Previews of this weekend’s 5A state semifinal games, with picks from staff writers Dave Purpura and Ahmard Vital:

DIVISION I

North Shore (14-0) vs. Converse Judson (10-4)
3 p.m. Saturday, Rice Stadium
What’s at stake: The winner plays Euless Trinity (13-1) or Plano (13-1) in the state championship game at 2 p.m. Dec. 22 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Judson, six-time state champions and state semifinalists three of the past four years, rescued its season at the right time to earn a meeting with an old friend.
A very old friend.
The Rockets defeated San Antonio Reagan 42-21 last Saturday, avenging a loss to that team in the regular-season finale, to advance. North Shore coach David Aymond is familiar with Judson; he clearly remembers the Rockets’ upset of the 13-0 Mustangs at this stage in 1996.
“That was a different group … but we certainly remember it,” Aymond said. “We were devastated.”
Judson lost three of its last four regular-season games.
The Rockets have amassed nearly 3,100 rushing yards behind running back Mitchell Swan (1,088 yards; 14 touchdowns) and Robert Shaw (897 yards, 7 TDs). Quarterback Austin Quinney has only eight touchdowns passing but has six rushing scores.
Swan doubles as a receiver; he has team-bests of 300 yards and three touchdowns.
“Their quarterback is a good runner,” Aymond said. “They’re very good on defense. Their defensive line is very active and they have some linebackers who will make plays for them. They’ll give you a lot of different fronts and looks to keep you off balance.”
Purpura’s pick: North Shore.
Vital’s pick: North Shore.

The other semifinal
Old-school meets modern football when Euless Trinity and Plano get together at 7 p.m. Saturday at Texas Stadium. Trinity has thrived on its running game, shorthanded though it is because of injuries, to knock out such powers as Odessa Permian this postseason. Meanwhile, Plano quarterback Carson Meger has thrown for 3,160 yards and 21 touchdowns. Running back Rex Burkhead has 1,600 yards and 29 scores.

DIVISION II
Katy (14-0) vs. San Antonio Madison (13-1)
1:30 p.m. Saturday, Alamodome, San Antonio
What’s at stake: The winner plays Abilene (13-1) or Pflugerville (11-3) in the state championship game at 7 p.m. Dec. 22 at the Alamodome.
Both Katy and Madison come into this game with quite a bit of momentum after wins last week. Though Madison had a more thrilling victory (38-35) over Smithson Valley, scoring four touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Katy still has the slight edge in the momentum column after dismantling Fort Bend Clements 42-0.
The Tigers have been rolling all year and probably are coming off their best game yet. With Southlake Carroll out of the way, many pundits are saying the state championship is Katy’s to lose.
Against Madison, look for running back Aundre Dean to set the tone early on the ground to open up the Tiger passing game led by quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell.
San Antonio Madison comes in averaging 415 yards per game. The passing game is led by quarterback Bryan Ehrlich (1,820 yards, 22 touchdowns, 6 INTs), who has a couple of capable wide receivers in Joey Boyd (42 catches, 701 yards, 7 TDs) and Nate Askew. On the ground, Devin Thomas (1,447 yards, 17 TDs) and Andrew Green are the Mavericks’ running backs.
Askew had seven catches for 169 yards last week; Ehrlich was 22-of-36 for 359 yards.
“They’re very fast,” Katy coach Gary Joseph said. “They run extremely well on both sides of the ball. (Askew) has the capability throwing. It’ll be a challenge for us to stop the run, then contain the pass a little bit.”
Purpura’s pick: Katy.
Vital’s pick: Katy.

The other semifinal
Abilene, which upset Southlake Carroll 22-21 two weeks ago to end hopes for a Katy-Carroll clash of titans, is making its first state semifinal appearance since 1957. A win in Saturday’s semifinal at Texas Stadium would be a school record. … Pflugerville had a less-than-overwhelming regular-season, going only 4-3 in District 14-5A but roaring through the postseason. Last week’s 35-14 win against Longview was Longview’s worst defeat since 2000. The Panthers love to run; touted back Greg Nwoko has 16 touchdowns and three other backs have six apiece.

Subscribe to this comment's feed