Alvarado sets up rematch with Celina with big win over Springtown — PHOTOS

Alvarado has maybe found a secret weapon on offense.

DJ Clampitt scored three touchdowns in the second quarter to help the Indians pull away for 64-13 win against Springtown in a Class 4A Division I regional semifinal Friday at Knight Stadium at Eagle Mountain High School.

The win for Alvarado (12-0) earns the Indians a rematch against top-ranked Celina (13-0) next week in the Region II final.

Alvarado would likely be 13-0 if Week 2 had not been called off due to weather.

Last year’s 13-0 season, one of the three best in program history that dates back to 1906, ended with a 55-21 loss to Celina.

Celina dispatched Decatur 33-7 in another regional semifinal Friday to set up the rematch.

“They’re the best in the state, and they’re the standard,” Alvarado coach Casey Walraven said. “You know, saying that, hey, we want Celina. We know who they are. We know how great the program is, but we want to play them. We want our opportunity, and that’s what we earned. We got it … now we got to do something with it.”

The win against Springtown was completed by the end of the second quarter.

Tied 7-7 after 12 minutes of play, Alvarado scored 30 points in the second quarter.

The scoring barrage started less than 30 seconds into the quarter. A long run by Demarcus Belton set up his 8-yard run on the next play.

The Porcupines (12-1) answered the last time the Indians scored in the first quarter. They didn’t have an answer on this drive.

Anthony Frias sacked Springtown quarterback Kaine Hill and set up a punt from the near the goal line. The snap went over the punter’s head and rolled into the end zone for a safety.

A free kick and two offensive plays later, Alvarado scored again.

KJ Jenkins hit Schyler Dethorne for a 47-yard gain. The next play, Clampitt scored on a 3-yard run at the 9:32 mark.

The 7-7 game quickly was 23-7.

“Attacking mode, you know?” Walraven said. “That’s who we are, and if we see what we say ‘blood in the water’ we go after it like sharks, and these kids knew it. We got some momentum and took advantage of it. Our offense is probably No. 1 in the nation in high school right now, but the defense continues to give us opportunities. I can’t say enough about those guys.”

The Indians’ defense continued to cause havoc. Frias got a second sack in the quarter, and the Porcupines had to punt again from near the goal line.

“Our defense is one of the best,” Clampitt said. “Our linebackers are good. Our D-line showed out tonight. Our corners are getting better.”

The Porcupine punt wobbled out of bounds, and the Indians took over at the Pines’ 37.

Belton had a 36-yard run. On first-and-goal from the 1, Clampitt got the handoff and scored.

With 6:36 left, the Indians led 30-7.

Springtown got a 52-yard touchdown pass from Hill to Christian Mendoza to snap the scoring barrage by Alvarado with 4:14 left.

Belton had a 35-yard run that set up a 1-yard run by Clampitt for a score with 1:56 left — which doubled as the two-minute timeout.

The senior is primarily known for his prowess on defense. He entered the game with 120 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

He had a total of seven touchdowns this season rushing the ball. In the previous six weeks, he scored three rushing touchdowns — two coming last week.

All three of his touchdowns came between 9:32 and 1:56 in the second.

“Whenever [Belton] goes out to wide receiver, it lightens the box,” Clampitt said. “Obviously, they double him, and he still makes the catch, but they give it to me and I run with the box lighter. It helps us out a lot.”

Jenkins threw a pair of second-half touchdowns, Belton ran for a touchdown, and Isaiah Sanchez booted two field goals in the second half.

Now attention turns to game No. 3 in three years against Celina.

“They knocked me out of [the playoffs] the two seasons,” Clampitt said. “It’s going to be a tough game, for sure.”

This story was originally published November 28, 2025 at 8:12 PM.