Photo by Gaby Velasquez/El Paso Times
Seeing all four District 23-6A representatives still alive in the playoffs is unsurprising. Atascocita, Kingwood, North Shore, and Summer Creek compete in Northeast Houston. It’s one of the state’s most competitive districts. Fans will witness its four playoff teams competing in the Region III finals, with Kingwood facing off against No. 7 Summer Creek in Division II. At the same time, No. 5 Atascocita takes on No. 2 North Shore in Division I. These matchups highlight the intensity and skill presented within this district, known for its formidable teams.
District 23-6A has a reputation for producing teams that excel in the playoffs, as evidenced by last season’s performances. Summer Creek and North Shore made significant strides, reaching the state finals in its respective divisions. A victory for either team in the upcoming matches would secure their places in the state semifinals, bringing them one step closer to the championship game the following week.
Atascocita’s sole defeat this season was against North Shore, which completed the regular season without a loss. The upcoming clash between these two teams serves as a rematch and a critical contest for advancement to the semifinals, marking the second consecutive year they have faced each other in this pivotal stage of the playoffs.
However, the most captivating story is that of Kingwood, a team that has surpassed all expectations to advance to the regional finals. The Mustangs have silenced its critics and are eager to demonstrate its rightful place in the competition.
Before any discussions regarding the championship can occur, the situation needs to stabilize by next weekend, when the four teams compete against each other.
In various games across the state, Klein Collins from Class 6A Region II Division II fell to Longview, 42-28. It’s Longview’s first appearance in the regional finals since 2018, when it defeated Beaumont Westbrook, 35-34, in the championship. The Lobos will play last season’s Class 6A Division II champion, No. 6 DeSoto, which secured its place by defeating Willis with a score of 55-35. Meanwhile, the undefeated No. 4 Southlake Carroll Dragons, a strong contender, successfully navigated a challenging match against Hebron, winning 42-37 to reach the Class 6A Region I Division II finals, where it will face Denton Guyer, which convincingly defeated Crowley with a score of 44-7.
In a contest featuring single-loss teams, Vandegrift triumphed over Cibolo Steele with a score of 49-35, securing a place in the Class 6A Region IV finals, where it will compete against San Antonio Harlan.
No. 17 Bridgeland defeated Waxahachie 24-19 in the Class 6A Region II Division I, securing its spot in the region finals. Duncanville, next up for Bridgeland, is seeking its third consecutive championship after downing No. 23 The Woodlands 42-20.
One of the most intriguing matchups will feature a rematch of last season’s Class 6A Region I finals when undefeated No. 8 Allen, who narrowly defeated No. 18 Euless Trinity22-21, prepares to face undefeated No. 3 North Crowley. The Panthers pack an arsenal of offensive weapons, including receiver Quentin Gibson, running back Cornelius Warren, and quarterback Chris Jimerson. They have demonstrated remarkable tenacity, highlighted by its recent victory over the undefeated No. 9 Coppell, winning 35-24. Notably, this encounter marks the second instance this season in which Crowley has secured a win without achieving a double-digit margin, the first being their season opener against Lancaster, which concluded with a score of 29-21.
Lake Travis aims to level the playing field against archrival No. 11 Westlake in the Class 6A Region IV, Division I matchup.
Top-ranked Aledo continued its impressive performance by defeating Tascosa 62-7 in Class 5A Region I Division I, securing a rematch against Denton Ryan, which triumphed over Richland 48-35. Meanwhile, Frisco Lone Star edged Midlothian in a closely contested matchup, 39-35. The Rangers will square off against Highland Park in the finals of Region II.
LaPorte achieved a remarkable turnaround by outscoring A&M Consolidated 28-0 in the second half, securing a 35-17 victory and advancing to the Class 5A Region III finals. Angleton got by College Station with the slimmest margin of victory, 35-34, and now waits in the Bulldogs’ path. Meanwhile, Corpus Christi Flour Bluff will battle Smithson Valley to round out Region IV.
Class 5A Region II Division II competition is poised to intensify as Port Neches-Groves faces off against Dallas South Oak Cliff. These two teams previously contended for the 2023 championship, during which the Indians secured victory by scoring 11 consecutive points in the fourth quarter. Additionally, Port Neches-Groves delivered Texarkana its first defeat of the season, 31-28.
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