Malakoff (15-0) vs Columbus (14-1), 7 p.m. Thursday at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium: 

Defending 3A-Division I state champion Malakoff, holders of the state’s longest winning streak at 31 games, will look to bring another title home to Henderson County as the Tigers tangle with the explosive offensive juggernaut of Columbus.

Malakoff looked to be in trouble last week after Paradise opened the second half with a near 10-minute drive to go up 19-7. However, Jamie Driskell’s squad showed championship DNA by answering with a massive scoring drive, punctuated by Jason Tennyson’s touchdown run to cut its deficit to 19-14.

Malakoff’s defense then answered the bell as Jack Hustead returned a Paradise interception for a score to give MHS a 20-19 lead. Tennyson added another scoring run late and Malakoff’s defense came up with another stop to seal the 27-19 win.

Columbus didn’t have near the drama in its semifinal game to book its first trip to the state title game. CHS led Edna 42-0 late in the second quarter and downshifted in the second half to walk away from Rice Stadium with an easy 49-6 win.

Wyoming RB commit Grayson Rigdon ran for four scores, while TCU QB commit Adam Schobel tossed a pair of touchdown passes.

You’ve got two MVP type candidates calling the shots in this one in Schobel and Malakoff QB Mike Jones. The key here is Schobel has a better supporting cast and a more healthy supporting cast.

Columbus was hit with the injury bug in October and despite losing some guys, they’ve had time to develop replacements, most notably in the trenches.

Malakoff hasn’t lost a lot of guys, but the Tigers are a beat up football team with a lot of guys gutting it out late in the year.

Malakoff doesn’t have the depth last year’s team had so they are having to get a lot of mileage out of players running on fumes at this stage. The fresher and more talented team in Columbus should win this game, but Malakoff has the state title game experience and Jones is an elite talent capable of carrying his team to incredible heights. 

Stepp’s Pick: Columbus by 11

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Malakoff

QB/DB Mike Jones - Jones, the Offensive MVP from last year’s state championship, is just as dangerous through the air as he is on the ground. He’s completed 70 percent of his passes for 2,537 yards, 38 touchdowns and two interceptions. Jones also has 1,050 yards and 11 touchdowns rushing.

LB/TE Parker Poteete - Poteete is in on almost every tackle from the middle linebacker spot, compiling 145 in 14 games. Poteete meeting Columbus running back Grayson Rigdon in the hole is one of the game’s top matchups. He’s also Malakoff’s leading receiver with 34 catches for 564 yards and 11 touchdowns.

SR OL JaMyron Walker - Walker has paved the way for two 1,000-yard rushers in quarterback Mike Jones and running back Jason Tennyson. Malakoff will need to extend drives and keep Columbus’s high-powered offense off the field. Walker may draw matchups with either John Schobel or Anthony Shorter.

Columbus

QB Adam Schobel - The engine that makes the Cardinals hum, Schobel is rated as the No. 2 QB in Texas and No. 36 player in the state for 2025. Schobel consistently displays pinpoint accuracy on all of his throws and rarely makes mistakes. If his offensive line gives him time, he'll find the open man guaranteed. He's signed to TCU.

ATH Grayson Rigdon - Football fans across the state were anxious to find out how one of the all-time great six-man players would transition to 11-man football. Rigdon, by all accounts, has exceeded expectations. He's a walking touchdown anytime he touches the ball. He'll play both football and basketball for Wyoming.

LB John Schobel - The 6-foot-4, 215-pound TCU signee has been the leader on Columbus' defense for years and is also a sure-handed tight end. Get ready to hear No. 4's name called a lot inside AT&T Stadium.

PREDICTIONS

THE PICK