By Adam C. Warner and Jimmy Oliver

SportsPower Correspondents

Class 5A – Div. 1 Semifinals

Allen Eagles (13-1) vs. Stony Point Tigers (13-1) Tigers, Dec. 13: All eyes are on Allen this week after the squad beat state and national power Trinity, 34-21, to advance to the Div. 1 semifinals. Buoyed by quarterback Tucker Carter and Jeremiah Williams, Allen’s offensive attack is potent through the air and on the ground. Allen is back in the semifinals after falling to state power Southlake Caroll in ’03 and ’06. Meanwhile, Stony Point enters on the heels of an 11-game winning streak and has been dominating opponents in the playoffs by outscoring them 128-34. Stony Point is very sound defensively with linebacker P.L. Lindley and safety Kevin White heading the group. Offensively, watch for RB Glasco Martin, RB Stephen Williams and QB Nyk McKissic to be major factors in the contest.

Hightower Hurricanes (12-0) vs. Clark Cougars (13-1), Dec. 13: Two teams that love to run the ball will meet on the gridiron on Saturday for the chance to land a championship berth. Hightower is coming off a 38-21 win over Pearland and can set a school mark for most victories in a season with a win this weekend. The Hurricanes are led by standout QB A.J. Highsmith, who is a dual threat whenever he has the ball. Meanwhile, Clark features one of the top rushing units in the state and will try to control the clock. The Cougars average over 300 yards per game on the ground and will be carried by RB Jock Tilghman, who has over 2,200 yards so far this season.

Class 5A – Div. II Semifinals

Wylie Pirates (12-2) vs. Copperas Cove (13-1), Dec. 13: Two offensive juggernauts battle for a spot in the championship at Waco ISD Stadium on Saturday. Headed by dynamic back Nick Knott (15 rushes for 159 yards last week vs. Cedar Hill) and QB Jerod Monk, who can torch defenses with his strong and accurate arm, Wylie has been hard to contain all season long. Knott can also pound for short yardage or break open big gains. On the other side, Copperas Cove will likely rely on running back William Wright to control the pace of the game. Wright has tallied 430 yards and five scores in just his last two games. While Copperas Cove has been to the last 4A title games, Wylie went just 5-6 last year and has experienced an unprecedented turnaround. This one shapes up to be a classic.

Katy Tigers (11-3) vs. Smithson Valley Rangers (13-1), Dec. 13: Saturday’s semifinal will be a showdown of storied programs. After a rough 0-2 start to the season, Katy is back on track and playing its best football of the season. Including a 42-0 win over La Porte last week, the Tigers have allowed just 24 points in four postseason games. Katy will be going for its fourth state title within the last decade while Smithson Valley hopes to earn its first, despite winning five Region 4 titles. The Katy rush defense has been excellent and will need a top-notch performance against RB Robbie Mecke to prevail. Katy RB Michael Webb will be key as well. The standout has rushed for more than 100 yards in all four postseason victories.

Class 4A – Division I Semifinals

Guyer Wildcats (12-2) vs. Longview Lobos (12-2), Dec. 13: Two high-scoring squads meet in the semifinals after squeaking out quarterfinal shootout wins. Guyer will likely depend on RB Jaimaine Wilhite and QB J.W. Walsh to carry the load on offense. Guy averages just over 410 yards per game, including 285 on the ground. Meanwhile, Longview is headed by the offensive duo of RB Tyler McCray and QB Aaron Johnson. Both teams average nearly identical rushing stats, so the defense that can come up with stops and some turnovers will likely propel its team to victory.

Friendswood Mustangs (11-1) vs. Lake Travis Cavaliers (14-0), Dec. 13: While Friendswood squeaked into the semifinal, Lake Travis is hitting on all cylinders. Friendswood beat Central, 20-19, last week while Lake Travis trounced Kileen, 71-9. The Cavaliers have won 28 straight games behind star QB Garrett Gilbert, who threw for four TDs last week in the 62-point win. Friendswood QB Jacob Karam is a standout too, and has over 3,000 yards and 37 TDs on the year. Friendswood WR Andre Gautreaux is a stud and has tallied 1,165 yards and 17 TDs. The Friendswood defense is a cause for concern as the unit has allowed 27.6 ppg in the regular season. It could be a long day if they can’t shut down Lake Travis' potent offensive attack.

Class 4A – Division II Semifinals

Everman Bulldogs (14-0) vs. Sulphur Springs Wildcats (12-2), Dec. 13: With a potent rushing attack, the Bulldogs will look to take a bite out of the Wildcats’ defense this weekend. WR Chris Franklin is a standout offensively as well, while DB Cory Franklin, LB Lee Langston and teammate Devin Woods are physical and can fly to the ball. The Wildcats rely heavily on do-it-all QB Tyrik Rollison. The standout accounted for seven touchdowns last week and had 387 yards passing. And with speedster RB Ryan Young making defenders miss left and right, Sulphur Springs will be hard-pressed to miss out on a championship berth. 

Dayton Broncos (12-1) vs. Tivy Antlers (12-2), Dec. 13: Dayton QB Cody Green is a standout as a dual threat. Green had 259 yards rushing and two scores plus 71 yards passing and two more touchdowns last week in a 42-21 win over Brenham. The signal-caller will be called on once again to have a repeat performance. All the while, Tivy QB Colton Palmer is very similar to his rival. Last week, Palmer threw for 250 yards and three scores to lead his side to a 45-14 win over Hendrickson. Despite giving up 30 points per game in the regular season, the Tivy defense has held playoff opponents to just 13 points per outing. They will certainly need another strong postseason showing to survive against a formidable Dayton team.

Class 3A - Division II Semifinals

Liberty Hill Panthers (14-0) vs. Celina Bobcats (11-3), Dec. 13: Liberty Hill is coming off a convincing 48-27 win over Bridgeport, while Celina is fresh off a huge 55-13 win over Kaufman.  The key to this game will be which team can put together a consistent, time-consuming rushing attack as both teams run the ball well. The Panthers are riding the coattails of a 38-game winning streak and Celina would love to put an end to that streak. This is also a rematch of the ’06 3A Division II title game, which saw the Panthers take home the title. .

Carthage Bulldogs (12-2) vs. Giddings Buffaloes (11-3), Dec. 13: This game comes down to offense vs. defense.  Despite a banged up Dwight Smith at running back, Cathage features a dynamic offense that frequently racks up first downs. Smith has rushed for over 2,000 yards and 33 touchdowns so far this season. Meanwhile, Giddings can come away as victors with another top-notch defensive performance. The Buffaloes have have forced five turnovers in the playoffs so far and will need to come away with some more this week to reach the finals. 

Class 3A - Division I Semifinals

Prosper Eagles (13-1) vs. La Vega Pirates (12-2): If Prosper can stop La Vega RB Chris Parr from having a big day, they will be favored to come away as victors this weekend.  Parr, after sitting out the entire regular season, is fresh and looking to make an impact.  In his first two playoff games, the standout back has rushed for six touchdowns. Another key area will be to see if La Vega can stop the two-headed rushing attack of Bryan Monroe and Hunter Nix. This has the makings to be a grind it out battle and it will be interesting to see who will be left standing at the end.

Class 2A - Division II Semifinals

Daingerfield Tigers (13-1) vs. Blanco Panthers (14-0): This matchup is all about two defensive juggernauts going head-to-head.  Daingerfield has three shutouts this season and hasn't allowed more than 18 points since Sept. 26. Meanwhile, Blanco has five shutouts to its name and hasn't allowed more than 21 points to a team all season. With the game being played in Texas Stadium, think the kids are going to be pumped for this one?

Class 2A - Division I Semifinals

Muleshoe Mules (14-0) vs. Kirbyville Wildcats (13-0): Muleshoe has a tough and strong defense as evidenced by the team giving up just 27 in the last three playoff games.  Kirbyville coach Jack Alvarez recently told the Beaumont Enterprise that, “[Muleshoe] has some of the best tacklers I’ve seen all year”.  That's saying a lot, seeing that the Wildcats have played some tough teams like Arp and Newton. Muleshoe is led by QB Wes Wood, who has thrown for 61 touchdowns this year.  On the other side, the Wildcats can grind it out with their strong running game to eat up the clock and move the chains.  This is going to be another great Texas showdown.

To contact editor Adam C. Warner, send an e-mail to adam.warner@activenetwork.com.

By Ryan Rohde

SportsPower Correspondent

Champions will be crowned in Georiga, Florida and North Carolina this week. From Bolles to Pine Forest and to Camden County,  newcomers and perennial powers alike will be featured throughout the region this weekend. 

Florida

Class 6A Semifinals

Miami Northwestern Bulls (12-1) vs. Miramar Patriots (11-2), Dec. 12: Miramar has had its share of close games the past three weeks. The Patriots have ended the seasons for Carol City, Cypress Bay, and Deerfield Beach by a combined 11 points. QB Eugene Smith has been responsible for the fourth quarter magic that has the Patriots in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Northwestern is closing in on its third straight 6A title. The Bulls have been impressive this postseason by beating Columbus, Central and Killian. RB Daquan Hargrett has been impressive as usual and the Bulls defense held Killian to just 15 points last week. Miramar is going to need some more fourth quarter magic to take down the Northwestern this weekend. 

Class 5A Semifinals

Lakeland Dreadnaughts (13-0) vs. Pine Forest Eagles (12-0), Dec. 12: Lakeland is one of the most successful programs in the nation, let alone the state. The ‘Naughts have won six state titles and two national titles as well. Last week, Lakeland used a myriad of running backs to post over 300 total rushing yards and four rushing scores. Meanwhile, the defense controlled the line of scrimmage and held an explosive Chamberlain team scoreless until 3:30 left in the third. Pine Forest has exceeded expectations after a 6-5 season a year ago. The offensive is potent with 21 points being its lowest output all season. The Eagles look to make a little history of their own as they try to continue their dream season.

Class 4A Semifinals

Plant Panthers (12-1) vs. Dwyer Panthers (12-1), Dec. 12: Plant has been just fine without star QB Aaron Murray. The Panthers took down top-seeded and Tampa area rival Armwood last weekend, 17-14. The Plant defense may be tops in the state. The unit has allowed just 28 points this postseason and has held strong while backup QB Philip Ely has thrown for 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns since Murray went down midseason. Dwyer features Palm Beach County player of the year Matt Elam. Elam has been ferocious on both sides of the ball. He has posted over 1,000 total yards as a receiver and running back and posted 82 tackles as a linebacker and defensive back. The Panthers will rely heavily on Elam if they want to take out Plant.

Class 2A Championship

Bolles Bulldogs (13-0) vs. Gulliver Prep (11-1), Dec. 13: The Bulldogs are going after their ninth title in school history this weekend. Last week, Bolles stunned nationally ranked Madison County, 21-7. Junior RB Jawan Jamison rushed for 193 yards and two touchdowns in last week's semifinals. The defense did their part by keeping Madison County RB Chris Thompson in check while Jamison controlled the clock. Meanwhile, Gulliver Prep's offense has been explosive all year. QB Michael Strauss has completed over 73 percent of his passes and has thrown for 3,024 yards and 32 scores. RB Darian Mallary might be the most underrated back in the Miami area. The 5-7, 180 lbs. senior has put up over 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns. Look for this one to go back and forth in a close battle. 

Class 2B Championship

Trinity Catholic Celtics (12-1) vs. Pahokee Blue Devils (11-2), Dec. 13: Pahokee has long been the class of 2B. The Blue Devils have won the past two championships and three of the last four. Two of those games were played between these same two teams with Trinity winning the title in ’05 and Pahokee exacting revenge the next year. RB Vincent Smith has been solid all year and contributed 184 yards in last week's 30-0 win over Frostproof. The battle to watch will be Trinity’s offensive line against Pahokee’s massive defensive line. The Celtic front five has allowed just four sacks all season while opening holes for the ground game, which is averaging 7.2 yards a carry. The big guys up front have the task of controlling a Pahokee squad that allowed just 14 points all postseason long. This game will be won in the trenches.

Georgia

Class AAAAA Championship

Peachtree Ridge Lions (12-2) vs. Camden County Wildcats (14-0), Dec. 13: Peachtree Ridge has returned to its second title game in three years. The last showing for the Lions ended with a co-championship when the game ended in a 14-14 tie to Roswell. This year’s version has relied on great defense. LSU commit LB Kevin Minter leads a defense that has posted two shutouts in the playoffs. Camden County has dominated opponents all season long and last week's semifinal was no different. The Wildcats outgained Newnan 122-19 in the first half and led 20-0 after the first quarter. QB Christian Milstead leads an offense that averages 44 points a contest. This game is set up for a grudge match of one great offense vs. one great defense.

Class AAAA Championship

Tucker Tigers (13-1) vs. Marist War Eagles (13-1), Dec. 12: Tucker will need to avenge its only loss of the season if it wants to win its first-ever state title. The Tigers fell to Marist, 38-0, on Sept. 26. Tiger RB Drayton Calhoun has tremendous speed and committed to LSU. Linebacker Jonathan Davis is a big-time prospect and has great sideline to sideline speed. Marist, meanwhile, has shown they can win with defense. The War Eagles won a very physical game over Rome, 19-17,  to reach the championship. The Marist defense held Rome’s P.J. Green to just 33 yards rushing. These teams know each other all to well and don’t expect the same result as the regular season matchup.

Class AAA Championship

Cairo Syrupmakers (14-0) vs. Flowery Branch Falcons (12-2), Dec. 13: Cairo exacted a matter of revenge last week to reach the title game for the second consecutive year. The Syrupmakers defeated defending champs Carver-Columbus, 42-13, in a rematch of last season's title match. QB Angelo Pease threw two touchdowns and ran for two more. Cairo showed why they have been on top of the rankings all season long. Flowery Beach, meanwhile, has had quite a different road. The program commenced in '02 and had to win all of this year’s playoff games on the road, including last week's 28-0 win over LaGrange. The unranked Falcons are led by Georgia Tech commit FB Daniel Drummond, who ran for 248 yards on 22 carries in the semis. Drummond has not garnered the respect he deserved until his performance in the playoffs. That could change on Saturday.

Class AA Championship

Calhoun Yellow Jackets (12-2) vs. Buford Wolves (14-0), Dec. 12: Buford has been crushing teams all season on its way to a second consecutive title game. The Wolves have a chance to capture their fifth title this decade. Buford has also been making history and has had an easy time doing so. They are only the sixth GHSA team to reach 10 state championship games and could tie a state record for most wins in a decade. Meanwhile, Calhoun needed a goalline stand to preserve a win over Brooks County in a 38-35 win. The Yellow Jacket defense stopped Brooks County a half-yard short as time elapsed to secure a spot in the title game. QB Michael Johnson accounted for four touchdowns, including the game-winning one-yard run with 4:11 to play. Calhoun will need some more heroics if they plan on beating Buford.

Class A Championship

Wesleyan Wolves (12-2) vs. Emanuel County Institute Bulldogs (14-0), Dec. 13: ECI comes in as defending champs with a 29-game winning streak on the line. ECI running back Washaun Ealey is one of the most heralded in state history. The future Georgia Bulldog has rushed for nearly 8,000 yards in his career and has broken the state record for single season and career touchdowns. Wesleyan is making its first-ever trip to the finals. QB Conor Welton threw three touchdown passes in last week;s win over Lincoln County. The upstart Wolves have a big chance to make history in the Georgia Dome this weekend.

North Carolina

Class 4AA Championship

Jack Britt Buccaneers (13-1) vs. Richmond Raiders (11-3), Dec. 14: Richmond ended Independence’s streak of nine straight championship games with a 30-22 win last week. QB Tedarrius Wiley threw three touchdowns as the defense limited the high-scoring Independence team to just 14 points through three and half quarters. Richmond is playing in its first title game since '98. Britt will look to avenge its only loss of the year to Richmond on Sept. 27th. The Bucs can put up big numbers on offense, especially with offensive lineman Xavier Nixon opening holes for NC State commit QB Everett Proctor. The two conference rivals know each other well so expect a tight game.

To contact correspondent Ryan Rohde, send an e-mail to ryan.rohde@activenetwork.com.