2015 football playoffs

HOUSTON -- Waskom officially arrived as a state power with last season's state championship. Despite heavy graduation losses, 2015 proved the Wildcats had staying power. Waskom capped off a perfect regular season with a 33-21 win over Franklin -- its 31st consecutive victory -- late Thursday night before 9,291 fans at NRG Stadium in the Class 3A Division II championship game.

CLASS 3A DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP Waskom Wildcats (15-0) vs. Franklin Lions (15-0) 8 p.m. Thursday NRG Stadium, Houston   Coaches Waskom: Whitney Keeling Franklin: Mike Hedrick   Road to Houston Waskom Bi-district: def. DeKalb, ... Read More ... Read More ...

The high school football season is down to its final week with the three-day, 10-game extravaganza that is the UIL state football championships from Houston's NRG Stadium. The Waskom Wildcats (15-0), currently riding a 30-game winning streak, are East Texas' only representative this weekend, and will shoot for their consecutive Class 3A Division II state championship Thursday night against unbeate

WASKOM -- It was a moment nearly 18 years in the making. And it was almost only a dream. When Whitney Keeling arrived in Waskom prior to the 2010 season, his stepson, Dylan Harkrider, came with him and was immediately assigned to the role of starting quarterback for the junior high's seventh-grade team. It wouldn't be long before the two shared the same field. That's not to suggest there weren't a

GARLAND -- It was billed as the big-time showdown between a high-powered offense and the shutdown defense. Advantage defense. Waco La Vega used a stifling defensive effort and big-play offense to dominate the Carthage Bulldogs, 39-3, in their Class 4A Division I semifinal at Homer B. Johnson Stadium on Friday night.

MESQUITE -- The Celina Bobcats scored twice on defense, twice on plays covering 60 yards or more, and avenged last season's ugly semifinal defeat by stopping defending champion Gilmer's 30-game winning streak. Celina overcame two 14-point deficits in the first half, surged ahead early in the fourth quarter, and held off the Buckeyes, 49-44, in their Class 4A Division II state semifinal Friday nigh

CLASS 4A DIVISION I SEMIFINAL Waco La Vega Pirates (14-0) vs. Carthage Bulldogs (11-3) 7:30 p.m. Friday Homer B. Johnson Stadium, Garland   Coaches La Vega: Willie Williams Carthage: Scott Surratt   Last week La Vega: def. China Sp ... Read More ...

We're almost at the finish line, and four East Texas teams are still alive in pursuit of state championship glory. Our guys Clint Buckley and Mike Graham break it all down in the semifinal edition of the ETSN.fm podcast.

CLASS 4A DIVISION II SEMIFINAL Celina Bobcats (14-0) vs. Gilmer Buckeyes (14-0) 7:30 p.m. Friday Mesquite Memorial Stadium   Coaches Celina: Bill Elliott Gilmer: Matt Turner   Last week Celina: def. Krum, 42-13 Gilmer: def. Atlanta,... Read More ... Read More ...

Last season, the injury epidemic became so severe at Carthage the Bulldogs were down to their fifth-string tailback before the playoffs had even begun. And a rare second-round exit ensued for the defending state champs. The 2015 season has been filled with just as many, if not more, health issues. But Carthage has used the setbacks to stoke the fires that continue to burn.