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Class 1A Division I Region IV Championship

May (9-3) vs. Jonesboro (11-1)

5 p.m Saturday, Dublin

The May Tigers missed out the District 14-A Division I championship earlier this season, but have the chance to secure a much more precious victory in a rematch with the Jonesboro Eagles Saturday night.

No. 9 Jonesboro knocked off May, 48-22, back on Oct. 27 to secure its second straight league title over the Tigers, but head coach Craig Steele’s squad has won its two playoff games in upset fashion over Irion County, 92-70, and handily over Leverett’s Chapel, 57-12, last week.

Against Leverett’s Chapel, the May offense churned out 339 yards of total offense – 265 rushing and 74 passing – despite the loss of leading passer and rusher Braden Steele to a knee injury. Ben Harrell shouldered the bulk of the load offensively with 182 rushing yards and five touchdowns, along with a 50-yard scoring reception.

Mikey Scheriger added 46 yards on the ground and threw the 50-yard touchdown to Harrell, and Cayson Dail completed his lone pass attempt to Jackson Lusk for a 24-yard touchdown. Ryland Billadeau tacked on a 17-yard carry, while Steele finished with 20 yards and a touchdown on just two rushes.

Defensively, May yielded just 183 yards of total offense – 137 passing and 46 rushing – with a pair of takeaways, both by Billadeau who filled in for Steele and intercepted a pass and pounced on a fumble. Leverett’s Chapel’s DeMarion Brown accounted for 227 passing yards and four touchdowns and 233 rushing yards and seven more scores in the Lions’ bi-district victory the week prior.

Jonesboro, whose lone loss this year came at the hands of two-time reigning state champion Westbrook, is led offensively by Nathan Forrest (691 passing yards, 17 TDs), Jacob Cisneros (556 passing yards, 14 TDs; 927 rushing yards, 14 TDs), DeMarcus Acoff (854 rushing yards, 22 TDs; 9-228, 5 TDs receiving), EJ Thorman (14-369, 7 TDs receiving) and Maddox Stroud (12-367, 8 TDs receiving).

Saturday’s winner will face the Region III champion – either Gordon (12-0) or Abbott (12-0), who square off at 6 p.m. Friday in Burleson – in the state semifinals next week with a trip to AT&T Stadium and the state championship game on the line.

According to sixmanfootball.com, May is a 15-point underdog.

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Class 1A Division II Region IV Championship

Richland Springs (12-0) vs. Cherokee (10-1)

6 p.m. Friday, San Saba

San Saba County rivals Richland Springs and Cherokee have combined for 12 six-man state championships and 15 title games appearance, but only one team can advance to the state semifinals Friday night.

No. 4 Richland Springs leads the all-time series over No. 8 Cherokee, 32-21, including a 40-32 road victory this season that determined the District 16 championship. Only once have the rivals met in the postseason, that coming in 2013 where Richland Springs picked up an 87-20 victory.

The Coyotes reached the third round of the playoffs thanks to last week’s 46-0 triumph over Bronte, as Richland Springs produced 335 total yards with 310 coming on the ground.

Billy Perry anchored the rushing attack with 202 yards and four touchdowns on 13 carries while Gage Behrens tacked on 91 yards and scored twice on six rushes. Cohen Ethridge contributed 17 yards rushing and Jayden Sutherland caught a 25-yard pass from Perry.

Defensively for head coach Shawn Rogers’ troops, the Coyotes were led by Sutherland, Perry and Connor Womack with 6.5 tackles apiece. Hudson Tharp added 3.5 tackles, including a safety, Hutton Rogers finished with 2 tackles and Behrens was credited with 1.

Cherokee had a tougher chore in the second round but dispatched of Loraine, 78-54. In the first round, the Indians ousted Zephyr, 63-20, behind 504 yards of total offense – 298 through the air and 206 on the ground.

In the first-round victory, Cherokee was led by Gunner Baugh, who rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns to go along with five catches for 82 yards and another score.

Joel Valdez completed 13 of 21 passes for 298 yards with three scoring strikes, while rushing for 69 yards and two touchdowns.

Brady Johnson led Cherokee with five catches for 140 yards and a 65-yard touchdown, and Jeremiah Wakefield hauled in a 45-yard touchdown reception.

Friday’s winner will face the Region III champion – either Oglesby (11-0) or Iredell (11-1), who square off at 6 p.m. Friday in Gatesville – in the state semifinals next week with a trip to AT&T Stadium and the state championship game on the line.

According to sixmanfootball.com, Richland Springs is an 11-point favorite.

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Class 3A Division II Region II Semifinals

Comanche (8-4) vs Gunter (12-0)

Noon Friday, Choctaw Stadium in Arlington

The Comanche Indians have reached the third round of the playoffs for the second year in a row, but in order to surpass last year’s postseason success they must unseat the defending Class 3A Division II state champion Gunter Tigers.

Comanche ended one undefeated squad’s season last week as the Indians reeled off 27 consecutive points in a 41-21 triumph over Scurry-Rosser.

The Indians finished with 422 yards of total offense – 293 rushing and 129 passing. Sawyer Wilkerson led the way on the ground with 203 yards and two scores on 27 carries and quarterback Layden Welch chipped in 68 yards on 11 carries and two trips to the end zone.

Welch was 9 of 15 through the air for 129 yards and a pair of scoring tosses. CT Buford grabbed four receptions for 82 yards and scored twice, Kyler Beaty added three catches for 22 yards, and Cayden Davis and Easton Gillette hauled in receptions and 14 and 11 yards, respectively.

No. 1 Gunter is coming off an 83-6 win over Wichita Falls City View last week and has outscored its foes 745-62 this season, an average of 62-5.

Against City View, the Tigers generated 569 yards of total offense – 389 rushing and 180 passing – while the defense gave up 227 yards – and only 9 on the ground – while forcing four turnovers, including a fumble recovery that was returned for a touchdown.

Gunter’s Walker Overman completed 6 of 9 passes for 129 yards with three touchdowns, while Preston Tarpley was 7 of 7 for 51 yards. Cannon Lemberg led the way with four catches for 67 yards and a touchdown, Colin Peacock hauled in a 38-yard scoring toss, and Boston Standridge grabbed two receptions for 11 yards and scored once.

On the ground, Brock Boddie was the top ground gainer with 104 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. Cade Dodson contributed a 51-yard scoring sprint while Dylan Tokarz, Easton Overman, Blake Boland, Hayden Farrell, and Parker Aleman also rushed for touchdowns.

Friday’s winner will face either Jacksboro (12-0) or Holliday (11-1) – who meet at 7 p.m. Friday at Graham – for the Region II championship next weekend.

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Comanche is a 31-point underdog.