Class 4A Division I

Canyon (12-1) vs Argyle (14-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Abilene’s Anthony Field: Canyon is making their first appearance since 2006 as the Blake Bryant’s squad showed plenty of grit in a 17-14 win over Springtown. With the game scoreless in the second quarter senior QB Jay DeFoor comes out of the game with an injury and sophomore QB Derrek Clements stepped in and guided the Eagles to the win throwing a pair of touchdown passes. Trailing 14-7 in the fourth quarter. CHS tied it up as Clements hooked up with Joe Shaw for a 40-yard touchdown pass and then K Elijah Smothermon drilled the game winning 40-yard field goal to lift Canyon to the win. Argyle had no troubles in their rematch with Paris last week, rolling past the Wildcats 41-13 as QB CJ Rogers threw for two touchdowns and ran for another score and Argyle because of injuries rotated four different running backs in gashing Paris for over 300 yards on the ground. Argyle’s dominance on the offensive and defensive lines is going to be evident early in this one and with the QB situation at Canyon a bit uncertain, Todd Rodgers squad cruises into the state title game. Stepp’s Pick: Argyle by 15

Lindale (12-2) vs Austin LBJ (9-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Humble’s Turner Stadium: If you like offense, this is probably the game for you as Lindale and LBJ both have the ability to score points in bunches. Lindale comes into this one averaging nearly 48 points per game in the playoffs, while LBJ is a throwing up a sizzling 57.5 points per game. Lindale ran the gauntlet in Region III knocking off consecutive district opponents, last week taking down Kilgore 56-42 as once again Jordan Jenkins put up video game numbers, rushing for 257 yards and seven touchdowns and the Lindale defense in the second half was able to string together a couple of stops and allowed LHS to turn a 21-20 halftime deficit into a 42-21 third quarter lead. LBJ presents a unique challenge because of the Jaguars athleticism, most notably on the defensive side of the ball. Sophomore QB Oscar Gordon continues to operate the LBJ offense at a high level, making all the right reads in the Jags read based offense. Running back Daqwon Donaldson led LBJ with 181 yards and four touchdowns rushing on just 13 carries, while Clemson commit Andrew Mukuba picked off two passes and also hauled in a touchdown pass on the offensive side of the ball. This game is going to come to down to which defense can rise up and make a few plays, LBJ’s defensive strengths are nullified to a large extent because of Lindale’s propensity to run the football between the tackles, but can Lindale’s defense control the line of scrimmage enough to contain LBJ’s speed? Lindale isn’t a slow team by any means, but they aren’t as loaded as LBJ, so this game will be decided by the Lindale defensive front, that battle will decide this showdown. Stepp’s Pick: Lindale by 2

Class 4A Division II

Graham (11-1) vs Gilmer (13-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Prosper’s Children’s Health Stadium: Graham is more known for their high powered offense than anything else, but in the last two weeks, it’s been the Steers defense and special teams that’s made key plays in big moments to earn them the Region I crown. Last week Graham raced out to a quick 14-0 lead early as Zack Martin returned the opening kickoff 96-yards for a touchdown and Reagan Carter caught a two-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Lanham to spark GHS early. K Chandler Dyer nailed three field goals, including game winning kick from 37-yards out with just ten seconds left to propel Graham to the semifinals for the seventh time in school history. The challenge for the Steers is steep this week against East Texas powerhouse Gilmer who dispatched unbeaten Caddo Mills 38-14 last week. QB Brandon Tennison ran for a touchdown and threw two touchdown passes and the Gilmer defense played their best game of the season, shutting down a potent Caddo Mills offense in the second half of the dominating win. Gilmer’s team speed on both sides of the ball and dynamic ability on offense is the difference in this one against a Graham team that in the past has struggled against dynamic skill talent. Stepp’s Pick: Gilmer by 12

Carthage (12-0) vs Wimberley (11-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Porter’s Randall Reed Stadium: Can anyone stop the freight train that is the Carthage Bulldogs? Scott Surratt’s squad has laid waste to 4A-Division II thus far and there’s no signs of them slowing down as they look for state title number eight in the past fourteen years. Last week Carthage ripped past a strong China Spring squad 52-14 as RB Mason Courtney ran for 211 yards and four touchdowns and QB Kai Horton threw for an efficient 209 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Carthage’s offense moved the ball up and down the field all night on China Spring as they turned the ball over while going in for another touchdown and also turned the ball over on downs at the three-yard line. Wimberley earned their second straight Region IV crown last week as for the second straight year they took down Geronimo Navarro in the regional final, avenging a regular season loss. This time the Texans defense was the catalyst in a 35-14 win as the Texans defense dominated in the first half and QB Matthew Tippie tossed two touchdown passes to race WHS out to a 28-0 lead against the Slot-T Panthers. Navarro cut the lead to 28-14 in the third quarter, but Tippie’s 47-yard pass to Ty Pruett put the game out of reach. Wimberley’s defense forced five turnovers but allowed a whopping 591 yards of offense to Navarro, that’s not a good combination when going against a team of Carthage’s caliber. Wimberley much like China Spring keeps it close for a half, maybe even three quarters, but Carthage just has too much in all phases, especially in the trenches. Stepp’s Pick: Carthage by 18

Class 3A Division I

Tuscola Jim Ned (12-1) vs Mount Vernon (12-2), 3:15 p.m. Friday at Arlington’s Globe Life Park: It’s a state semifinal matchup with a pair of mystery guests as if you had Jim Ned and Mount Vernon playing in a state semifinal, congratulations you are the only one! Jim Ned didn’t have any hangover effects after stunning top ranked Brock in the regional semifinals as the Indians blasted a red hot Pilot Point squad 45-28 last week. RB Xavier Wishert was the big key in last week tallying 271 yards and four touchdowns rushing, while also returning a kickoff 83 yards for a score. Mount Vernon, who finished in fourth place in a brutal district has run through the Region II gauntlet and last week the Tigers upended regional favorite Malakoff 37-34 to earn what most would consider their third straight upset win. MVHS trailed 34-22 with just over seven minutes left and rallied for the win as Nellor ran for two of his three rushing touchdowns down the stretch, the final score coming on 4th and 1 from 19-yards out to lift the Tigers to the win. Mount Vernon’s played a brutal slate all year, they are battle tested and have that sense of a team of destiny with their close playoff wins, expect another close one this week, but the Tigers punch a ticket to their first state title game in school history this week. Stepp’s Pick: Mount Vernon by 4

Hallettsville (12-2) vs Llano (13-0), 7 p.m. Thursday at Georgetown’s Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex: After putting up historically good numbers in their third round win over Lorena, Hallettsville RB Jonathon Brooks was understandably due for a tough game and he along with the Hallettsville offense had that last week in a hard fought 23-21 win over Columbus. Brooks found the sledding tough but still managed 192 yards rushing and a touchdown, but his biggest play came via special teams as his 46-yard punt return for a touchdown proved to be the winning score. HHS needed a little luck as they rallied from a 14-0 and 21-10 hole to get the win. Unbeaten Llano was pushed by district rival Lago Vista last week, but the Yellow Jackets were able to escape with a 31-25 win as QB Case Kuykendall scored on a four-yard touchdown run with 33 seconds left in the game to left Llano to their first state semifinal appearance in school history. Kuykendall was the difference LHS in this one, rushing for 198 yards, passing for 177 yards and accounting for three of Llano’s four touchdowns. Llano’s run has been magical, but Brooks and this Hallettsville bunch is well equipped to win a shootout and they’ve got the defense to get key stops late. Stepp’s Pick: Hallettsville by 9

Class 3A Division II

Canadian (13-1) vs Gunter (13-1), 4 p.m. Friday at Abilene’s Anthony Field: It’s a rivalry that’s so heated, so intense it can only be played in the state semifinals as for the fifth straight season in this round, these two elite powers in 3A-Division II meet with a trip to AT&T Stadium on the line. Gunter’s taken three of the four meetings, but last year’s game came down to literally one yard as the Tigers defense made a great play at the goal line to prevent a potentially game tying Canadian score as time expired. Both teams come into this one playing their best football of the season and are fresh off dominating regional final wins. Canadian for the second time this year rolled past Childress, beating the Bobcats 45-14 as RB Hayze Hufstedler ran for 216 yards and four touchdowns, including a 99-yard jaunt in the second quarter that proved to be the back-breaker for Childress. Gunter had their way with high-powered Eastland last week in a dominating 61-28 win on Thursday. The Tigers rolled up 47 first half points on the strength of a monster night from QB Hudson Graham who tallied 395 yards of offense and seven touchdowns as Gunter’s offense was just unstoppable. The Tigers defense, going against the vaunted Eastland offense was up to the task as well as Gunter’s defensive line dominated throughout. These are two elite, state title worthy teams, they know each other really well, there’s no secrets here, it’s going to come down to mistakes and little plays here and there as the margins are slim. It was just a yard last year, this time Canadian gets it done for no other reason other than when you have two teams this evenly matched you play the odds, Canadian lost in heart-wrenching fashion a year ago and the Wildcats will atone for that in 2020. Stepp’s Pick: Canadian by 1

Waskom (12-1) vs Franklin (11-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Tyler’s TMF Rose Stadium: It’s a rematch of the 2015 state title game in Houston when Waskom knocked off Franklin to win their second straight state title. Neither team has reached those heights since until this season. Waskom avenged their only loss of the season last week as the Wildcats took down district rival Elysian Fields, 44-41. Jose Meza’s 37-yard field goal proved to be the difference in a back and forth shootout. RB Deajhun Feaster led the way for the Wildcats with 167 yards rushing and three touchdowns, Quarterback Markus Gonzalez ran for 128 yards and a score, while Tesean Hamilton chipped in 111 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Franklin easily dispatched district rival Buffalo for the second time this season as the Lions rolled to a 56-33 win. Seth Spiller ran for three touchdowns and Bryson Washington chipped in a punt return for a touchdown and a rushing score as Franklin rolled up 35 second half points in the win. Franklin’s big edge is in the trenches and although Waskom may be slightly quicker at the skill spots, Franklin’s got playmakers to keep up, but the Lions wear the Wildcats down up front in the fourth quarter. Stepp’s Pick: Franklin by 11

Class 2A Division I

Post (14-0) vs Crawford (13-1), 7 p.m. Thursday at Brownwood’s Gordon Wood Stadium: Post has simply done the unthinkable the last two weeks by outscoring Panhandle and Cisco 101-0. In fact, in the past six games, Post has allowed a TOTAL of six points! The Bold Gold have played 12 games on the field this year, they’ve allowed a total of 53 points! Just staggering numbers, but the offense has been pretty good too and against a tough Cisco defense in last week’s 33-0 win it was QB Slayden Pittman and RB Ashton Jefferson that led the way combining for 191 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Crawford was equally dominant in their semifinal win as the Pirated romped past Bosqueville, 48-0, as QB Tanner Merenda threw for two scores and ran for another as the Pirates raced out to a 35-0 halftime lead. Breck Chambers ran for 131 yards and a touchdown and Garrett Pearson chipped in 113 yards on the ground and a score. Crawford’s strength plays right into the strength of the Post defense and barring major breakdowns, it’s hard to see Crawford consistently moving the ball against this Post juggernaut. Post’s offense led by RB Jefferson gets going in the second half and pulls away. Stepp’s Pick: Post by 22

Timpson (14-0) vs Shiner (12-0), 7 p.m. Thursday at Porter’s Randall Reed Stadium: Unbeaten Timpson looks to keep their magical season going on Thursday night against top-ranked Shiner. Timpson had no issues on Friday as the Bears blew away an overmatched Beckville squad 55-14. RB Braden Courtney ran for 220 yards and two touchdowns and dynamic freshman Terry Bussey scored three times - two rushing and one receiving - as the Bears rattled off 55 straight points after trailing 6-0. Shiner dispatched nemesis Refugio on Friday afternoon in an absolute slugfest with a 24-13 win. Shiner’s defense held a powerful Refugio offense to just 232 yards of offense, while Shiner’s run-oriented attack led by QB Tyler Palmer and RB’s Dalton and Doug Brooks churned out 200 combined yards as Shiner controlled the tempo of the game all night long. Shiner’s skill talent may be overshadowed by Timpson’s speedy playmakers in this one, but Shiner has a major edge up front and Region IV in recent years has dominated Region III at this level and that trend continues again this week. Stepp’s Pick: Shiner by 13

Class 2A Division II

Wellington (13-0) vs Windthorst (13-1), 7 p.m. Thursday at Vernon’s Lion Stadium: Unbeaten Wellington looks to keep their sizzling play going this week against an underrated and tough Windthorst squad. Last week in the regional final against McCamey, the Skyrockets fell behind 18-0 right away, but then rattled off 46-straight points to cruise to a 46-26 win. RB Marc Ramirez continued to dominate behind an outstanding Wellington offensive line with 256 yards rushing and three second half touchdowns as the Skyrockets blew the game open in the second half. Windthorst took down district rival Muenster for the second time this season as the Trojans pulled away for a 30-20 win last week. RB Ethan Belcher was the workhorse for Windthorst with 31 carries for 193 yards and a touchdown, while QB Cy Belcher tossed two touchdown passes to Kyle Wolf to give the Trojans attack plenty of balance. This one comes down to which defense can be physical enough to slow down the other side’s power running game; these are two similarly matched teams who have a similar identity. Which defense, especially up front, makes the key plays in this one? The edge is with Wellington who has had the look of a team that could make it to Arlington all season long. Stepp’s Pick: Wellington by 7

Mart (13-0) vs Falls City (11-2), 7 p.m. Thursday at Pflugerville’s The Pfield: It’s the third straight year for Mart and Falls City to meet up in the state semifinals. After a close game in 2018, Mart rolled past the Beavers in 2019 and comes into this one as the heavy favorite. The Panthers were pushed a bit last week but were never seriously in danger in a 54-23 win over Tenaha as Rodrell Freeman did much of the heavy lifting once again. The senior threw for 85 yards, but added 311 yards rushing and four touchdowns to lead Mart. Falls City won a slugfest last week with a tough Christoval squad, 27-18. Falls City was led by a balanced ground game with Cole Thomas rushing for 84 yards, Grant Jendrusch rushing for 72 yards and two scores and Luke Shaffer adding 54 yards and a touchdown rushing and receiving. Mart’s speed is just too much for Falls City and the Panthers dominate from start to finish. Stepp’s Pick: Mart by 23