The Cooldown- Week 14
The Cooldown- Week 14
As players and coaches always say this time of year, teams to remember win in December. We’re officially in the eight eight portion of each bracket with the regional finals to be played this weekend. After that, just the state semifinals and state championship weekend remain. Only the best teams in the state remain, and the ultimate goal is just a few weeks away. In 6A, Duncanville and DeSoto still look dominant enough to repeat as state champions. In 5A DI, Aledo falls into the same dominant category I just used to describe Duncanville and DeSoto and could very well win yet another state title. In 5A DII, South Oak Cliff gets its shot at redemption against the Port Neches-Groves team it lost to in the state title game last year in the regional final. Thanks to realignment for giving us this matchup a few weeks early! Now, let’s recap the regional semifinals before previewing the regional final round.
Lovejoy eliminates Anna
The first matchup between these two teams was as close as it gets and round two wasn’t any different. Lovejoy outlasted Anna 52-49 to advance to the regional final. There was some controversy to the ending of this one. Anna quarterback Ziondre Williams appeared to get out of bounds with around :20 seconds left, though the clock still ran. The Coyotes weren’t able to get another play off and were approaching field goal range. I watched that final play through a camera lens from the opposite side of the field and I couldn’t tell exactly what happened, but I was under the impression that Williams got out of bounds. That being said, this was a fantastic game and a great win for Lovejoy. The Leopards came up with a few key plays down the stretch to help pull off the win. Aston Whiteside returned an interception 94 yards for a touchdown early in the 4th quarter and Brock Bernal came up with an interception that set up the game winning field goal for Lovejoy.
It’s unfortunate that these two teams matched up in the regional semifinal because I believe both of these teams are talented enough to make it to the state championship game. That being said, Lovejoy has to advance past Argyle this weekend, and Argyle is another team that could make it to Arlington. Like I said earlier, all the teams are good this time of year.
Lovejoy quarterback Jacob Janecek completed 10 of his 18 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown and added 104 yards and three more scores on the ground. Ben Adams led the rushing attack with 155 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Zane Kuzenski led the way for the receiving corps with four receptions for 70 yards and a score.
Anna quarterback Ziondre Williams completed 24 of his 43 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns and added 92 yards and another score on the ground. Edward Chumley led the ground game with 194 yards and a score on 24 attempts. Ashton Ansley led the Coyotes’ receivers with five receptions for 77 yards and a score. Ace Traylor chipped in six receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns and Ronald Bell added five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Lovejoy will take on an Argyle team that I will write about more below this recap. The Eagles are 12-1 and haven’t lost since their season opener against Frisco Lone Star, another team playing in a regional final this weekend, 24-17.
Argyle eliminates Prosper Walnut Grove
Argyle keeps rolling after eliminating Prosper Walnut Grove 52-35. Argyle and Lovejoy have been two of the most impressive teams in 5A DII here in the metroplex. Anna and Prosper Walnut Grove also fall into that category, making the wins for Lovejoy and Argyle in the regional semifinals all that more impressive. Unlike the Lovejoy- Anna game, Argyle had control of this one pretty much the entire way. Prosper Walnut Grove gambled and went for it on fourth down in its own territory on the opening possession of the game. The Argyle defense provided a stop and the Eagles offense scored the first touchdown of the game a few plays later. Argyle led 21-14 after the first quarter and never looked back.
Argyle quarterback Maguire Gasperson completed 13 of his 20 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns and added 75 yards and a score on the ground. Argyle finished with two 100 yard rushers with Watson Bell leading the way. Bell finished with 108 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries and Logan Rexroat added 104 yards and a score on 14 carries. Julian Caldwell led the Argyle receivers with six receptions for 111 yards and a score and Jaxon Greene added a touchdown reception from 19 yards out.
Prosper Walnut Grove quarterback Hayes Hackney completed 31 of his 47 passes for 311 yards and a touchdown and added 58 yards and a score on the ground. Cam Newton led the rushing attack with 94 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. Luke Watkins led the receivers with eight receptions for 142 yards and a score. Hayden Cooley caught eight passes for 87 yards and Zaiden Crain added eight receptions for 43 yards.
It was an incredible run for a young Prosper Walnut Grove team playing its first season of UIL football. Walnut Grove graduates a few of key receivers, but the majority of the production is back for this team next season. Keep that in mind when August rolls around. As for Argyle, the Eagles haven’t looked this good since its championship run in 2020. Beating Lovejoy won’t be easy, but the road to state never is.
DeSoto eliminates Willis
The last of the three games I attended this weekend was DeSoto’s win over Willis. The Eagles eliminated Willis once again, 55-35 this time, to advance to another regional final. I know some picked against DeSoto in this game (couldn’t be me) but DeSoto’s speed and physicality once again won the day. This game was chippy from the start, and that’s not the game any of DeSoto’s opponents should want to play. Willis actually got out to a 14-0 lead in this one before DeSoto began to assert its physical dominance. As a result, most of the offensive damage was done on the ground. There was never really a need for DeSoto to air it out because the ground game was so dominant.
DeSoto quarterback Kelden Ryan completed seven of his 10 passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns and also chipped in 69 yards on the ground. Deondrae Riden Jr. led the way on the ground with 254 yards and four touchdowns on 36 carries while SaRod Baker added 158 yards and two scores on 15 carries. Daylon Singleton led the receivers with two receptions for 59 yards and a score and Ethan Feaster added three receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown.
The Willis offense operated opposite of DeSoto, asking quarterback Jack Emerson to air it out 44 times. Emerson completed 26 of those passes for 450 yards and all five Willis touchdowns. Jalen Mickens caught six passes for 133 yards and a touchdown and Jermaine Bishop Jr. caught nine passes for 127 yards and two scores. DeSoto really dominated this game, but I came away impressed with Emerson, Mickens and Bishop. It just wasn’t even close to enough to beat what is yet another really talented DeSoto squad.
DeSoto takes on an 11-2 Longview squad on Saturday afternoon at McLane Stadium in Waco in the regional final round. Longview is good, but these two teams do have a common opponent we can look at. DeSoto beat Lancaster in district play 45-13 while Longview eliminated Lancaster from the playoffs 35-28.
Games to Watch
Friday, December 6
Highland Park (12-1) vs Frisco Lone Star (12-1)
I was hoping to be in attendance for this one, but fans will be treated to game coverage from our own Professor Diggs instead. Highland Park eliminated Frisco Reedy 31-12 in the regional semifinals while Frisco Lone Star eliminated Midlothian 39-35. Frisco Lone Star and Highland Park have been involved in some memorable playoff games over the years (who could forget Jaden Nixon running free to the end zone, pumping his fist to clinch an overtime win) and this one is set for Friday night at 7 p.m. at the Ford Center in Frisco. Aside from its one loss, Frisco Lone Star has done a great job of winning close games this year. Highland Park’s defense has been impressive this season and will need a good showing against a dynamic Lone Star offense. This should be a great game.
Argyle (12-1) vs Lovejoy (10-3)
The game I pivoted to attending is Argyle’s matchup with Lovejoy. I saw both of these teams advance with wins over Prosper Walnut Grove and Anna, respectively, last week. I feel that these teams are pretty evenly matched and should make for a great game. Argyle held on for a 28-21 win over Wichita Falls Memorial in the area round, but hasn’t been involved in a close game since a September win over Colleyville Heritage. Lovejoy has been involved in a handful of competitive games throughout the season as a product of playing in a great district. If this game comes down to a few plays like I think it will, it will be interesting to see which of these teams wins those plays.
South Oak Cliff (11-2) vs Port Neches-Groves (12-1)
This is the game I would really like to be at. Unfortunately, I will barely make it to Prosper by kickoff for the Lovejoy- Argyle game, let alone Nacogdoches, where SOC will face PN-G on Friday night at 7 p.m. in a rematch of last season's 5A D-II state championship game. Port Neches-Groves just barely advanced by way of a 31-28 win over Texas High while South Oak Cliff bounced Marshall from the playoffs 35-7. This should be a great game between two championship caliber teams.
Saturday, December 7
Aledo (12-1) vs Denton Ryan (12-1)
These two teams matched up in district play and Aledo extended its historic district winning streak with a 42-27 win. Denton Ryan got out to a hot start in the one but it was all Aledo in the second half. Denton Ryan will need to put together its best four quarters of football to win this one. The Raiders have shown that they can do it, but putting together a complete game against Aledo is a lot easier said than done, especially in the playoffs. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon from Crowley ISD Stadium.
Southlake Carroll (13-0) vs Denton Guyer (10-3)
Southlake Carroll puts its undefeated streak on the line in the regional final against a talented Denton Guyer squad. Denton Guyer eliminated Crowley 44-7 and has cruised through the playoffs thus far. Southlake Carroll eliminated Hebron 42-37 to advance to the regional final. Kickoff is set for 2:30 on Saturday afternoon from DATCU Stadium in Denton.
Offensive Player of the Week
My Offensive Player of the Week is Frisco Lone Star running back Davian Groce! Frisco Lone Star eliminated Midlothian 39-35 and Groce accounted for quite a bit of the offensive production! Groce finished with 152 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the win. Frisco Lone Star faces a tough Highland Park defense this week and will need another big night from Groce and the offense in order to advance to the state semifinal.
Defensive Player of the Week
My Defensive Player of the Week is Lovejoy linebacker Aston Whiteside! Lovejoy’s thrilling 52-49 win over Anna to advance to the regional final was partially made possible by Whiteside’s pick-six in the fourth quarter. Anna had the ball on the Lovejoy five yard-line and Whiteside’s pick effectively provided a 14 point swing. Whiteside also chipped in 10 tackles and four pass break-ups in the win. Lovejoy takes on a talented Argyle squad in the regional final and will need another big performance from Whiteside and the defense.