Class 5A State Championship Previews

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Class 5A Division I State Championship Preview

Euless Trinity (15-0) vs. Pearland (15-0) Saturday 8:00 PM Cowboys Stadium, Arlington:

The crown jewel of what should be a great weekend of football is the 5A Division 1 title game that features two 15-0 teams going at it. This one could challenge the national attendance record as well.

Trinity has worked their way through a ridiculous gauntlet of playoff opponents beating Allen, Arlington Martin, Coppell and Round Rock Stony Point in the last four weeks. Coppell and Stony Point had a combined 27-0 mark before running into Trinity.

The past two weeks Trinity's been tested but they've shown the heart of a champion in each game. Will they be able to do it one more week?

In last week's 28-24 win over Stony Point, it was Brandon Carter who simply made play after play at key moments to carry the Trojans. Carter had a pair of sensational 12 yard touchdown runs and completed a key 20 yard pass to TE Nila Kasitati on the final drive that allowed Trinity to run the clock out.

Pearland got tested for a half against San Antonio Stevens last week, but the Oilers pulled away late for an easy 51-21 win. Pearland RB Dustin Garrison who was named the Houston Touchdown Club Player of the Year recently ran wild last week with 269 yards on the ground and four touchdowns.

QB Trey Anderson was solid as well for PHS with 111 yards on the ground, but Anderson's ability to beat the Trinity defense with his arm will be key. Trinity will likely be without DT Suleiman Masumbuko who injured his foot late in the win over Stony Point, this means the Trojans will rely heavily on linebackers Jonathan Yenga and Brian Nance.

I think Pearland's strength plays right into the strength of Trinity defense and I just don't see any defense being able to hold up against the constant beating the Trinity offense puts on you. This is a close game for three and a half quarters but Trinity scores a late touchdown to put it away.

Matt's Pick: Euless Trinity by 13

Class 5A Division II State Championship Preview

Denton Guyer (13-2) vs. Cibolo Steele (13-2) Saturday 4:00 PM Cowboys Stadium, Arlington:

Denton Guyer pulled out one of the most improbable wins in playoff history last week beating longtime playoff nemesis Longview 28-27.

It was a nightmare first half for the Wildcats as on five first half possessions Guyer turned the ball over five times and trailed 17-0 at the intermission.

Guyer cut the lead to 27-21, but it appeared Longview was going to hang on.

With 25 seconds left in the game Longview was set to punt, but Guyer's Dan Kottman blocked the punt. On the ensuing play, Guyer QB J.W. Walsh hooked up with Quentin Gardener for the game winning touchdown to propel Guyer to the brink of a state title.

Steele is also playing for their first title as Texas commit Malcolm Brown the past two weeks has run wild, including a 155 yard two touchdown performance in a 44-20 win over Houston Memorial. Brown all but put the game out of reach at the start of the second half returning the opening kickoff 102 yards for a score.

There's plenty of other weapons on hand for Steele as junior QB Tommy Armstrong is extremely underrated and Oklahoma commit DT Marquis Anderson is a force on defense.

The key to this game is which big time playmaker leads the way in this one and in a battle of evenly matched teams I'll go with the QB. I just can't see Walsh getting this far and letting his Wildcats lose.

Matt's Pick: Denton Guyer by 3

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