Ohio State commit’s six touchdowns lift Rockwall past Prosper and into state semifinals

The first pass that Braedyn Locke threw went for an interception return for a touchdown.

That mistake didn’t faze the Rockwall sophomore quarterback.

Locke overcame the pick and went on to complete 25 of 32 passes for 443 yards with six touchdowns and Ohio State commit Jaxon Smith-Njigba hauled in 12 catches for 234 yards with six total touchdowns as the Yellowjackets overcame a shaky start to rally for a 59-42 victory over Prosper in the Class 6A-Division 1 Region 2 championship at Ford Center on Saturday night.

“You’ve got to play the next play,” Locke said. “Teammates picked me up. We’re never out of a fight. That’s what happened right there. I am fortunate to have great teammates to pick me up in situations like that.”

Rockwall (12-2) will play top-ranked Duncanville (14-0) in the state semifinals at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at McKinney ISD Stadium. The Panthers held off a late rally by Southlake Carroll, 49-35, in McKinney.

It took a little bit for an expected shootout to play out for two teams that are averaging more than 40 points per game in the playoffs.

Credit Prosper’s game plan.

The Eagles (11-3) bracketed Smith-Njibga with multiple defenders and Prosper dared Rockwall to either throw to someone else or to use its running game to put up points.

Advantage, Prosper.

Tyler Bailey took the option pitch from quarterback Jackson Berry on the ninth play of the game’s initial drive and shuttled from the 26 to the end zone for a touchdown and a 7-0 Eagles lead less than four minutes into the first quarter.

Prosper’s defense got a 35-yard interception return from Jorden Miles on the third play of the Rockwall ensuing drive, and just like that, the Eagles had a 14-0 lead.

“Maybe a little bit of miscommunication for us at the beginning,” Locke said. “But we’re always going to keep firing. We’re never going to stop taking shots. I’m just really happy for our guys. We played well in all three phases: offense, defense and special teams. We’re regional champs. That’s so cool.”

Rockwall’s offense found its rhythm at the end of the first quarter – specifically, Smith-Njigba.

The 5-star prospect electrified the near sellout crowd with three unanswered touchdowns – receptions of 14 and 53 yards, in addition to a 1-yard run – as the Yellowjackets rallied for a 21-14 lead with 6:19 remaining in the first half.

“We’ve been there before,” Rockwall coach Rodney Webb said. “We play a really difficult schedule. We play people that put us in some adverse situations, whether it’s 14 to nothing, or whatever. We don’t want to be down 14 to nothing, but we’re used to it. We’ve had to dig ourselves out a time or two. Nobody panicked. Nobody.”

Prosper answered with a 31-yard pass play from Berry to Hayden Metcalf, who caught the ball with one hand, tying the score at 21-21.

Berry went 25-of-32 passing for 334 yards with four touchdowns. Keaton Nickerson caught five balls for 111 yards. Bailey contributed five catches for 99 yards.

However, Rockwall took the momentum into the locker room.

With the Eagles focusing most of their attention on Smith-Njigba, J.J. Williams proved to be the beneficiary. Williams caught a swing pass from Locke, then proceeded to run up the sideline for a 66-yard touchdown reception, and a 28-21 Rockwall lead.

Williams caught three passes for 145 yards with two going for touchdowns.

The teams combined for 966 yards of total offense. Rockwall accounted for 512 yards with most of that damage coming through the air. Prosper had 454 yards of offense.

“It gave us amazing momentum going into halftime,” Smith-Njigba said. “Talking to guys, we knew that we could just keep this thing rolling. We could put points on the board and we could stop them. It was an amazing feeling.”

Rockwall got the points and stops it needed in the second half.

The Yellowjackets got three more touchdown passes in the second half from Locke on throws of 68, 45 and 2 yards as well as a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Smith-Njigba, who jumped high in the air and over the goal line just over a minute into the fourth quarter, for a 52-35 Yellowjackets lead.

“I was thinking about doing it earlier in the game,” Smith-Njigba said of his 1-yard TD run. “If we couldn’t get through them, get over them.”

Rockwall got through Prosper and will now play in the state semifinals for the first time since 1987.

“We’re not scared of anybody,” Locke said. “We’re going to go in there and watch film and have a great game. We’re going to come out firing.”

This story was originally published December 7, 2019 at 10:39 PM.