Texas high school football playoff roundup: 2023 UIL Class 6A Division I area round

Everything you missed in second round of UIL state football playoffs

As the area round of the Texas high school football playoffs continues Saturday, we're taking a closer look at the top finishes across all 12 UIL playoff brackets.

Now, we zero in on the top games in Class 6A, starting with the Division I bracket.

The area round runs through the end of Saturday, regional round is Nov. 23-25, the regional finals Nov. 30-Dec. 2, setting up state championship week: semifinals and finals Dec. 7-9 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

Here are eight Class 6A Division I area round games you should not have missed:

EAGLES SOARING AGAIN

Prosper returned to the area round by breaking open the game after halftime, outscoring Lake Highlands, 23-7, in the second half. The Eagles racked up 383 yards on the ground, with Nathan TenBarge rushing for 157 yards and Leo Aguiano adding 108. Both also had two TDs apiece, while on defense, linebacker Andrew Ward had three of the Eagles' six sacks.

ALLEN RALLIES IN OT

Arlington Martin took a 33-30 lead on its overtime possession on a 44-yard field goal from Harry Davidson. But on the Eagles' OT series, Micah Ellis walked things off with a 7-yard TD run. Ellis rushed for 145 yards and scored three TDs, all after halftime. Allen also got a lift from Quinton House-Hammonds, who lined up at quarterback in the wildcat formation and gained 94 yards with a TD.

THE WOODLANDS BLOCKS IT OFF

In a wild finish, The Woodlands rallied from a 27-20 deficit on a 10-yard TD run from Quanell Farrakhan with about a minute left. Then, the Highlanders went for two, and got it, on a run from Farrakhan. Klein Collins drove the length of the field and got in position for a game-winning 30-yard field goal, but it was blocked as time expired.

BOBCATS TAME TIGERS

Cy-Fair forced overtime with 43 seconds left in regulation on a 3-yard TD pass from quarterback and Texas commit Trey Owens to receiver Owen Carter, a Rice commit. The Bobcats then went in front in their OT possession on a 3-yard TD run by Jamel Nickerson, and the Bobcats' defense made that stand, fending off Katy. Owens completed 31-of-45 passes for 298 yards and three TDs.

TEXANS STILL PERFECT, BARELY

In a wildly entertaining game, Houston Lamar rallied late, getting a 25-yard TD pass from Jordan Reaves to Enrico Moore-Espinoza with 2:21 remaining for the game-winning points as the Texans moved to 12-0. Reaves also rushed for 164 yards on 25 carries with a TD, while on defense, Corwin Gaines picked off two passes, part of five takeaways for the Texans.

WESTLAKE RATTLES REAGAN

Austin Westlake turned this highly anticipated matchup into a one-sided affair, building a 31-7 halftime lead while accumulating 329 yards of total offense. One standout on that side of the ball was running back Jack Kayser, who had 34 carries for 168 yards and three TDs. Westlake QB Rees Wise also rushed for a TD and threw for another during the Chaparrals' successful first half.

ANOTHER REGIONAL SEMIFINAL FOR ATASCOCITA

The Eagles rang up a 41-21 halftime lead en route to reaching the regional semifinals for the ninth consecutive season. Cardae Mack had four TD runs, with his longest covering 69 yards, while quarterback Zion Brown tossed a pair of TD passes. Despite the loss, Pearland's Ladamion McDowell had four TDs, including back-to-back scores early in the second half to pull the Oilers within six, 41-35, but they weren't able to get any closer.

MUSTANGS WITHSTAND HURRICANES

Spring Westfield rallied from a 21-point first-half deficit to get the win, the Mustangs' ninth straight. They also reach the regional semifinal round for the eighth straight season. Taji Atkins fueled the Mustangs' comeback with four TD runs, his longest covering 80 yards. Austin Abram returned a kickoff 80 yards for another TD, while quarterback Miles Dent added a pair of TD runs on the ground.

Photo of Prosper QB Nathan TenBarge by Robbie Rakestraw 

-- Buck Ringgold | buck@scorebooklive.com | @sblivetx