Saturday Shoot-Out At Cowboys Stadium
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Unlike college football, in Texas high school football, the champion is decided on the field. On Saturday afternoon, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, the number two ranked 5A team in the state (Allen) played the number three ranked team in the state (Trinity) to see who would advance to the third round of the playoffs. The old axiom that defenses make champions was proven to be accurate once again.
Allen came into Saturday’s contest averaging over 41 points per game. On Saturday the Trinity defense held Allen to just 14 offensive points (one of their 3 TD’s was from an interception) and 260 total yards. Aside from having a dominate defense, another way to stop a potent offense like Allen is to keep them on the sidelines. Trinity accomplished this by using running back, Joel Kimpela, to rush for 345 of their 528 total yards. Trinity averaged 7.85 yards per carry. Despite the dominance of the Trinity offense and defense, Allen still had a chance to put the game into overtime with 2:13 left. Allen had driven from their own 26 yard-line in eleven plays to the Trinity 8 yard-line. On fourth down, Allen QB Alec Morris kept the ball and was stopped on the Trinity two yard-line. The final score was Trinity 28 and Allen 21. A dramatic end to the season for Allen, who was once again, unable to get past Trinity.
The Southlake Carroll defense was also a dominate factor in their win over Cedar Hill. Coming into saturday’s game, Cedar Hill had averaged over 37 points per game. The Southlake defense held them to only 7 points, 227 total yards, and scoreless in the second half. The Carroll offense scored four touchdowns and four field goals, including one from 49-yards out by kicker Drew Brown. The final score was Southlake 40 and Cedar Hill 7.
In the third game on Saturday at Cowboy Stadium, two 10-1 teams fought it out with Mansfield Timberview prevailing over Flower Mound Marcus by a score of 27 to 21. Going into the fourth quarter, the score was tied 21 to 21. Timberview had two field goals in the fourth quarter by Nick Cannon, one 28-yards and the other 36-yards. Flower Mound had a chance to keep their hopes alive with 44 seconds left on the clock. On fourth and four, Deion Sanders Jr. rushed for 3-yards, just short of the first down marker. Timberview held on to win 27 to 21.
The final game of the day was a match-up between Mansfield (10-1) against Denton Guyer (8-3). By the second round of the playoffs, usually the better teams show why they have a winning record and the less skilled teams look forward to next year. Such was the case with this game. Denton Guyer started off slow in the first quarter, but rebounded in the second. At the half the score was Mansfield 14 and Guyer 10. Mansfield took over in the second half, scoring 20 points in the third quarter and 14 in the fourth. The final score was Mansfield 48 and Denton Guyer 24.
