The Lufkin Panthers continued to show why they are the #1 Class 5A team in Texas by winning another showdown in District 11-5A, beating Longview 35-21. Click here for more!
Lufkin has now won seven straight over the Lobos and accomplished this one by running up 25 points in the second quarter. Longview held the Panthers junior RB Javorski Lane to under 100 yards for the first time this season, but Lane still scored three times. Longview gets a rematch at home on the last weekend of the regular season. It is anticipated that both clubs will reach the Division II playoffs. In the other game in District 11-5A, fifth-ranked Tyler Lee (their only loss was to Lufkin) shut out cross-town rival John Tyler 31-0.
In Houston, the Woodlands, the second-ranked team in the state, scored on its first five possessions to rout Klein 45-7. Samson Taylor scored three times for the Highlanders. North Shore, which is 5th ranked in the AP poll, but top-ranked in the Harris poll, demolished South Houston 62-0, after racing to a 41-0 halftime lead. Aldine Eisenhower beat Nimitz 35-22 as QB Brandon Garner rushed for 165 yards and three touchdowns and also threw for one. Klein Forest beat Spring 31-17 to keep pace with the Woodlands in District 15-5A by scoring ten points in the fourth quarter with safety Dominic Patricks 37 yard interception return for touchdown with just over four minutes remaining the clincher. Thomas Smith continued his hot rushing pace, going over 300 yards for the third time this season as Houston Davis thrashed Reagan 57-9.
In DFW third-ranked Southlake Carroll pounded Flower Mound 42-0 as junior QB Chase Daniel threw for 312 yards and four touchdowns. Arlington Lamar, right behind SLC in the polls punished Bowie 49-14 behind a ground attack that chewed up 332 yards on the ground. Derek Bowman led the way with 160 yards. Mansfield Summit became the top dog in District 4-5A by beating Duncanville 28-21 as Kestahn Moore rushed for 119 yards against one of the top defenses in the Metroplex.
In Central Texas, Myron Hardy accounted for 294 yards and four touchdowns as Round Rock McNeil upset #9 Leander 43-28 and Temple beat unbeaten Copperas Cove 20-17 on Weston Goochs 37-yard field goal. There were two wild games out in West Texas as Abilene Cooper outlasted Odessa Permian 56-46 and Midland Lee rang up 69 points in a 69-38 slugfest with Odessa High.
In Class 4A Ennis Graham Harrell celebrated his verbal commitment to Texas Tech by launching seven more touchdown passes among 348 yards as the Lions routed Red Oak 69-7. #2 Texarkana shut out Hallsville 31-0. #3 LaMarque beat neighboring Friendswood 42-7 and Brownwood edged big rival Stephenville 28-21. Henderson held Adrian Peterson under 100 yards for the first time this season but failed on an extra point and lost 7-6 to Palestine.
In Class 3A top-ranked Burnet crushed Bandera 49-7 as defensive linemen Joe Saldivar accomplished a linemans dream not once but twice, scoring defensive touchdowns on a blocked punt return and a fumble return. Second-ranked Bellville kept pace by beating Navasota 35-13, but the #3,4,and 5 teams Daingerfield, Fairfield, and Newton all were upset. Sixth-ranked Gilmer is expected to catapult to the third spot this week on the strength of a 56-30 win over previously unbeaten Winnsboro. QB Derek McKenzie scored five touchdowns and threw for two more for the Wildcats. Celina beat rival Pilot Point 17-6, keeping former coach G.A. Moore stuck on 400 career wins.
In Class 2A top-ranked Garrison beat San Augustine 35-12, but #2 McGregor was upset by Franklin 28-27. #7 Rosebud-Lott, which happens to be the top ranked team in the Harris poll, won handily over Moody 54-7. #9 Comfort rebounded from its loss to Mason, by beating Blanco 21-13, and Alto won a big East Texas battle 18-6 over Hemphill in a game that matched two former #1s. West Sabine kept atop the Class 1A rankings with an easy 54-12 victory over Evadale, but #2 Stratford was stunned 38-13 by Sunray.