Texas high school football playoffs: 2023 UIL Class 6A Division I bi-district roundup
As the opening round of the Texas high school football playoffs continued across the Lone Star State, SBLive Texas is keeping tabs on the latest scores, top storylines and best performances throughout the bi-district round.
Lake Travis scored the week's big upset, sending previously-undefeated Vandegrift home on a 34-yard field goal with a second left.
>> MORE #TXHSFB BI-DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS: CLASS 5A | 1A-4A
The parity only continued from there in a week that saw high-scoring slugfests, memorable individual performances and one game that never seemed to want to end.
After examining the top finishes in Class 6A Division II, Class 5A and Classes 1A-4A, we're taking a closer look at the top games in Class 5A.
Here are eight Class 6A Division I bi-district games you should not have missed:
BEST OF THE BRACKET: UIL 6A DIVISION I
KLEIN CAIN ERASES FOUR-TD DEFICIT, DOWNS BRIDGELAND LATE
After Bridgeland scored first on its overtime possession, the Hurricanes got a touchdown on its series from Isaac Mooring, his third TD on the night. Cain then went for two, and got it for the win, from Darius Rodgers. Cain, which erased a 24-0 second-quarter deficit, also got three receiving TDs from Blaine Bullard, including a 94-yard run in the fourth quarter.
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RIDGE POINT BUILDS LEAD, HOLDS ON
The Panthers built a 43-24 third-quarter lead before holding off a furious rally attempt from Tompkins to advance. Ridge Point kept the ball for the final 7:17 of play. Austin Carlisle passed for 305 yards and three touchdowns, along with rushing for 92 yards and a TD, while Wesley Drummer crossed the goal line three times for Ridge Point.
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LAREDO UNITED ADVANCES
Five TD passes from quarterback Atzel Chavez Jr. allowed the Longhorns to move on to next week.
Chavez's fifth TD strike, a 47-yarder to Alek Leven with less than eight minutes left, gave United a 35-21 lead. Chavez's first two TDs went to Christian Saldana, covering 15 and 41 yards, with Leven also catching two TD passes.
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PEARLAND SURVIVES 5OT
Yes, you read that right, five overtimes. The score was tied, 14-all, at the end of regulation, but neither team scored in the first four overtime periods. Finally in the fifth, the Oilers got a two-point TD on an 8-yard pass from Cole Morkovsky to Patrick Bridges - who connected on a 33-yard TD pass late in regulation to eventually force overtime - and then Pearland stopped the Gators on their possession.
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JOHNSON'S CATCH PUSHES JOHNSON THROUGH
Lorenn Johnson caught a 45-yard TD pass from quarterback Ty Hawkins with less than a minute to play to lift the Jaguars to the thrilling bi-district victory. Johnson rushed for 126 yards and two TDs while catching four passes for 56 yards, including his game-winning TD. Hawkins passed for 195 yards and added 81 yards and two TDs rushing.
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LAKE HIGHLANDS EXACTS REVENGE
The Wildcats avenged last season's bi-district playoff loss to the Warriors behind a strong performance from senior tailback Deonte Dean, who had 281 yards on 38 carries and three TDs. He leads 6A running backs with nearly 2,200 yards along with 25 TDs. Quarterback Tripp Holley added 95 yards rushing on 14 carries and three TDs, including a game-clinching 8-yard run.
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CALEB HOOVER, ROCKWALL SOAR PAST SACHSE
A strong performance from quarterback Caleb Hoover enabled Heath to break Sachse's eight-game winning streak entering the postseason. Hoover completed 30-of-39 pass attempts for 462 yards and six TDs. A huge beneficiary of Hoover's throws was receiver Drew Smith, who had five of those scores, as he grabbed 13 passes for 250 yards.
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SPECIAL TEAMS GIVES WAXAHACHIE SLIGHT EDGE
The Indians got a 27-yard field goal from Ethan Guillen with 6:42 left for the deciding points. Special teams was a factor for another reason, as Waxahachie blocked two PAT kick attempts. Another key performer for the Indians was running back Wade Lemons, who had 120 yards on 26 carries with a second-half TD.
Photo of Laredo United QB Atzel Chavez Jr. by Clara Sandoval
-- Buck Ringgold | bucks@scorebooklive.com | @sblivetx
