In 2A Division II, it looks like Albany and Mart may be on a crash course for a rematch of last year’s state title game.
However, among the other two semifinalists, one has never made it to state and the other hasn’t been in 17 years. They’ll certainly have something to say about that supposed rematch.
Here’s what to watch for in the 2A Division II semifinals
Sunray Bobcats (12-2) vs. Albany Lions (14-0) 6 p.m. Thursday @ Lubbock
Both of these teams launched their regional final opponents into the stratosphere. Albany took down Collinsville 52-14, while Sunray obliterated Clarendon 67-7.
It sets up a fun matchup between Albany running back Adam Hill (2,335 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns) and Sunray’s gun-slinging quarterback Armando Lujan (4,007 passing yards and 60 touchdowns).
Hill has taken on the bell cow role following the graduation of last year’s state title game Offensive MVP Coy Lefevre. Albany though is far from one dimensional. Quarterback Chip Chambers (2,234 passing yards and 33 touchdowns) has shown he can make plays and he has a 1,000-yard receiver to aim for in senior Cason Fairchild.
Defensively, the Lions have been very stingy as well. They allow just over seven points per game and have two tackling machines in linebacker Jaxson Hoel (135 total tackles) and cornerback Tyler Chapman (120 total tackles). Oh, and Hill doesn’t just dominate Albany’s backfield. He makes his presence felt in his opponents’ as well as he has 26 tackles for loss on the year.
Sunray’s defense is giving just over 12 points per game, but the focus has to be on its offense which nearly scores 50 a contest. Receivers Kagan Davis, Dawson Bennett, and Damian Barragan all have over 800 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Lujan’s not just launching the football either. He also has 968 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground this season.
SUNRAY!! ELECTRIC!!
Play of the year candidate
Dawson Bennett with a 60-yard TD Pass from Armando Lujan!
Sunray 14
Clarendon 0 2nd#806hsscmedia #texas #txhsfb pic.twitter.com/lPMrLJnaPn— Jasone Pearson (@806hsscmedia) December 2, 2023
This game should be a fun one. Albany will be looking to keep its state title defense alive, while Sunray hopes for its first-ever state title game berth.
If you like to see two offenses trade blows, Lubbock will be the place to be on Thursday night.
Mart Panthers (14-0) vs. Chilton Pirates (12-2) Friday 7:00 @ Mary Hardin-Baylor
Chilton hasn’t been to a state title game since it beat Windthorst for the 1A Division II title back in 2006. If the Pirates want to snap that drought, they’ll have to beat one of the most dominant 2A programs in recent history in Mart. Across the past six seasons, Mart has made it to the state title game five times and won three state titles.
Chilton is coming off a dominant 53-7 win over Falls City. The Pirates will certainly test the Panther secondary. Quarterback Isaiah Redd threw for 438 yards and four touchdowns in the regional final. He has two 1,000-yard receivers at his disposal in Isaac Redd and Markeydrick Taylor plus Tyler Jones, who has 888 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season.
The Pirates aren’t one dimensional either. Freshman DhaCorian Evans has 1,535 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground, while Taylor is also over 1,000 yards rushing on the season.
Per usual, Mart has been dominant this season. It has won every game by at least 15 points, including a 57-20 win over Lovelady last week. Running back JD Bell (2,177 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns) tends to be the motor of the Mart offense, although quarterback De’Montrel Medlock is certainly a playmaker as well (1,512 passing yards, 1,151 rushing yards, and 22 touchdowns).
Defensively, sophomore linebacker Cornelius Gilaspy leads the Panthers in tackles with 104, while Monte Swaner is their biggest threat in the trenches (18 TFLs)
There’s plenty of familiarity as these two teams shared a district in the previous realignment. Back in 2021, Mart beat the Pirates twice by a combined score of 112-16. Has Chilton closed the gap on the Panthers? We’ll find out on Friday night.
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