Full 5A regional playoff pairings listed below, along with notes from our staff on key games in their respective regions. Look for full previews of select games throughout the week.
Printable bracket (via THSCA.com)
CLASS 5A DIVISION I
REGION I
Canyon Randall (11-1) vs. Burleson Centennial (9-3), 4 p.m. Saturday, Sweetwater
Randall is led by QB Logan Nix and RB Paul Terry, who have combined for 3556 yards and 43 total touchdowns on the year. The defense has 8 QB sacks, 30 takeaways and is giving up 17 points per game on the season and has proven that they can come up with stops late in games when needed. Centennial is led by QB Payton Strambler and RB Blake Birdwell and a good defense that is anchored by all time program sack leader Jordan Jackson. They have played in some close games this year, including 3 overtime games and their win in the first round was a 1 point overtime game. They are allowing 22 points per game defensively, while putting up 34 points a game. Both of these teams aren’t very big, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t very good. This should be a good one and it could even go into overtime. -Jeff Cerda
Abilene Cooper (7-5) vs. Aledo (11-1), 6 p.m. Friday at Aledo
Cooper has had an up and down year as their record indicates, but they have been managing to find ways to get the win. They are led by QB Austin Smith and RB Devin Johnson. Smith has 2028 passing yards and 19 touchdowns on the year, while Johnson has 1090 rushing yards to go along with 12 touchdowns. RB Tyrees Whitfield has also been a solid contributor for this offense, he has 742 yards rushing and 7 touchdowns this season. If the Cooper defense gets stops in this game, it could get interesting. Aledo has been getting solid play from its defense this year and the offense has been lighting up the scoreboard as well. The defense has four shutouts this year and is giving up an average of just under 10 points a game. The offense is putting up just over 52 points a game and show no signs of slowing down. They put up 128 points in their two playoff games while only giving up 3 points. Cooper may be overmatched in this one. -Jeff Cerda
REGION II
Wylie (8-4) vs. Longview (10-2), 2 p.m. Saturday, Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
Wylie is led by dual threat QB Emilio Ames who has a combined 3194 yards and 27 touchdowns. On the flip side to that, he has 11 interceptions, so taking care of the ball is going to be key for Wylie to move on. WR’s Jordan Whaley and Tyrell Mauzy have been his favorite targets this season and they will need a big game from them as well. Longview hasn’t given up more than 20 points in their last 6 games and the defense has come up with some big stops like they did last week to secure the 21-20 victory to advance. This one could be a close one. -Jeff Cerda
Mesquite Poteet (9-3) vs. Mansfield Lake Ridge (12-0), 9 p.m. Saturday, Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
Lake Ridge QB Jett Duffey has been on a mission since week one and it will be no different this week as his team will take on the Poteet Pirates who are a bit of a surprise team out of district 12-5A. -Nick Harris
REGION III
Temple (11-1) vs. Richmond Foster (10-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Cypress’ Berry Center
The Wildcats played lights out defense to stop a solid Houston Stratford team last week. Another similar defensive effort puts Temple into the regional finals. – John Hillman
Bryan (9-3) vs. Richmond George Ranch (12-0), 4 p.m. Saturday, Houston’s TDECU Stadium
REGION IV
Austin Vandegrift (10-2) vs. Edinburg Vela (12-0), 1:30 p.m. Friday, San Antonio’s Alamo Stadium
Vandegrift QB Alex Fernandes and RB Travis Brannan did not let this offense miss a beat when WR Paxton Segina went down with an injury. I witnessed Branna singlehandedly rip apart the San Marcos defense en route to a 7 touchdown game and a total of 324 yards. The defense was also able to contain the San Marcos offense to just 162 total yards and really only 7 points since the second touchdown was scored on a kickoff. Edinburg is led by QB Fabian Pedraza, RB Robert Guerra and WR Elijah Reyna. Pedraza has over 1700 yards passing and a combined 31 passing and rushing touchdowns. Guerra and Reyna have over 2300 yards combined and 33 touchdowns on the year. The defense has bent but not broken all year and they are hoping to contain Brannan in this game, much like every team wants. This one could be a shootout. -Jeff Cerda
Cedar Park Vista Ridge (10-2) vs. Victoria West (11-1), 6 p.m. Friday, San Antonio’s Heroes Stadium
CLASS 5A DIVISION II
REGION I
Canyon (10-2) vs. Everman (8-4), 4 p.m. Saturday, Vernon
EP Eastlake (11-1) vs. Lake Dallas (10-2), 4 p.m. Friday, Midland’s Grande Stadium
REGION II
Frisco Lone Star (11-1) vs. Marshall (11-1), 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Arlington’s AT&T Stadium
Terrell (11-1) vs. Lancaster (9-3), 6 p.m. Friday, Gopher-Warrior Bowl in Grand Prairie
REGION III
A&M Consolidated (9-3) vs. Fort Bend Ridge Point (9-3), 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Houston’s NRG Stadium
College Station (10-2) vs. Angleton (7-5), 7 p.m. Friday, Shenandoah’s Woodforest Stadium
REGION IV
Cedar Park (12-0) vs. Edcouch-Elsa (8-4), 7:30 p.m. Friday, San Antonio’s Alamo Stadium
Cedar Park’s sophomore quarterback Mak Sexton doesn’t seemed phased by the playoff pressure. He’s now thrown for eight touchdowns and completed over 74 percent of his passes so far. But not only is Cedar Park’s offense prolific, but their defense is stingy. The Timberwolves defense allows just 14.8 points per game with only one of their last five opponents topping that average. – John Diaz
Boerne Champion (9-3) vs. CC Calallen (10-2), 1:30 p.m. Friday, Corpus Christi’s Buccaneer Stadium
Champion quarterback Josh Green is coming off a performance where he scored nine total touchdowns and made the game saving tackle as a safety against Georgetown. But Calallen’s clock killing offense won’t let Green get too many opportunities. The Wildcats controlled the ball for over 33 minutes last week in their 42-21 win over Sharyland. – John Diaz
