CLASS 3A PLAYOFFS: Regionals

Class 3A, DI two-time defending state champion Grandview advances to regionals for the fourth straight season;  Lorena advances on forfeit; West eliminated by Mt. Vernon in Area

THE SPORTS BUZZ Gridiron Matchups presents the Class 3A football Regional Semifinal playoff matchups from across the Heart of Texas region.

Looking for their third straight Class 3A, Division I state championship, postseason action, the second-ranked Grandview Zebras (11-0) advanced to Regionals for the fourth straight season with a convincing 49-23 win over the Tatum Eagles in a Region II Area playoff game last Friday night at Athen’s Bruce Field.

Capitalizing on two turnovers to build a first half lead, Grandview let Tatum back in the game with three straight turnovers to open the third quarter. But the Zebra defense rose to the occasion before senior quarterback Dane Jentsch responded to put the finishing touches on the win.

Jentsch threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more as the Zebras posted their 37th victory in the last 38 games and notched their 14th consecutive postseason win.

Grandview advances the Regional round to take on fourth-ranked Malakoff (9-2) at 1p.m. Friday at Waco ISD Stadium, in a rematch of the 2018 Class 3A DI state championship game.  The Zebras also opened the 2020 season with a 31-24 overtime victory over Malakoff.

In another Class 3A, DI Region II Area playoff matchup, District 7-3A, DI runner-up West Trojans (9-3) were eliminated by Mount Vernon (10-2), 24-21, last Friday night in Rockwall’s Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium.

Trailing 24-7 in the fourth quarter, West mounted a late rally when junior Wyatt Wolf returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown before hauling in a six-yard scoring strike from quarterback Landon Edwards with 38 seconds remaining. But after West sophomore T.J. McCutcheon recovered the ensuing onside kick, the Mount Vernon defense came up with the stop to secure the victory.

In a Class 3A, DI Region III Area playoff action, the Lorena Leopards (9-2) advanced by a Covid-related forfeit win over Crockett (7-5). Lorena advances to the Regional Semifinals to face Hallettsville (10-2) at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Wimberley’s Texan Stadium.

Grabbing the spotlight in the Class 3A, DII postseason bracket, all four District 13-3A, DII playoff qualifiers advanced to the Region IV semifinals to set up rematches.

District champion and sixth-ranked Franklin (9-2) will face Lexington (8-3) at 7 p.m. Friday in Brenham’s Cub Stadium, while runner-up Buffalo (11-1) will take on Rogers (7-5) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Waco ISD Stadium.

THE SPORTS BUZZ provides award-winning coverage of the 2020 Texas high school football season, focusing on Class 3A, 2A and 1A schools in the 10-county Heart of Texas region — which includes Bosque, Comanche, Coryell, Erath, Hamilton, Hill, Hood, Johnson, McLennan and Somervell counties.

Within the Heart of Texas region, THE SPORTS BUZZ covers nine Class 3A schools spread out across four districts in two divisions. Be sure to check in with THE SPORTS BUZZ every Friday night for the complete scoreboard from games across the Heart of Texas region.

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