1. Duncanville is for real
Rita Bell/TexasHSFootball
When Reginald Samples first took over at Duncanville after a stellar stint at Dallas Skyline, my immediate reaction was ‘this program is going to be a powerhouse in a few years.’ While that wasn’t exactly a fearless prediction, Duncanville is officially on the map after a 24-14 win over defending state champions DeSoto.
The Panthers have a slew of talented underclassmen, including athlete Ja’Quinden Jackson and safety Chris Thompson, and are poised to make a state title run of their own. Duncanville is going to be good for a long time.
2. State record
Photo: 247 Sports
Which Texas high school football player had the best individual performance this week? The answer is easy. Houston St. Pius X wide receiver Jalen Curry set a new state record with a whopping 26 receptions in a 53-42 victory over Concordia Lutheran.
Curry’s 26 receptions surpassed the previous record of 22 by Sammy Taylor of Dublin in 1980. The star junior and Florida State commit finished with 242 yards and two touchdowns and has logged 77 receptions trough six games this season.
3. Wild Wild West
Photo/EJ Holland
One of the biggest games in the state certainly lived up to the hype this weekend as Seminole took down Sweetwater in overtime, 28-27. Seminole trailed 21-13 with 2:34 to go when its defense, led by linebacker Cade Barnard, made a huge defensive stand. Seminole scored on the ensuing possession and tied the game with a two-point conversion out of the swing and gate.
Seminole struck first in overtime, but Sweetwater quickly responded. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, they couldn’t connect on the extra point attempt. After an opening loss to Lubbock High, Seminole is now a forced to be reckoned with.
4. San Antonio showdown
Judson RB Jay Miller pushes forward early in the game. Photo: Mo Ortega/ Texashsfootball.com
In a battle of unbeatens, Converse Judson flexed its muscles and proved why it is considered a state title favorite with a 31-14 statement win over Schertz Clemens. After falling behind 7-0 early in the game, Converse Judson rattled off 24 straight points, thanks in large part to junior running back Sincere McCormick, who rushed for 146 yards.
The Rockets played tough defense the rest of the way and forced three turnovers. Keep in mind that Converse Judson’s win came without star quarterback Julon Williams. The Houston commit sat out with a minor injury.
5. Welcome back, Jase
September 01, 2017 – Aledo, Texas, Pre -season match-up between Aledo and Colleyville Heritage at Aledo ISD Stadium in Aledo, Texas. Joseph Nguyen/TexasHSFootball
Aledo running back Jase McClellan took the Texas high school football world by storm as a freshman last season. McClellan rushed for more than 1,500 yards and was named the 5A DII state title game MVP in Aledo’s championship win over Corpus Christi Calallen as a freshman. He started his sophomore season with a big opener against Colleyville Heritage but suffered a fractured wrist.
McClellan finally returned to action over the weekend and rushed for 40 yards and three touchdowns on just four carries. With him back in the fold, Aledo is even more dangerous.
6. Argyle takes hit
Shana Willeford/TexasHSFootball
Speaking of injuries, Argyle, a state title favorite in 4A, suffered a major setback as quarterback Jon Copeland has been ruled out for the rest of the season. According to the Denton Record-Chronicle, the injury happened in the fourth quarter of Argyle’s 42-14 blowout victory over Sanger.
In eight games, Copeland passed for 2,018 yards and 25 touchdowns. He also rushed for 243 yards and four scores. He won’t be easy to replace, but Argyle is, well, Argyle and will still be in the mix for a deep playoff run.
7. Streak snapped
The shout out of the week goes to Dallas Conrad, which snapped a 25-game losing streak with an 18-14 win over Dallas Thomas Jefferson over the weekend. Conrad played tough on defense, forcing two turnovers, and its offense was sparked by wide receiver Dylan Wheatley, who recorded five receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown.
As hard as it is to believe, Conrad is a playoff contender and is currently in a three-way tie for fourth place in 11-5A. It’s tilt against Kimball this week will have major postseason implications.
8. Postseason bound
Can we do another shout out? Well, I’m writing the article so yes, we can. Another huge shout out goes to Bruceville-Eddy, which rallied from 21 points down to beat New Waverly and now very close to clinching its first playoff berth since 1985.
Bruceville-Eddy is currently in third place in 12-3A DII with a 3-2 district record. The Eagles are open this week and will close out the regular season against Marlin.
9. Gatesville scandal
Photo courtesy Gatesvillesports.com
In case you missed it, six Gatesville players were suspended for their involvement in taking performance-enhancing drugs. However, those players were reinstated just hours later by the UIL State Executive Committee and will be eligible to play going forward.
That committee reversed the DEC’s ruling, citing a lack of conclusive evidence against the players. Gatesville is currently 7-1 and has already clinched a spot in the playoffs. For some reason, I have a feeling this one might not be over.
10. Fallen teammate
Photo: Lauren Landes/TexasHSFootball.com
Allen will honor Adam Garry, who passed away on Saturday, the rest of the season with AG helmet stickers. Gary played on the freshman and JV teams and was on the varsity roster this season. However, he was unable to suit up due to his battle with gastric cancer.
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