EDITORS NOTE: Every week, TexasHSFootball will present their official game ball honors to those that were the most impactful under the Friday Night Lights. Our experts watched numerous games and decided on the very best that the UIL State Semifinal round had to offer.
Please post your game ball honorees below and tag @texashsfootball and use the hashtag #GameBallHonors through our various social media channels. Readers can also submit suggestions via email at [email protected] (no later than 4 p.m. each Sunday).
We’ll be sure to keep an eye on all suggestions — and possibly name them a Texas HS Football Game Ball Honoree or an Honorable Mention.
The Texarkana Pleasant Grove Defense
Texarkana Pleasant Grove punched their ticket to the state final in dominating fashion with a relentless defensive swarm that neutralized a potent Graham squad and down it 45-14.
From the opening whistle, Pleasant Grove set the tone with a huge hit on the quarterback that seemed to pretty much upset the rhythm of the offense the entire night. Its defense nearly pitched a complete game shutout and tallied a total of six sacks to give themselves one more final game in what has been a historic season. – Tim Verghese
Dawson Littlepage scored two touchdowns — one offensive and one defensive — to help propel the Eagles into their second state title game in three years. Sherry Milliken/TexasHSFootball
Gardner totaled four touchdowns — three offensive and one defensive — during Tenaha’s state semifinal rout of Burton High School. Blake Dunbar/TexasHSFootball
Matthew Barnhill (LB, Waco Midway)
Barnhill (10) and his game-sealing interception topped Longview’s bid for a state championship berth. Photo courtesy Waco Tribune-Herald
Waco Midway and Longview provided arguably the best semifinal game this past weekend that came down to a field goal in the winding seconds which benefited the Waco Midway squad as they won 28-26.
In what was a sloppy affair at times with weather playing a factor in the ability to handle the ball, loose balls, and turnovers were inevitable.
Perhaps one of the biggest turnovers came in the form of linebacker Matthew Barnhill, whose interception put a damper on Longview’s drive late in the fourth quarter that helped preserve the 28-26 lead at that moment in the game before the wild finish commenced in this playoff classic. – Jonathan Rodriguez
Jace Terry (QB, Mart)
Jay Crain/TexasHSFootball
The Manvel Defense
Manvel’s defense held one of the best running back duos in the state — BJ Foster and TaMerik Williams — to 3.1 yards per carry. Prentice James/TexasHSFootball
With a stout front seven and ball-hawking secondary, the Manvel defense held Angleton to 253 total yards in a decisive 35-10 victory in the Class 5A Division 1 state semifinal game at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Angleton came into the match averaging nearly 440 yards per game of total offense, but Manvel’s tenacious push up front and blanket pass coverage held the Wildcats offense in check. Angleton’s rushing attack featuring BJ Foster and TaMerik Williams could only manage 3.1 yards per carry on the night, down from a season average of 9 yards per tote.
Manvel looks to continue its stellar play this Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington at 7pm against Highland Park in the Class 5A Division 1 state championship game. – Prentice James
Darwin Barlow (RB, Newton)
Barlow’s performance helped top Boling High School and offer Mart an opportunity to win its fifth state title. James Ellis/TexasHSFootball
Newton outpaced Boling on their way to its fifth state championship appearance. The Eagles overcame a tough first quarter, and another big Vernon Jackson performance, pulling away in the final three quarters to win 56-28.
At the half, they led 33-21, and when Boling scored early in the third quarter and things looked doubtful, Darwin Barlow happened.
Barlow and the Newton offense scored 23 straight points to pull away — with the feature back adding two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to eliminate any comeback hopes. He finished with 164 yards and three touchdowns on just 11 carries.
Barlow’s last game of his junior campaign may be the biggest ever — the state championship against reigning state champions, Gunter. With a state title on the line, the electric youngster will need to be ready to show up on the big stage. – Tim Verghese
Garrett Wilson (RB/WR, Lake Travis)
Lake Travis’ Garrett Wilson scored a trio of touchdowns — one of them via the unconventional route. Ozzy Jaime/TexasHSFootball
Sometimes, it’s easy to forget the junior — who has 2,109 yards rushing yards this season — still has one year left in his varsity career.
Wilson did his best Kenny “Trill” Hill College Football Week 3 impression against Katy Saturday night, tallying a touchdown receiving, rushing and passing during Lake Travis’ 6A state semifinal victory.
Despite an injury to starting gunslinger Matthew Baldwin, Wilson caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from his replacement, Hudson Card, found Card 32 yards away for a score and added a 2-yard rumble to his game resume. Wilson, a weapon among many in the Cavaliers’ arsenal, finished with 119 yards and led all receivers in catches with eight. – Marcus Matthews-Marion
Daylan Bower (QB, Gunter)
Gunter quarterback Daylan Bower ran for four touchdowns in the state semifinal win over Canadian. Lauren Landes/TexasHSFootball
Even though he’s listed as a quarterback, Gunter quarterback Daylan Bower made his mark on the ground. The senior ran for four rushing touchdowns as the Tigers racked up more than 300 rushing yards in the state semifinal win over Canadian.
The win extended Gunter’s winning streak to 31 games and will face Newton in the Class 3A Division II state semifinals. – Tony Venegas
Lezley Norris/TexasHSFootball
After Aledo tied the game, he took the ball from his own 14-yard line and broke through the defense for an 86-yard touchdown run. After a heck of a game to end his junior year, his junior year will be one to watch. – Nolan Ruth
Daymond Williams (DT, Cedar Ridge)
Williams (90) tallied five sacks during the last contest of his 2017 campaign. James Ellis/TexasHSFootball
The Cedar Ridge came up short in its first ever State Semifinal appearance to traditional powerhouse Allen 28-7 on Saturday, but defensive end Daymond Williams wasn’t going down without a fight. Williams was is the Eagles backfield all night long and had Allen quarterback Grant Tisdale running for his life.
Williams and sacked Tisdale five times during the game and four of those sacks came in the first half. The Eagles were able to make an adjustment at halftime to keep Williams somewhat at bay, but that allowed fellow Raiders to elude blocks and bring down Tisdale.
Williams was able to get his hands on Tisdale one last time for good measure in the fourth quarter, bringing his total to five solo sacks on the night. – Garrett Ross
Cade Saustad (WR, Highland Park), Conner Allen (RB, Highland Park)
Lauren Landes/TexasHSFootball
A lot of hubbub is made about the arm strength and scrambling ability of Arkansas commit John Stephen Jones, but, in reality, it was his receiver and running back that made the biggest difference.
Saustad and Allen were dangerous through the air and on the ground, testing the edges of Denton Ryan‘s defense and pounding it in the middle of the field. While the former accumulated almost 100 yards and racked on a trio of touchdowns in the first 24 minutes, the later added the finishing touches to spoil the Raiders’ bid for a state championship run.
Saustad, a senior receiver, finished with 104 yards and three touchdowns and brought his season total to 1,374 and 19 respectively. Allen, recently offered by Southern Methodist University, had one of the most poignant performances of his prep career after gaining 110 all-purpose yards (76 rec, 34 rush) and scoring two touchdowns — on his birthday.
While Manvel’s defense is highly touted, Saustad and Allen join a group of offensive weapons that may make Highland Park too difficult to stop. – Marcus Matthews Marion
Daryon Ramirez (RB, Refugio)
Daryon Ramirez eclipsed 200 yards during Refugio’s state semifinal win against San Augustine. Prentice James/TexasHSFootball
Looking to punch its ticket to a third straight state championship final, Refugio’s ground-and-pound attack enabled senior running back Daryon Ramirez to rush for 235 yards and one touchdown en route to a 63-21 victory over San Augustine in the Class 2A Division I state semifinal game at Cy-Fair FCU Stadium in Cypress.
Refugio will now face Mart 7 p.m. on Wednesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington at as it looks to repeat as Class 2A Division 1 state champions. – Prentice James
Cy-Fair’s Defense
Vance Valentine/TexasHSFootball
The Bobcats defense lived up to the hype in their toughest matchup yet. Facing perennial power Austin Westlake, the Cy-Fair defense stepped up and made themselves known.
They held Wisconsin running back commit Nakia Watson to just 51 yards on the night. Watson, one of the most physical backs in the country, was forced to fight for every yard and finished with an average of 3.2 yards per carry with a long of nine. The Bobcats worked to shut him down, then went on to shut down the passing game. Taylor Anderson, who’d thrown for more than 1,000 yards entering the game, was held to just 101 yards and was picked off.
The front seven of the Bobcats, led by linebacker Patrick Atkinson who finished with 11 tackles and two sacks, harassed Anderson. He sacked him three times and pressured him to move outside the pocket, where the secondary clamped down and only allowed him to complete it nine times and picking him off once.
The Bobcats hit hard and left the Chaparrals bruised and beaten, in a clutch situation, as Westlake was poised for a comeback threat, the Bobcats knocked out Tate Young after a 9-yard catch, forcing a fumble that sealed the victory.
As they head on towards Waco Midway and Oklahoma quarterback commit Tanner Mordecai, they’ll have to clamp down on yet another powerful offense once again. – Tim Verghese
Larry Brooks (DB, Kennedale) and the Wildcat Defense
Free safety Ector Rivera lands a hit onStephenvillel quarterback Easton Jones during Friday night’s state semifinal at AT&T Stadium. Staci Otts/TexasHSFootball
Everyone focuses on offense – quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, punishing offensive linemen that pave the road, and, of course, touchdowns. While each is important to the final that flashes on the scoreboard, defense can define a season and claim championship firsts.
As it has done all season, Kennedale used its defensive unit to dispatch another high-powered opponent, this time in the form of Graham and quarterback Easton Jones, the state-ranked Yellowjackets’ 5,000-yard passer. Though senior threw for 129 yards above his per game average of 225, he was sacked seven times and flushed out of the pocket and into uncomfortable positions and untimely throws.
Three of those sacks belonged to Jaden Myers and a crucial, momentum-shifting interception was forced by Brooks on a deft leap in front of a Graham receiver. The Wildcats’ championship round opponent, Carthage, may be more focused on Evan Jowers, DJ Kirven, Jaden Knowles, and Kennedale’s triple-option offense, they should be well-aware of a defense that can wreak havoc and shorten fields and drives. – Marcus Matthews Marion
McClellan rushed for more than 200 yards during Aledo’s state semifinal rally over Mansfield Legacy. Joseph Nguyen/TexasHSFootball
College Station’s Rushing Attack
Vance Valentine/TexasHSFootball
College Station has had one of the most electric offenses in the postseason, averaging 50 points per game on their way to the state championship. Quarterback Marquez Perez is a threat with his arm and even more dangerous on the ground.
Paired with speedy running back DaDa Anderson, the twosome strikes fear in the best defensive coordinators.
This week, the competition was undefeated McCallum. Perez and Anderson combined for 257 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, and Perez added 241 yards and two more touchdowns through the air, torching a McCallum defense that hadn’t allowed more than 24 points in the playoffs.
McCallum’s dream season ended at the hands and legs of the College Station offense, which imposed its will early. On the Cougars’ first drive — just 41 seconds into the game — Perez took off, leaving defenders in the dust for a 38-yard touchdown to open up the scoring.
As the duo now looks to Aledo, the speedy backfield will have to muster up a big performance on last time in their high school careers. – Tim Verghese
Danny Luttmer (WR/CB, Muenster)
Photo courtesy Gainesville Daily Register
Even though he’s just a sophomore, Danny Luttmer came up with three of the biggest plays of the game in the second half of the state semifinal win over Wellington.
Luttmer intercepted a Skyrocket pass at its own 1-yard line that eventually set up a Hornet score. He also came up with the biggest offensive play of the game, an 81-yard touchdown pass on third and 26. Finally, he made the game-sealing interception with under two minutes left in the game to close the door on Wellington.
The big second half has propelled the Hornets to their first-ever state championship game, where they will face off against Tenaha on Thursday. – Tony Venegas
Kennedale’s Running Game and Richard Barrett’s Brilliant Mind
Kennedale Head Coach Richard Barret has led the Wildcats to 49 wins and seven losses in the last four seasons. Staci Otts/TexasHSFootball
Credit must be given when credit is due.
And while Kirven’s near 400-yard performance and Knowles’ two-touchdown effort were the weapons that dealt Graham a swift blow, the genius behind the game plan lied in the brilliance of Richard Barret.
Whether it was the brash calling offensive plays on 4th and long or mixing in uncanny passes from Evan Jowers — one of which fell into the hands of Jaden Smith for a 22-yard touchdown. Barret affected the game from the sideline, finding holes in the Yellowjacket defense for long runs and longer scores.
Kennedale running back Jaden Knowles streaks down the field for one of his two touchdown runs. Staci Otts/TexasHSFootball
With Jowers, Kirven, Knowles, and a hulking and battle-tested offensive line, Barret’s Wildcats steamrolled their way to 585 total yards and the first state title berth in Kennedale history. Without all three assets of their offense — the pass, run, and coaching — the Wildcats might have been watching the state championship game from their couches rather than preparing for a battle with Associated Press No. 1 Carthage on Friday. – Marcus Matthews-Marion
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