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Thursday, December 18, 2014

7C

Football Playoffs Championship Week

TODAYS GAMES

CLASS 5A DIVISION II FINAL | Ennis (13-2) vs. Cedar Park (12-3), 8 p.m. Friday, AT&T Stadium (FSSW)

Lions share of title success

Ennis, with 3 state
championships since
2000, seeks a 4th

HIGH SCHOOLS

NNIS At the entrance to the locker

room, next to a sign
that says Prepare for December today, is an impressive display of Ennis football success since 2000. A
maroon plaque is hung for
each season, displaying the
win-loss records of the
Lions three state champions and other powerhouse
teams.
But three years are missing in the lineup, and its not
by mistake.
From 2009 to 2011, Ennis finished a combined 1020 and didnt make the
playoffs. Those were the
years when Ennis fans wonwhether
their
dered
beloved Lions, who had averaged nearly 12 wins per
season from 2000 to 2008,
would again be kings of the
football jungle.
Now Ennis is one win
away.
Ennis (13-2) plays Cedar
Park (12-3) for the Class 5A
Division II title at 8 p.m.
Friday at AT&T Stadium.
Senior James Lockhart,
who as a freshman got
called up late in the season
to play for a varsity team
that finished 3-7, said the
return to glory isnt a surprise.
It was tough my freshman year, said Lockhart, a
6-3, 247-pound defensive
end who is orally committed to Texas A&M. But after my sophomore year, I

MATT WIXON
mwixon@dallasnews.com

knew that we had a special

group of kids.
In many ways, the current Ennis team resembles
the Lions 4A championship teams of 2000, 2001
and 2004. Just like those
champions, this group has
talented and hard-working
kids, a high-scoring offense
and a hard-nosed defense.
But the Ennis teams of
Sam Harrell, who coached
the Lions from 1994 to
2009, thrived with the
spread offense. Harrell, one
of the early adopters, innovators and masters of the
spread, deployed no-huddle
attacks that wore out defenses.
Harrells Ennis teams
ran the ball effectively, but
the Lions were known for
huge passing numbers.
Graham Harrell, the coachs
son who would later star at
Texas Tech, passed for
12,532 yards and 167 touchdowns over three seasons.
His senior year in 2003, he
threw for 67 touchdowns, a
state record that stood until
Refugios Travis Quintanilla
threw for 68 last season.
By comparison, Ennis
Devin Smith has thrown 23
touchdown passes and
hes having a great season.
Ennis now operates mostly
out of the Wing-T, which
coach Jack Alvarez installed

Andy Jacobsohn/Staff Photographer

Ennis James Lockhart (9), in action against Corsicana, calls his teammates a special group.

Return to glory
Ennis has steadily improved since coach Jack Alvarez took
over a team that finished 2-8 in 2010. The Lions four-year
run with Alvarez:
Year
2011
2012
2013
2014

Rec.
3-7
8-3
14-1
13-2

Notable
5-game losing streak in district killed playoff hopes
Lost to Whitehouse in first round of playoffs
Lost to eventual champ Aledo in 4A-II state semis
Takes 13-game win streak into 5A-I title game

when he took over in 2011,

and the Lions are a powerful running team. They
average 261.5 yards rushing
per game and 70 percent of
this years plays have been
runs.
But the Wing-T is just a
formation, and Ennis can
certainly pass the ball.
Smith threw for five touchdowns in the last two weeks
as the Lions knocked out
South Oak Cliff and El Paso
Canutillo.
Were balanced, Alvarez said. We dont want to
be so close-minded that we
feel we have to run the ball
all the time or pass the ball
all the time to win.
Alvarez knew Ennis had
what it takes to win when he

arrived before the 2011 season, even though the Lions

were no longer a roaring
success. Harrell gave up his
coaching duties after the
2009 season to deal with
the effects of multiple sclerosis, and Ennis had suffered through a 2-8 season
in 2010.
Alvarez wasnt worried.
He knew that Ennis had a
winning tradition, unlike at
Kirbyville, a program that
he turned around and led to
2A title games in 2008 and
2009.
The difference was that
the expectations were set
here in Ennis, he said. And
there was a work ethic.
When you combine expectations and work ethic, its a

good recipe for success.

Alvarez doesnt want to
be compared with Harrell,
who he says is a better
coach than Ill ever be. But
Harrell, who still lives in
Ennis (and whose health
has improved dramatically
over the last three years),
admires what Alvarez has
done with the team.
Hes got them rolling,
Harrell said.
Ennis has rolled all the
way to the state title game,
where it will play for the
schools fifth state title. Ennis also won a 3A title in
1975.
Senior receiver Donta
Thompson, who has caught
four touchdown passes in
the last three weeks, said it
feels good that the teams
hard work has paid off.
Smith, who Alvarez calls
one of the best quarterbacks
hes ever coached, said the
seniors have been talking
about playing in the state title game since junior high.
Lockhart, who has lived
in Ennis his whole life, remembers cheering for Ennis at the 2004 state championship game.
Now Lockhart and his
teammates are the Ennis
heroes, hoping to bring
home a title to a town that
lives and breathes football.
I dont think some people grasp the caliber of what
Ennis is, Lockhart said.
We are a legit football
town. Were always behind
Ennis football. Its always
been that way.

CLASS 6A
ADAM
BOEDEKER
D.RecordChronicle

Allen vs. Cypress Ranch

Cedar Hill vs. Katy
Aledo vs. Temple
Ennis vs. Cedar Park
Argyle vs. Navasota
Gilmer vs. West Orange-Stark
Mineola vs. Cameron Yoe
Waskom vs. Newton
Canadian vs. Mason
Albany vs. Bremond
Last week
Season record
Shaded box indicates leader

Allen
Cedar Hill
Aledo
Ennis
Argyle
Gilmer
Cameron Yoe
Newton
Canadian
Bremond
5-1 (.833)
312-113 (.734)

PAT
DONEY
Ch. 5
Allen
Cedar Hill
Aledo
Ennis
Argyle
Gilmer
Cameron Yoe
Newton
Canadian
Albany
5-1 (.833)
313-112 (.736)

MARCUS
MURPHREE
SportsDayHS
editor

GREG
RIDDLE
SportsDayHS
editor

CORBETT
SMITH
SportsDayHS
writer

MATT
WIXON
SportsDayHS
columnist

Allen
Cedar Hill
Aledo
Ennis
Navasota
Gilmer
Cameron Yoe
Waskom
Mason
Albany
6-0 (1.000)
311-114 (.732)

Allen
Cedar Hill
Aledo
Ennis
Navasota
Gilmer
Cameron Yoe
Newton
Canadian
Bremond
6-0 (1.000)
324-101 (.762)

Allen
Cedar Hill
Temple
Ennis
Navasota
Gilmer
Cameron Yoe
Newton
Canadian
Bremond
6-0 (1.000)
333-92 (.784)

Allen
Cedar Hill
Aledo
Ennis
Navasota
Gilmer
Cameron Yoe
Newton
Canadian
Bremond
6-0 (1.000)
320-105 (.753)

Allen (15-0) .......vs. Cypress Ranch (13-2)

8:00 Saturday (FSSW)

DIVISION II STATE FINAL

Cedar Hill (13-2) ...............vs. Katy (14-1)
4:00 Saturday (FSSW)

CLASS 5A
DIVISION I STATE FINAL
Aledo (14-1) .................vs. Temple (13-1)
noon Saturday (FSSW)

DIVISION II STATE FINAL

Ennis (13-2) ............vs. Cedar Park (12-3)
8:00 Friday (FSSW)

CLASS 4A
DIVISION I STATE FINAL
Argyle (15-0) ............vs. Navasota (15-0)
4:00 Friday (FSSW)

Canadian vs. Mason

1 p.m. (FSSW)
CANADIAN (14-0)
Playoff run: d. Windthorst 59-13; d. Stratford
34-0; d. Abernathy 62-14; d. Mart 49-14.
Key players: LB/WR Andrew
Ezzell (153 tackles, 29 for
loss for the 2A defensive
player of the year); QB/FS
Tanner Schafer, (3,622 passing yards, 49 TDs, second team all-state);
WR/DB Braiden Galla (88 catches, 1,206
yards, 18 TDs)
Notable: No opponent has been closer than
16 points in the final score of any Canadian
victory.
MASON (14-0)
Playoff run: d. Shiner 44-20; d. Three Rivers
42-0; d. Refugio 24-20; d. Centerville 27-7.
Key players: RB/DB Seth
Hudson (1,261 rushing yards,
22 TDs); OL/DL Kyle Zavala
(two-time all-state selection);
RB/LB Luis Castillo (1,169
rushing yards, 16 TDs)
Notable: The Punchers are 61-5 in the last
five seasons, with their most recent state
title in 2011.
Prediction: Canadian 21, Mason 14

Mineola (12-3) .....vs. Cameron Yoe (11-4)

8:00 Thursday (FSSW)

DIVISION II STATE FINAL

Waskom (14-1) ...........vs. Newton (12-3)
5:00 Thursday (FSSW)

CLASS 2A
DIVISION I STATE FINAL
Canadian (14-0) ............vs. Mason (14-0)
1:00 Thursday (FSSW)

DIVISION II STATE FINAL

Albany (14-0) ............vs. Bremond (14-0)
10 a.m. Thursday (FSSW)

FIRST-TEAM
OFFENSE
Pos. Player
School
OL Adryous Masters
South Oak Cliff
OL Jonathan Nicholson
Abilene Cooper
OL David Shin
The Colony
OL Jeremiah Sodia
Victoria West
OL Ethan Sullivant
Cedar Park
WR Aaron Fuller
Lovejoy
WR Keyandre Hearvey
Denton
QB Chason Virgil
West Mesquite
RB Travis Brannan
Austin Vandegrift
RB Kierre Crossley
Everman
RB Isaiah Duarte
Birdville
K
Tre Honshtein
Georgetown East View
Offensive Player of the Year: Travis Brannan, Austin
Vandegrift

Cl.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.

DEFENSE
Pos.
DL
DL
DL
DL
LB
LB
LB
DB
DB
DB
DB
P

Player
Ray Dinnall-Guerra
Jalen Goss
Marvin Terry
Darius Watson
Sammy Alaniz
Troy Burnett
Thomas Hutchings
Johnathan Durham
Sean Landez
Kendall Sheffield
Jakoryian Walker
Cameron Dawley

School
Edcouch-Elsa
South Oak Cliff
South Oak Cliff
Corsicana
Edcouch-Elsa
Fort Bend Elkins
Cedar Park
Aledo
Mission Sharyland
Fort Bend Marshall
Longview
SA Alamo Heights

Cl.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Jr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.

Defensive Player of the Year: Thomas Hutchings, Cedar Park

Terry were named to the first team,

and senior wide receiver J.F. Thomas
(a TCU pledge) and senior running
back Jordan Stevenson (a Wisconsin
pledge) were named to the second
team. A day after he announced on
Twitter that he had orally committed
to Fresno State, West Mesquite senior quarterback Chason Virgil was
named first-team all-state.

SECOND-TEAM

Johnson, Mansfield Summit; Tim Meyers, Nacogdoches;

Chris Minter, Temple; Dalton Montgomery, Lake Dallas;
Keenan Murphy, Crosby; Castin Neumeyer, Wylie; Zach Pare,
Georgetown East View; Jorge Rios, Port Lavaca Calhoun; Nico Russolillo, Frisco Heritage; Michael Shogbonyo, Mansfield Summit; Lake Smith, Angleton; Parker Sorge, WF Rider;
Jared Spivey, Bryan; Kameron Stubblefield, Dallas South
Oak Cliff; Judd Terry, Denton; Broderick Washington, Longview.
RECEIVERS/ENDS: Aaron Anderson, Abilene Cooper; Keegan
Brewer, Lake Dallas; Bear Christianson, Austin Vandegrift;
O.J. Clark, Wichita Falls; Keke Coutee, Lufkin; Jaquay Cross,
Brenham; Davion Davis, Hutto; Kevin Dewitt, CC Flour Bluff;
Derrick Dick, A&M Consolidated; Aaron Dilworth, CC Flour
Bluff; Myron Gailliard, Mansfield Timberview; Joshua Garza,
Mercedes; JoVanta Grimble, Georgetown; Apollos Hester,
Georgetown East View; Evan McHugh, Lubbock Cooper; Ryan
Newsome, Aledo; Paxton Segina, Austin Vandegrift; Jerminic Smith, South Garland; T.J. Vasher, WF Rider; Hutch White,
Kerrville Tivy.
QUARTERBACKS: Ben Bottlinger, Georgetown; Cade Dyal, Kerrville Tivy; Gamarquis Girdy, Victoria West; Deion HairGriffin, FW Arlington Heights; Tyler Herrick, Hutto; Caleb Hill,
Brenham; David Johnson, Dallas South Oak Cliff; Justin
Maese, EP Ysleta; Geo McCollister, Tyler; Steven Montez, EP
Del Valle; Chad President, Temple; Bowman Sells, Lucas Lovejoy; Brett Taff, Canyon Randall; Malik Walker, Frisco Heritage; Tracin Wallace, FW South Hills; Devin Williams, Mansfield Timberview; Brennen Wooten, Marble Falls.
RUNNING BACKS: Rakeem Boyd, Houston Stratford; Remus
Bulmer, Fort Bend Ridge Point; Mulbah Car, Austin Reagan;
Kierre Crossley, Everman; Matthew Dickson, CC Tuloso-Midway; Wyatt Garton, Canyon Randall; KeeKee Johnson, Bryan; Clement Jones, Austin McCallum; Ronald Jones, McKinney North; Anthony McLain, Amarillo Palo Duro; Alex Mermea, Floresville; Tylan Miller, Longview; Pedro Rodriguez,
Roma; Xavier Scott, Denton; Steven Starcher, Gregory-Portland; Taylor Thompson, Ennis; Coronado Tolbert, Nacogdoches; Trayveon Williams, Houston King.

KICKERS: Grant Carlson, Fort Bend Ridge Point; Luis Duran, Tyler; Cole Martin, Temple; Samuel Rodriguez, Angleton.
DEFENSE
LINEMEN: Taaj Bakari, Mansfield Legacy; Joseph Broadnax,
Dallas Adams; Tyler Corn, Burleson Centennial; Sean Foreman, Kerrville Tivy; Albert Garcia, Mission Veterans; Tony
Green, Hutto; Antonio Harris, Terrell; Dacion Harris, Mansfield Timberview; Kingsley Keke, Richmond George Ranch;
Drake Kuehn, Ennis; Pierre Leonard, Tyler; Justin Madubuike, McKinney North; Karbohn McAdoo, Longview; Fentrese Milligan, Elgin; Ronan Profetta, Kerrville Tivy; Dee
Spencer, Mesquite Poteet; Josiah Tauaefa, Lake Dallas; Nathan White, Crosby.
LINEBACKERS: Deion Amerson, FW Polytechnic; Reece Barrett,
CC Calallen; Nainoa Bean, Gregory-Portland; Hugo Cabrera,
Mission Veterans; Spencer Choka, Bryan Rudder; Hunter
Donnelly, Burleson Centennial; Keldre Flowers, Ennis; Josh
Hight, CC Calallen; Jaylon Jackson, Longview; Malik Jefferson, Mesquite Poteet; Coleman Johnson, Bryan; Trenton
Jones, Plainview; Kenneth Mann, Burleson; Kendell Mays,
Mansfield Timberview; Ty McCorckle, Temple; Blaine McRay,
Burleson; Osaze Ogbebor, Frisco Heritage; Isaiah Pouncy,
Beaumont Central; Fabricio Quintanilla, Mercedes; Johnny
Roa, FW South Hills; Jorge Solis, Mercedes; Augustine
Tambe, Cedar Park; Jake Turner, Ennis; Jessie Velasco, Canutillo.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Bryce Balous, McKinney North; Bo Brooks,
Canutillo; Jared Carmona, Frisco Liberty; Frederick Carter,
FW Polytechnic; O.J. Clark, Wichita Falls; Justin Cegielski,
Crosby; Clint Cole, Temple; Adrian Contreras, Georgetown
East View; Treyvionne Edwards, Ennis; Deshon Elliott, Rockwall-Heath; Kevin Liebano, Mission Veterans; Prentice McKinney, Dallas South Oak Cliff; Jordan Owens, Tyler; Rajah
Preciado, College Station; Prince Robinson, Houston North
Forest; Victor Valdez, Edcouch-Elsa; Bryan Ward, Bryan;
Khalil Williams, Longview.
PUNTER: Luis Duran, Tyler.

Pos.
DL
DL
DL
DL
LB
LB
LB
DB
DB
DB
DB
P

Player
Erick Fowler
James Lockhart
Garron Nash
Torain Williams
Conoly Koonts
Eric Ogor
DaQuan Patton
Roel Garcia
Bryston Gipson
P.J. Locke
Tyler Snell
Grant Carlson

OFFENSE
School
Ennis
Mesquite Poteet
Lufkin
Ennis
Sulphur Springs
Mesquite Poteet
South Oak Cliff
Austin Vandegrift
Plainview
Brenham
South Oak Cliff
Saginaw Boswell
DEFENSE
School
Manor
Ennis
Wichita Falls
Fort Bend Ridge Point
SA Alamo Heights
Richmond Foster
Cedar Park Vista Ridge
Mercedes
Tyler
Beaumont Central
CC Flour Bluff
Fort Bend Ridge Point

Cl.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
So.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Cl.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.
Sr.
Sr.
Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION
OFFENSE
LINEMEN: Benjamin Cohen, SA Alamo Heights; Moises Garcia,
Plainview; Nick Gerhard, Mansfield Timberview; Clay
Greathouse, WF Rider; Hunter Harris, Aledo; Ruben Hinojosa, Roma; Colton Hostetler, Burleson Centennial; Gerred

Waskom vs. Newton

CLASS 3A

the nations top linebacker was an

honorable mention all-state selection. Voting is based on regular-season statistics only, and Jefferson
missed time with an injury and had
60 tackles (15 for loss) and six sacks
in the regular season.
South Oak Cliff senior offensive
lineman Adryous Masters, senior
defensive lineman Jalen Goss and
junior defensive lineman Marvin

Player
Grant Cervantes
Dontae Duff
Erik McCoy
Trendon Rolen
Landon Watkins
Deandre McNeal
JF Thomas
Jamie Hudson
Warren Flye
Earnest Patterson
Jordan Stevenson
Alex Del Valle

CLASS 3A DIVISION II

DIVISION I STATE FINAL

lections. Ennis defensive lineman

James Lockhart, who has committed to Texas A&M, was second-team
all-state, along with offensive linemen Grant Cervantes and Trendon
Rolen.
Mesquite Poteet senior Malik Jefferson the nations No. 1-ranked
linebacker recruit according to Rivals.com and winner of the high
school Butkus Award that is given to

Pos.
OL
OL
OL
OL
OL
WR
WR
QB
RB
RB
RB
K

8 p.m. (FSSW)
MINEOLA (12-3)
Playoff run: d. Pattonville Prairiland 52-14; d.
Commerce 42-14; d. Pilot Point 34-27; d.
Pottsboro 14-7; d. Shallowater 42-27.
Key players: OT/NG Austin
Anderson (first-team all-state
selection); QB/FS Jeremiah
Crawford (1,737 rushing yards,
24 TDs); RB/CB Chantz Perkins (2,075 rushing, 22 TDs)
Notable: The Yellowjackets,
making their first appearance in a state final,
dropped their first three games by a combined 12 points and have not lost since.
CAMERON YOE (11-4)
Playoff run: d. Glen Rose 41-21; d. Teague
42-31; d. Winnie East Chambers 54-21; d.
Rockdale 44-25; d. Edna 61-34.
Key players: OL/DL
DAndre Adams (5 blocked
kicks for all-state defender); WR Aaron Sims (78
catches, 1,240 yards, 18
TDs); RB Traion Smith (2,127 rushing, 29
TDs)
Notable: The Yoemen are gunning for their
third successive state title. They took down
Daingerfield 38-20 in 2012 and Wall 35-14
last season.
Prediction: Cameron Yoe 31, Mineola 30

CLASS 2A DIVISION I

South Oak Cliff dominates 5A selections

The 2014 Texas Associated Press Sports Editors Class 5A allstate high school football team, released Wednesday. Voting
based on regular-season performance. Players are listed in
alphabetical order at each position.

Mineola vs. Cameron Yoe

DIVISION II STATE FINAL

CLASS 5A ALL-STATE TEAM

After reaching a regional final,

South Oak Cliff had three first-team
selections and two second-team
picks as it dominated the Texas Associated Press Sports Editors Class
5A all-state football team that was
released Wednesday.
Ennis, which beat South Oak
Cliff 31-14 in the playoffs on its way to
Fridays 5A Division II state championship game, had no first-team se-

CLASS 3A DIVISION I

Gilmer (15-0) vs. West Orange-Stark

(13-2)
noon Friday (FSSW)

Follow Matt Wixon

on Twitter at @mattwixon.

(All games at AT&T Stadium in Arlington)

DIVISION I STATE FINAL

Special Contributor

5 p.m. (FSSW)
WASKOM (14-1)
Playoff run: d. Linden-Kildare 48-26; d. Leonard 52-32; Howe 71-21; Gunter 49-15; Sonora
25-21.
Key players: RB/DB Kevin
Johnson (1,887 rushing yards,
21 TDs); MLB/FB Chan Amie
(top tackler averages 12 per
game); SB/OLB Junebug
Johnson (1,194 rushing yards rushing, 14 TDs)
Notable: Last seasons run to the state semifinals ended the Wildcats 20-year playoff
drought.
NEWTON (12-3)
Playoff run: d. New Waverly 46-6; d. Dublin
56-13; d. Franklin 49-21; d. Rogers 32-7; d.
Blanco 48-21.
Key players: QB/DB Roney
Elam (5 interceptions, 2 returned for TDs by Texas A&M
pledge); RB/DB Calum Foster
(1,673 rushing yards, 21 TDs);
DB Tanner Holmes (12 tackles per game
leads team)
Notable: The Eagles lost in the 2004 state
finals and followed it up by winning the Class
2A Division II title the following season.
Prediction: Waskom 44, Newton 38

UIL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

High school
picks

By RANDY JENNINGS

Greg Riddle

CLASS 2A DIVISION II

Albany vs. Bremond

10 a.m. (FSSW)
ALBANY (14-0)
Playoff run: d. Miles 38-6; d. Winters 31-14; d.
Hamlin 49-35; d. Seagraves 24-14.
Key players: QB/FS Drew
Neece (2,290 passing yards,
35 TDs); RB Charles Carter
(1,258 rushing, 17 TDs); WR/
CB Alex Faith (75 catches,
1,064 yards, 16 TDs, 7 interceptions as all-state DB)
Notable: Since head coach Denney Faith
took over in 1987, the Lions are 252-89-4.
BREMOND (14-0)
Playoff run: d. Rocksprings 48-0; d. Louise
47-6; d. Bruni 46-7; d. Tenaha 32-29.
Key players: QB/DB Roshauud
Paul (1,470 rushing, 21 TDs,
1,481 passing, 18 TDs); LB/WR
Mason Pruitt (170 tackles, 20
for loss); WR/FS Rayandre
Browning (47 catches for 928
yards, 10 TDs, 8 interceptions)
Notable: After playoff elimination at the
hands of Tenaha for three straight years, the
Tigers finally turned the tables in their state
semifinal victory.
Prediction: Albany 30, Bremond 27

C7 12-18-2014 Set: 22:09:57

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