Mineola Squeaks By Howe For Third Consecutive Regional Championship Game Appearance

ROYSE CITY -- Mineola's dream of winning a Class 3A Division I state championship remains alive thanks to a 21-7 win Friday against Howe in the Region II semifinal round of competition at Royse City ISD Stadium.

The victory was the 11th straight for the Yellowjackets, and they're now three wins away from a title that has just barely escaped their grasp the past two seasons. They still have not lost a game to a fellow Class 3A Division I team from Region II since the 2013 season.

Howe (9-4), the third-place finisher from District 5-4A Division I, made Mineola (11-2) work for it.

Friday's contest was only a 14-0 game at halftime, and the Yellowjackets' lead was cut in half after Howe's first possession of the second act on Tyler Grisham's 8-yard run out of the T-formation.

Howe had an opportunity to tie the game after recovering a surprise onside kick, but Mineola's defense bowed up for a 10-yard sack on third-and-goal of the potential game-tying drive and Howe missed a field goal.

Quarterback Jeremiah Crawford re-established a two-possession lead early in the fourth quarter with a 57-yard run.

Crawford opened scoring in the first quarter from nine yards. Running back Chantz Perkins scored from one yard in the second quarter just after converting a fourth-and-3 situation for 31 yards.

Mineola will play either Farmersville or Pottsboro for the Region II crown next week. Those two teams will face off tonight at Allen's Eagle Stadium.