Friday night featured a dramatic 4A Division I state semifinal matchup between Celina and West Plains. Celina aimed to preserve their undefeated season, while West Plains sought to make a bold statement on the big stage.
As they have all season, Celina jumped out to an early lead, going up 7-0. Their defense quickly forced a three-and-out, allowing Celina to regain possession and extend their lead to 14-0 by the end of the first quarter. The game seemed poised to be a runaway for Celina, but West Plains roared back in the second quarter, tying the game 14-14 and shutting out Celina for the remainder of the first half.
Coming out of halftime, West Plains took their first lead with a field goal, going up 17-14. However, Celina wasted no time reclaiming control, scoring a touchdown to end the third quarter ahead 21-17. In the fourth quarter, Celina’s defense forced a critical turnover, leading to another touchdown and extending their lead to 28-17.
Refusing to go quietly, West Plains found the endzone to trim the deficit to 28-23, but their defense struggled to contain Celina’s high-powered offense. Celina responded with yet another touchdown, widening the gap to 34-23.
As the clock ticked down, West Plains mounted an incredible comeback, scoring 13 unanswered points to take a 36-35 lead with just three minutes remaining. But Celina, showing why they are the top-ranked 4A team in Texas, delivered when it mattered most. On their final drive, they extended multiple plays and ultimately found the endzone with under a minute left, reclaiming the lead 43-36.
West Plains attempted one final drive, but Celina’s defense held strong, sealing a thrilling victory.
Final Score: Celina 43, West Plains 36
Next week, Celina will face a formidable Kilgore team in the state championship game as they look to complete their perfect season.
Canyon West Plains vs. Celina Box Score
Date: December 13, 2024
Event: State Semifinal
Final Score:
- Canyon West Plains: 36
- Celina: 43
Scoring Summary:
| Quarter | Canyon West Plains | Celina |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 14 |
| 2 | 14 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 4 | 19 | 22 |
| Total | 36 | 43 |
Team Stats:
| Statistic | Canyon West Plains | Celina |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 26 | 21 |
| Total Yards | 443 | 418 |
| Passing Yards | 266 | 115 |
| Completion Attempts | 25-40 | 9-13 |
| Yards Per Pass | 6.65 | 8.85 |
| Interceptions Thrown | 0 | 1 |
| Rushing Yards | 177 | 303 |
| Rushing Attempts | 34 | 37 |
| Yards Per Rush | 5.21 | 8.19 |
| Penalties | 6-55 | 8-71 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Fumbles/Lost | 0-0 | 1-0 |
Individual Stats:
Canyon West Plains Passing
| Player | Comp | Att | Pct | Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reid Macon | 25 | 40 | 62.5 | 266 | 2 | 0 |
Celina Passing
| Player | Comp | Att | Pct | Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowe Bentley | 9 | 13 | 69.23 | 115 | 0 | 1 |
Canyon West Plains Rushing
| Player | Att | Yards | Yds/Att | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slade Russell | 21 | 137 | 6.52 | 3 |
| Reid Macon | 12 | 39 | 3.25 | 0 |
| Kane White-Tinsley | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Celina Rushing
| Player | Att | Yards | Yds/Att | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowe Bentley | 13 | 154 | 11.85 | 3 |
| Harrison Williams | 12 | 120 | 10 | 2 |
| Logan Gutierrez | 11 | 44 | 4 | 0 |
| Team Stat | 1 | -15 | -15 | 0 |
Canyon West Plains Receiving
| Player | Rec | Yards | Yds/Rec | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaden Hooker | 9 | 80 | 8.89 | 1 |
| Kane White-Tinsley | 6 | 67 | 11.17 | 1 |
| Boston Ladd | 5 | 56 | 11.2 | 0 |
| Lawson Betancourt | 2 | 32 | 16 | 0 |
| Slade Russell | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 |
| Brody Bobo | 1 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
Celina Receiving
| Player | Rec | Yards | Yds/Rec | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colton Rodriguez | 4 | 58 | 14.5 | 0 |
| Wyatt Villarreal | 3 | 32 | 10.67 | 0 |
| Ethan Rucker | 2 | 25 | 12.5 | 0 |
