Alvarado QB Cardea Collier carries Indians to regional semifinal win vs. Sulphur Springs

Alvarado head coach Casey Walraven said quarterback Cardea Collier “put the team on his shoulders and carried us.”

The standout senior rushed for 221 yards and two touchdowns and passed for a pair of scores, leading the Indians past the Sulphur Springs Wildcats, 42-39, in a 4A Division I Region 2 semifinal on Friday, Nov. 29 at Memorial Stadium.

Collier had an electric 65-yard TD sprint with 1:00 left in the third period, after Sulphur Springs had closed the gap to 28-25, to push the lead to 10 points. His 43-yard burst less than four minutes into the final period set up an 11-yard TD run by Schuyler Dethorne for what seemed a comfortable 42-25 cushion.

However, Sulphur Springs mounted a rally as quarterback Kaden Mitchell tossed a pair of TDs -- a five-yarder to Chris Adams and 16-yards to Jaxson Haire, the latter with 1:48 left to play. Sulphur Springs then appeared to have recovered an onside kick but had touched the ball before going 10 yards, giving possession to Alvarado; the Indians picked up one first down and ran out the clock.

Alvarado standout running back Demarcus Belton was injured in last week’s area round win, suited up for this game, but was held out.

“He should be good to go next week,” said Walraven. “It gave Dethorne an opportunity, and he did a great job out there. We challenged him on that last scoring drive, and he came through.”

Alvarado (13-0) never trailed and had its high-powered offense clicking early.

“I am just super proud of these kids,” said Walraven. “It was not the prettiest, but it is still a win.”

Collier, a Tarleton State pledge, capped a five-play 64-yard drive taking just 1:48 on the game’s opening possession, tossing an eight-yard TD pass to Dethorne for a 7-0 lead.

Following a 28-yard Sulphur Springs field goal, Dethorne culminated a five-play 54-yard march with an 11-yard TD scamper to forge a 14-3 Indians first-period advantage.

After a stout Alvarado defense forced a punt, a fourth-and-four gamble at its own 35 failed when Collier was held to a one-yard gain. Sulphur Springs capitalized on the short field, with Deuce Hall scoring on a five-yard run.

Alvarado’s Hunter Byerley returned the ensuing short kickoff 42 yards to the Sulphur Springs 18, and on the series first snap, Collier raced into the end zone to stretch the lead to 21-10.

The Indians were not finished.

An 11-yard Sulphur Springs punt gave Alvarado excellent field position at its own 48. Collier methodically led the Indians on a seven-play 52-yard drive, connecting with Logan Bjork on a 17-yard TD strike with 1:17 left, as Alvarado held a 28-10 margin at the break.

Sulphur Springs got its offense rolling in the third period. Mitchell connected with Texas State commit Skylar Lewis on a nine-yard TD aerial, then scored on a 57-yard run himself, and with a successful two-point conversion, suddenly Alvarado’s lead was cut to 28-25.

Following a touchback on the ensuing series, Collier picked up 10 yards before his long TD run that allowed Alvarado to regain momentum.

“He has made so many big plays for us,” said Walraven, in his third year leading the program. “Never surprised as to what he can do out there.”

Collier added 160 yards passing to his 221 rushing yards in the victory. Bjork had a team-high 74 receiving yards on five catches, while Lance Samson grabbed five for 63 yards. Dethorne had 55 yards total (32 rushing and 23 receiving on four catches) with the pair of 11-yard TD runs and one receiving score.

A week ago it looked as though Alvarado’s historic season would end against Frisco Panther Creek, but the Indians prevailed in a double overtime classic.

Alvarado is making its deepest playoff run since its 14-1 state runner-up team in 2011.

Alvarado’s 742 points scored (13 games) is a school record over a full season, eclipsing the 643 points scored by the 2011 team, which took 15 games to accomplish. Alvarado actually broke that make after the bi-district win.

Sulphur Springs (10-3) was led by Mitchell, who passed for 308 yards and three TDs while rushing for 78 yards and another score. Jaxson Haire hauled in 15 passes for 147 yards and one TD and chipped in with 26 rushing yards.

The Sulphur Springs offense had been rolling in two playoff wins -- a 55-14 bi-district win over Dallas Carter and a 56-39 area-round triumph over Springtown.

The Alvarado defense did a tremendous job of containing Sulphur Springs sophomore Deuce Hall, who was held to 16 rushing yards on five attempts.

Hall had exploded in the post-season, with 112 rushing yards on nine carries and 5 TDs against Carter then 120 rushing yards on 10 attempts and three scores versus Springtown. Hall quarterbacked the freshman team last year to a district title.

Sulphur Springs was making its 32nd playoff appearance, winning a playoff game for the first time in 11 years and its deepest playoff run since 2009 a year after winning its lone state championship finishing 14-2 in 2008.

Alvarado’s win, coupled with Celina’s 63-49 victory over Aubrey, sets up a monumental clash between a pair of 13-0 undefeated teams in the regional final next week, with details forthcoming.

Alvarado was No. 3 in the final regular-season 4A DI state poll, while Celina was the top-ranked team.

“We have a big challenge ahead of us,” said Walraven. “We will enjoy this win tonight and start preparing for Celina tomorrow.”