Texas high school football playoff roundup: 11 best 2023 UIL Class 4A-2A area round games
As the area round of the Texas high school football playoffs continues, we're taking a closer look at the top finishes across all 12 UIL playoff brackets.
We took a look at the top area round games in Class 6A and Class 5A. Now, we examine the top small school games, spanning the Class 2A-4A brackets.
The area wrapped up Saturday, setting up the regional semifinal round Nov. 23-25. The regional finals is Nov. 30-Dec. 2, setting up state championship week: semifinals and finals Dec. 7-9 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Here are eight Class 2A-4A area round games you should not have missed:
LA VERNIA UPSETS TOP-RANKED BOERNE
La Vernia scored four times in the second half and rallied to beat Class 4 Division I No. 1-ranked Boerne, 42-31, on Friday at Jerry Comalander Stadium in San Antonio.
The loss snapped a 10-game winning streak for the Greyhounds (10-2).
There were 10 lead changes in the contest but a 2-yard run by Aden Hajek gave La Vernia the lead for good with 4:25 left. His fourth touchdown of the night made it 35-31.
Boerne fumbled on its next possession and Isaiah Cisneros’ 1-yard touchdown came with 1:31 to provide the final margin for the Bears (10-2).
La Vernia plays San Antonio Davenport (9-3) in a regional semifinal on Friday at Alamo Stadium.
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TIMPSON STAYS PERFECT
The No. 1-ranked team in Class 2A Division had little issues in advancing.
Timpson rolled past Wolfe City, 58-20, on Friday in Gladewater after scoring 41 points in the first half. The Bears had the ball only 42 times — compared to the Wolves, who ran 98 plays.
Reigning Mr. Texas Football, Terry Bussey, had a banner day with six total touchdowns. He ran for touchdowns of 23, 53 and 53 yards, while throwing touchdowns for 43, 49 and 13 yards. Bussey threw for 278 and ran for 217.
The Bears (12-0) played without leading running back J.J. Garner due to an injury.
Wolfe City finished 9-3, the most wins since 2018.
Timpson faces Honey Grove (10-1) on Friday in Athens.
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CARTHAGE HAMMERS VAN ALSTYNE
Jett Surratt threw five touchdown passes as Class 4A Division II No. 1-ranked Carthage rolled to a 49-7 win over Van Alstyne on Friday at Sam Parker Field in Mount Pleasant.
The Bulldogs (13-0) built a 35-0 lead by halftime over the Panthers (7-4).
Surratt threw three touchdown passes to Bradan Manning in the first half, covering 53, 46 and 8 yards.
Carthage’s defense held Van Alstyne to 19 yards in the first half and Carson Crawford had a 29-yard interception return for a score.
Surratt capped his day with a pair of touchdown passes in the third quarter.
Carthage will face No. 3-ranked Texarkana Pleasant Grove in the regional finals. Pleasant Grove beat Caddo Mills, 63-10, on Thursday to improve to 12-0.
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FIELD GOAL LIFTS GILMER TO VICTORY
Brayden Pate kicked a field goal from 34 yards with 3 seconds left to give Gilmer a 41-38 win on Thursday against Sunnyvale in a Class 4A Division II area game in Tyler.
The No. 10-ranked team in the Associated Press poll has now won six in a row. Sunnyvale (9-3) had scored twice late to force a tie game before a 12-play drive ended with a field goal.
Gilmer (9-3) got 222 yards and two touchdowns from Will Henderson. Quarterback Cadon Tennison threw for 291 yards and a score.
Nelson Peterson had five total touchdowns for Sunnyvale and 331 yards.
Gilmer will play Aubrey on Friday at Texas A&M-Commerce.
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BROCK HAMMERS MULESHOE
The Eagles ranked No. 4 in Class 3A Division I, tallied 70 or more points for the third time this season in a 76-13 win over Muleshoe on Thursday night.
Junior Brody Woods threw three touchdown passes — two to Colt Matlock, who also returned a punt for a touchdown. Woods also ran for a pair of touchdowns.
Jesse Rusinek had two interceptions and a fumble recovery in the first quarter for Brock. The Eagles defense had an interception return from Cale Bramblett and Hyatt Dunaway returned a fumble for a score to make it 62-0 at halftime.
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SWEENEY LEADS NEEDVILLE TO VICTORY
Junior quarterback Keilan Sweeney accounted for five touchdowns to lead the Blue Jays to a 52-28 win over Lumberton on Thursday at Legacy Stadium in Katy.
Needville (10-2) lost its last two games of the regular season but has won two in a row. Now, that sets up a rematch with Bay City in the regional semifinals. Bay City won 50-17 on Oct. 20.
Sweeney threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more, finishing with 131 yards on the ground.
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AUBREY SURGES PAST VAN
Down 7-0 early, Aubrey scored 35 points in a row on the way to a 35-14 win on Friday at Royse City ISD Stadium.
Four different players had rushing scores for the Chaparrals (8-3) as the ground game accounted for 230 of the team’s 257 yards. Emerson Cagle had 91 yards but didn’t score for Aubrey.
Hank Nokes had a 40-yard interception return for Aubrey, which broke the tie.
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ALVIN IOWA COLONY STAYS UNBEATEN
The second-year Alvin Iowa Colony program won its first area championship with a 45-22 win over Lindale in a Class 4A Division I game on Friday at Merrill Green Stadium in Bryan.
Aaron Tenner, Jacody Mills and Carson White all accounted for two touchdowns for the Pioneers (12-0).
Iowa Colony will face Tyler Chapel Hill (10-2) in the regional semifinal game next week. A location hasn’t been revealed yet.
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FRISCO PANTHER CREEK SECURES FIRST AREA TITLE
Second-year program Frisco Panther Creek rolled to a 49-21 win over Waco La Vega on Friday at the Ford Center in Frisco in a Class 4 Division I area game.
The victory was the ninth in a row for a team that went 3-8 in its inaugural season. Quarterback Braxton Roberts threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for two scores. Running back Sentel Simpson added three touchdowns on 19 carries for 119 yards for Panther Creek (11-1).
Panther Creek will be back at the Ford Center on Friday facing Anna.
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STRATFORD HOLDS OFF STAMFORD
The No. 3-ranked Stratford got three touchdowns from Bryce Barden in a 22-7 win on Friday at Bivins Stadium in Amarillo in a Class 2A Division I area game.
Braden threw for 103 yards and connected with freshman Chase Lantelme for a score. On the ground, Braden ran for 174 yards on 30 carries and scored twice.
Up next is a game against New Deal (9-3). The Lions beat Cisco, 52-21, for their eighth win in a row.
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ANNA KNOCKS OFF DEFENDING STATE CHAMPIONS
In a battle of top-10-ranked teams in Class 4A Division I, No. 2 Anna prevailed 45-21 against No. 7 China Spring on Friday at Owl Stadium in Joshua.
The win means there will be a new champion after China Spring had won the past two titles and won its past 13 playoff games.
Ziondre Williams passed for two touchdowns and 153 yards, while rushing for 110 yards and a touchdown for the Coyotes (11-1).
Edward Chumley had nine carries and scored on three of them for Anna. The Coyotes led 42-7 going into the fourth.
North Texas commit Cash McCollum threw a pair of touchdowns and 153 yards in his final game for China Spring (8-4).
-- Cody Thorn | @sblivetx
