It’s no secret everything is bigger in Texas and nothing screams that louder than high school football:
Absolutely unreal.
The first game of the day was a rematch from last years 6A Division 1 State game, Dunkanville v. North Shore. That game of course was won by North Shore on a ridiclous last second hail mary:
Going into this years semi-finals, it became clear the rematch between the schools was destined. This time though Duncanville would be favorites, returning their 5 star QB1, Ja’Quinden Jackson, who just signed with the University of Texas this past week.
But while playing in the semi-game, Jackson unfortunately tore his ACL. Obviously, nothing could be more devastating to an 18 year old kid than getting knocked out the week before the State Championship game. Jackson though handled it like a pro and was all class Saturday:
As a Longhorn fan, you love to see this from the potential future QB1 of our program.
As for the State game, people thought without Jackson this game would now be a blow out in favorite of North Shore. Especially considering Duncanville would be starting freshmen QB, Chris Parson.
However, hours before kickoff, reports began surfacing that North Shore’s star RB and Georgia commit, Zach Evans, was kicked off the team the morning of the State Championship game for apparently refusing to get off his cell phone:
That is one of the most absurd stories I’ve heard in high school sports. I mean how the hell is Evans such a diva that he manages to get himself kicked off the team THE MORNING OF THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. On the flip side, if you’re the coach, can you really not look past his sass for one day? Just one more game and Evans is off to the Unviersity of Georgia to be their problem, while you’re insuring your second straight state championship ring. Crazy.
Either way, both teams went into the game without their star players.
In the first half, the teams traded blows and it was clear it was an evenly contested matchup. After going into the break tied at 17, North Shore completely put the clamp down defensively in the second half, with the tide turning all the way in their favor after recovering a botched snap on a Duncanville punt. Four plays later, North Shore retook the lead and from there never looked back.
Duncanville could only muster 42 yards of offense in the second half as the North Shore defense began to key in on the Duncanville run game and force freshman QB Parson to make plays through the air. It proved to be the right move as Duncanville failed to score in the second half.
With the game still within one possession in the fourth quarter, North Shore iced it when Davis hit Charles King on a 44-yard touchdown to seal the victory for North Shore, 31-17.
WESTLAKE V. DENTON GUYER: 24-0.
Westlake came into this game determined to bring the title back to Austin after failing to win it in their last seven appearances, the last state championship coming in 1996 when Drew Brees was the quarterback of the Chaps. Even Sam Ehlinger was in the building hoping to watch history be made:
Westlake scored first on a five-yard pass from quarterback Kirkland Michaux to senior tight end Jake Misch for a 7-0 lead. Shortly after, Guyer was dealt a giant blow when standout quarterback and Texas A&M commit, Eli Stowers, injured his leg on a third down run.
From there, the game was never in doubt for Westlake, as Guyer replaced Stowers with 14 year old freshman QB, Jackson Arnold.
This poor kid never stood a chance.
Arnold finished the game completing only 2 of 11 passes for six yards.
It was a different story for Westlake’s QB1, Kirkland Michauex who went 20 of 31 for 285 yards passing, three TDs and was voted Offensive MVP.
“On the way in here I actually wore the Drew Brees jersey that Sam Ehlinger wore in the Sugar Bowl. The Westlake one,” Michaux said. “So I kind of got it in my mojo, it’s awesome. It was really cool to have Sam on the sidelines watching. When I was a freshman I was behind him so it was really cool to have him here and watch us win state.”
This now makes it FIVE State Championships for Coach Todd Dodge.
“It just shows what our defense can do. We definitely acknowledge what a tough break they had early in the game losing their outstanding quarterback,” said Dodge, who won titles at Carroll in 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006. “But these kids were determined that we were going to get it done today. This was our day.”
Watching these games, you have to wonder why the UIL does not allow for the 6A Division 1 and 2 winners to face off. Because in a perfect world, we’d get a Westlake v. North Shore game on New Years day to really determine the top dog in all of high school football.
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