Will Grapevine and Timberview get revenge in these district rematches?
Birdville and Grapevine met two months ago as two undefeated teams at Coppell’s Cowboy Stadium.
The game didn’t disappoint.
With 15 seconds left and no timeouts, Grapevine had a first-and-goal from the 4-yard line and a chance to take the lead, but the Birdville defense read the play and made the stop to win 24-20.
The Hawks improved to 5-0 for the first time since 2012, which was the last year they reached the state quarterfinals.
A win on Saturday over the Mustangs would clinch that mark. The two play at 4:30 p.m. at the Ford Center in Frisco.
Both teams are coming off big wins in the area round.
Birdville defeated Abilene Cooper, 49-14. Junior Hosea Armstrong, who caught a 24-yard touchdown pass and added a 43-yard TD run during a fake punt vs. Grapevine, scored on a pick-six.
Grapevine beat Amarillo Caprock, 47-28, to reach the regional round for the first time since 2001. The Mustangs won their 10th game, matching the 2016 team.
They last went to the quarterfinals in 1998 when they won a state title.
Expect a shootout this time with two high-scoring offenses led by a pair of top quarterbacks in the area in Birdville’s Stone Earle and Grapevine’s Cade Rhodes, who’ve combined for 67 TD passes this season.
THE MATCHUP
Birdville | Grapevine
507 Points For 537
42.3 per game 44.8
246 Points Allowed 248
20.5 per game 20.8
THE PLAYERS
QB: Stone Earle (BHS)- 2,509 pass, 30 TDs; Cade Rhodes (GHS)- 3,021 pass, 37 TDs
RB: Laderrious Mixon (BHS)- 1,863 rush, 23 TDs; Roshawn Prear (GHS)- 962 rush, 13 TDs
WR: Brendton Northey (BHS)- 668 rec, 9 TDs; David Clayton (GHS)- 793 rec, 12 TDs
If you’re planning on going to The Star on Saturday, get there early for the 1 p.m. game between Mansfield Timberview and the two-time defending 5A Division I champs in Highland Park.
The two teams met much more recently, just three weeks ago in Week 11 to close out the regular season.
Everyone knows about the Scots: No. 2 in the state among Class 5A, legendary head coach Randy Allen and a 44-0 record the past three seasons.
Highland Park took care of Timberview, 42-7, and finished as district champs.
The Wolves (7-5) picked up fourth place in the standings and No. 2 in the bracket, but they’ve surprised many by winning the first two rounds over district champ The Colony and second place Magnolia West to reach the regional round for the first time since 2011, when they went to the state semifinals.
Talking to senior defensive back Trevon Russell in the summer, he said “I can promise you a better season. Our goal is at least the second round. We have a strong team back and I feel like we can make a run. We’ve working extremely hard.”
You called it young man.
Either way you look at it, these are going to be two great games on Saturday.
THE MATCHUP
Timberview | HP
447 Points For 492
37.3 per game 41
279 Points Allowed 143
23.3 per game 11.9