored on INT return, added safety last week
Region II
Frisco Lone Star 33, Highland Park 27 OT
Lancaster 34, Frisco Independence 10
Regional Final
Frisco Lone Star (13-0) vs Lancaster (11-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Rockwall’s Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium
FRISCO LONE STAR LEADS SERIES 1-0
LAST MEETING: Lone Star 49, Lancaster 34 (12/4/15)
Frisco Lone Star:
WON 13 STRAIGHT...All-America WR Marvin Mims has 91 catches this season for 2,237 yards and 29 TD...Mims overcame constant double-team to snag two TD catches vs. Highland Park...Soph. QB Garret Rangel was 35 of 49 passing last week for 417 yards and 3 TD...RB Jaden Nixon scored game-winning TD vs. HP on 18-yard run in OT...WR Trace Bruckler stepped up big last week, with 14 receptions for 183 yards
Lancaster:
WON 4 STRAIGHT...Overwhelmed Frisco Independence last week after trailing 3-0 at half...RB Tre Bradford ran for 159 yards and 3 TD...Held outstanding Independence QB Braylon Braxton to 10 of 31 passing for 75 yards with two interceptions...Only losses are to 6A Duncanville, Highland Park
Division II
Region I
Wichita Falls Rider 56, Wichita Falls 20
Lubbock Cooper 58, Canyon Randall 14
Regional Final
Wichita Falls Rider (9-4) vs Lubbock Cooper (12-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Abilene’s Bulldog Stadium
DISTRICT REMATCH
LUBBOCK-COOPER LEADS RECENT SERIES 2-1
LAST MEETING: Lubbock-Cooper 45, WF Rider 13 (10/18/19)
Region II
Aledo 34, Red Oak 14
Ennis 17, Frisco 0
Regional Final
Aledo (12-1) vs Ennis (12-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Frisco’s Ford Center
ENNIS LEADS RECENT SERIES 2-1 (LAST ENNIS WIN WAS IN 2005)
LAST MEETING: Aledo 29, Ennis 6 (12/14/13)
Aledo:
WON 12 STRAIGHT...RB Jase McClellan ran for 178 yards and 2 TD in win over Red Oak...Bryan Allen scored TD on fumble return...Bearcats defense held Red Oak to 64 rushing yards
Ennis:
WON 11 STRAIGHT...QB Collin Drake had 201 total yards with a TD pass last week...RB Dyllan Santos ran for a TD...Lions defense converted three Frisco turnovers into 14 points in third-round win
CLASS 4A
Division I
Region I
Springtown 63, Andrews 20
Dumas 38, Decatur 35
Regional Final
Springtown (12-1) vs Dumas (13-0), 6 p.m. Friday at Midland’s Grande Communications Stadium
FIRST RECENT MEETING
Springtown:
WON 6 STRAIGHT...Porcupines led Andrews 49-6 at half last week...RB Cameron Rickett ran for 137 yards and 4 TD...QB Camden Chesney had 3 TD passes...Springtown had exceptional effort on defense, special teams
Dumas:
WON 13 STRAIGHT...RB Jacob Mares ran for 203 yards and a TD in nail-biter over Decatur...K Ah Lee Yart kicked 27-yard game-winning FG at final gun...QB Spencer Williams had 304 total yards and 4 TD...Demons defense had key late interceptions last week
Region II
Waco La Vega 45, Melissa 42
Argyle 42, Brownwood 14
Regional Final
Waco La Vega (12-1) vs Argyle (13-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Waco’s McLane Stadium
RECENT SERIES TIED 2-2
LAST MEETING: Argyle 49, Waco La Vega 35 (9/16/19)
Waco La Vega:
WON 11 STRAIGHT...This is Pirates' fourth meeting with Argyle in 15 months...Ran for 473 yards in comeback win over Melissa...Fr. K Pavel Ramirez kicked game-winning 26-yard FG at final gun last week...La Vega avenged 2018 regular season loss to Argyle in quarterfinals last year
Argyle:
WON 13 STRAIGHT...Eagles are in seventh regional final since 2010...RB Luke Farris ran for 210 yards and 4 TD last week...Argyle ran for 289 as a team...QB Bo Hogeboom threw for 164 yards and a TD
Region III
Carthage 52, Crandall 21
Midlothian Heritage 28, Palestine 0
Regional Final
Carthage (13-0) vs Midlothian Heritage (9-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Jacksonville’s Tomato Bowl
CARTHAGE LEADS SERIES 1-0
LAST MEETING: Carthage 50, Midlothian Heritage 49 (11/30/18)
Carthage:
WON 13 STRAIGHT...Jr. QB Kai Horton threw for 201 yards and 4 TD in win over Crandall...WR Kelvontay Dixon had 7 catches for 95 yards and a TD last week...Miles Halton intercepted two passes for Bulldogs defense
Midlothian Heritage:
WON 5 STRAIGHT...Sr. QB Cade Sumbler threw for 195 yards and 4 TD last week...WR Jay Wilkerson had nine receptions for 124 yards and 2 TD...Held Palestine to 150 total yards
Region IV
Lampasas 66, Needville 44
Liberty Hill 24, El Campo 6
Regional Final
Lampasas (12-1) vs Liberty Hill (7-5), 2 p.m. Saturday at Cedar Park’s Gupton Stadium
DISTRICT REMATCH
LIBERTY HILL LEADS RECENT SERIES 6-2
LAST MEETING: Lampasas 52, Liberty Hill 10 (10/18/19)
Lampasas:
WON 10 STRAIGHT...Only loss is to Lorena, 31-30
Liberty Hill:
WON 5 STRAIGHT...Started season 2-5, 0-3 in district...One of three remaining five-loss teams in playoffs
CLASS 3A
Division I
Region I
Brock 20, Bushland 17 OT
Pilot Point 26, Wall 7
Regional Final
Brock (11-2) vs Pilot Point (12-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bedford's Pennington Field
DISTRICT REMATCH
BROCK LEADS SERIES 3-1
LAST MEETING: Pilot Point 20, Brock 14 (9/27/19)
Brock:
WON 9 STRAIGHT...RB Cash Jones scored two TD last week, including game-winner on two-yard run in OT
Pilot Point:
WON 9 STRAIGHT...QB Jacob Pitts was 10 of 15 for 186 yards and 2 TD last week...RB Javon Bruce ran for 74 yards and TD...Pilot Point is "big and fast"...HC Danny David played on state champs at alma mater in 1980 and 1981
Region II
Pottsboro 38, Malakoff 31
Gladewater 27, Winnsboro 7
Regional Final
Pottsboro (13-0) vs Gladewater (10-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Sulphur Springs’ Prim Stadium
FIRST RECENT MEETING
Pottsboro:
WON 13 STRAIGHT...Avenged 2018 playoff loss to Malakoff...Jr. QB Braden Plyler scored game-winning TD on 9-yard run with :36 left...After injury to star RB Cy Shope, Plyler threw for 169 yards and 2 TD, ran for 90 yards and 2 TD
Gladewater:
WON 6 STRAIGHT...Losses this season are to Atlanta, Texarkana Pleasant Grove and Mineola
Region III
Troy 9, Whitney 7
Grandview 45, Cameron Yoe 14
Regional Final
Troy (12-1) vs Grandview (12-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Waco’s Waco ISD Stadium
GRANDVIEW LEADS RECENT SERIES 3-2
LAST MEETING: Troy 22, Grandview 21 (8/26/11)
Troy:
WON 10 STRAIGHT...Was district champion in league that includes Rockdale and Cameron Yoe
Grandview:
WON 4 STRAIGHT...Jr. QB Dane Jentsch passed for 151 yards and a TD last week, ran for 143 and a TD, intercepted a pass on defense and returned an onside kick attempt for a TD in rout of Cameron Yoe...RB Tremayne Gullatte ran for 65 yards and 2 TD...Sr. OL Cole Cannon (all-state in 2018) returned from injury to give Zebras' offense a big boost
Region IV
Columbus 35, Vanderbilt Industrial 28
Hallettsville 28, George West 21
Regional Final
Columbus (11-2) vs Hallettsville (10-2), 7 p.m. Friday at Katy's Legacy Stadium
REGULAR SEASON REMATCH
RECENT SERIES TIED 5-5
LAST MEETING: Hallettsville 28, Columbus 26 (9/27/19)
COLUMBUS HAS WON 8 STRAIGHT...HALLETTSVILLE HAS WON 4 STRAIGHT
Division II
Region I
Abernathy 62, Friona 14
Canadian 55, Cisco 28
Regional Final
Abernathy (12-1) vs Canadian (13-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Canyon’s Buffalo Stadium
CANADIAN LEADS RECENT SERIES 6-0
LAST MEETING: Canadian 19, Abernathy 7 (12/6/18)
Abernathy:
WON 9 STRAIGHT...Only loss is to Post (14-13) on 9/20...Has allowed only one opponent to score more than 14 points
Canadian:
WON 13 STRAIGHT...Eliminated Abernathy in state quarterfinals last season
Region II
Gunter 47, Rogers 14
Holliday 33, Lexington 14
Regional Final
Gunter (12-1) vs Holliday (10-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Wichita Falls’ Memorial Stadium
DISTRICT REMATCH
GUNTER LEADS RECENT SERIES 4-0
LAST MEETING: Gunter 20, Holliday 7 (10/11/19)
Gunter:
WON 11 STRAIGHT...Only loss is to 13-0 Pottsboro (27-14) on 9/6...Will try to beat Holliday for fourth time in 14 months...Has held eight opponents to 7 points or less this season (three shutouts)...Has wins over Pilot Point and Daingerfield this season
Holliday:
WON 7 STRAIGHT...Making second straight trip to state quarterfinals, will try to overcome nemesis Gunter...Blocked two punts and forced key turnovers last week in win over Lexington
CLASS 2A
Division I
Region I
Post 48, Stinnett West Texas 14
Hawley 22, Sundown 21
Regional Final
Post (13-0) vs Hawley (13-0), 7 p.m. Friday at Sweetwater's Mustang Bowl
HAWLEY LEADS RECENT SERIES 3-1
LAST MEETING: Hawley 28, Post 0 (10/27/17)
Post:
HAS WON 13 STRAIGHT...Broke open close game last week after leading 7-2 at halftime...This is one of only three quarterfinal matchups between unbeatens (Duncanville-Southlake Carroll, Holland-Refugio)
Hawley:
HAS WON 13 STRAIGHT...Making first trip to state quarterfinals...RB Colton Marshall ran for 301 yards last week, has racked up more than 3,000 yards this season
Region II
Valley View 33, Crawford 14
San Saba 57, Bogota Rivercrest 14
Regional Final
Valley View (11-2) vs San Saba (13-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mineral Wells’ Ram Stadium
SAN SABA LEADS RECENT SERIES 1-0
LAST MEETING: San Saba 48, Valley View 16 (11/23/18)
Valley View:
WON 10 STRAIGHT...Clint Epperson sealed last week's win with two late TDs
San Saba:
WON 13 STRAIGHT...RB Eli Salinas ran for 196 yards and 5 TD last week...QB Sean O'Keefe ran for 168 and 2 TD...Armadillos ran for 447 as a team
Division II
Region III
Muenster 24, Dawson 14
Mart 59, Grapeland 8
Regional Final
Muenster (11-2) vs Mart (10-3), 7 p.m. Friday at Mansfield’s Newsom Stadium
MART LEADS RECENT SERIES 3-0
LAST MEETING: Mart 59, Muenster 0 (12/6/18)
Muenster:
WON 8 STRAIGHT...QB Lane Trubenbach does everything for Hornets on offense, defense and special teams...Only losses are to 13-0 Pottsboro, Valley View (both still alive in playoffs)
Mart:
WON 8 STRAIGHT...Only team with chance to three-peat as state champions...Caught fire after starting season 2-3...Led 47-0 at halftime last week...QB Kyler Martin is two-way star for Panthers
Region IV
Bremond 41, Flatonia 35 OT
Falls City 55, Granger 8
Regional Final
Bremond (12-1) vs Falls City (12-1), 7 p.m. Friday at Pflugerville’s The Pfield
RECENT SERIES TIED 1-1
LAST MEETING: Bremond 41, Falls City 14 (11/27/15) (LAST FALLS CITY WIN WAS IN 2010)
Bremond:
WON 7 STRAIGHT
Falls City:
WON 11 STRAIGHT