Smithson Valley survives late scare, downs Angleton in Texas state semifinal: Live updates recap

Rangers will take on Highland Park in Texas Class 5A-Division I final

Hudson Woods (92) and Smithson Valley advance to face Highland Park in the Texas Class 5A finals. / Blake Purcell

Looking to avenge its loss in the 2023 Texas high school football state finals last season, Smithson Valley (12-2) takes on Angleton (13-1) in a Class 5A-Division I state semifinal at Baylor's McLane Stadium in Waco. Kick off is slated for 3:30 p.m. CT.

The Rangers, winners of nine straight, breezed past Flour Bluff, 49-14, in last week's quarterfinal.

Angleton, meanwhile, has sights set on its own history. A win would set a program record for most wins in a season (14) - a mark the Wildcats tied with last week's 24-21 win against La Porte. That win avenged Angleton's only loss of the season - a 35-28 loss in Week 9 on Nov. 1.

Senior quarterback/linebacker Cade Spradling is a do-it-all star for Smithson Valley. He's accounted for 36 touchdowns this season (18 passing, 18 rushing) to go along with 101 tackles and two interceptions on defense.

Opposing him is junior quarterback Bryce Duron - a three-year starter for the Wildcats who has amassed 1,895 yards and 37 total touchdowns (29 passing, eight rushing) while leading an offense that averages 382 yards per game.

Angleton's defense has forced 32 turnovers this season and is allowing a meager 216 yards of offense to opponents this season. Smithson Valley's offense, meanwhile, averages 382 yards per game.

You can also watch this game live on the NFHS Network (subscription required).

Angleton vs. Smithson Valley, Class 5A-Division I state semifinal game live updates

It's a beautiful day for football in Waco, Texas for today's semifinal. The temp is 76-degrees with a slight breeze. Angleton is in all-white uniforms. Smithson Valley dons full-Navy colors. The coin toss is upcoming.

Smithson Valley wins the toss and defers. Angleton will receive.

FIRST QUARTER

Smithson Valley lineman Caleb Sosa bursts through the line on third down to stop the running back for a loss, forcing a punt on Angleton's first possession. Smithson Valley takes over on its first possession with 10:01 at its own 38.

Smithson Valley goes three-and-out and punts it back to the Wildcats with 8:32 left in the first.

Smithson Valley quarterback Cade Spradling fakes a pitch and runs untouched for an 80-yard touchdown, but a personal foul penalty on the play negates the score and moves the ball back to the Smithson Valley 35.

After getting stuffed on third down, Smithson Valley misses a 43-yard field goal to give the ball back to Angleton at its own 26 with 4:05 to go in the first.

Smithson Valley quarterback Ty Knutson comes on in relief and delivers a dime to WR Brody Day down to the Angleton 20.

TURNOVER! Angleton ATH Marquise Hightower just made an incredible interception - ripping the ball away from WR Brody Day with one arm to thwart the Rangers drive. It's Hightower's sixth pick of the season.

SECOND QUARTER

Big turn of events. A fumbled punt snap leads to the punter scrambling through the end zone before punting it wildly out of bounds. Smithson Valley takes over at Angleton's 10.

TOUCHDOWN! Cade Spradling finds Brody Day for the 10th time this season. A three-yard touchdown pass, and the extra point makes it 7-0 with 8:31 left in the half.

TOUCHDOWN! Smithson Valley RB Bradley Sowersby goes off right guard and breaks a tackle for his 16th touchdown of the season. Trent Amaya boots the extra point. Smithson Valley leads Angleton 14-0 with 2:05 to go in the half.

An important note on Sowersby's touchdown. The play followed a fourth-down conversion in which WR Brody Day fought through a defender to secure a one-handed catch along the sideline to extend the drive. Without that catch, it's still a one-score game.

TURNOVER! Smithson Valley defensive back Diego Davila intercepts a deep pass at the Rangers' 6 with 44 seconds to go in the half.

Halftime: Smithson Valley 14, Angleton 0. It's been a defensive struggle so far. The Rangers will receive the opening kick of the second half.

THIRD QUARTER

Smithson Valley begins the second half at its own 25.

Rangers quarterback Cade Spradling was shaken up on the first play of the second half and limped off the field with trainers. Ty Knutson takes over at quarterback for Smithson Valley.

Angleton's defense forces a punt. Now the Wildcats will try to get something going on offense. They managed to cross midfield only once in the first half - on their final possession of the second quarter.

Diego Davila turns in another big play for Smithson Valley. This time he returns a punt 38 yards to the Angleton 31. His interception late in the second quarter thwarted the Wildcats' best drive of the game thus far.

Smithson Valley misses a 40-yard field goal. Angleton takes over at its own 22 with 1:58 to go in the third.

Angleton survives a scare as the third quarter was winding down. A big hit by Diego Davila forced a fumble, but the Wildcats recovered it at their own 42.

FOURTH QUARTER

Angleton punts it back to Smithson Valley with 11:42 left in the game, trailing 14-0.

TOUCHDOWN! Angleton defensive lineman Cam Brown scoops up a fumble and returns it 13 yards for a score. Landon Miles was credited with causing the fumble. The extra-point fails, however, and Smithson Valley's lead is whittled down to 14-6 with 9:07 to go.

Angleton comes away with a big defensive stop. After a punt, the Wildcats take over at their own 44 with 7:30 to go.

For only the second time all game, Angleton is in Smithson Valley territory. The Wildcats have it at the 36 with 6:28 to go.

Wyatt Neyland rumbles down to the Smithson Valley 2. What a turn in this game.

TOUCHDOWN! Tavon Waddy rushes in from 3 yards out. Wesley Johnson catches the game-tying two-point conversion and Angleton knots it up at 14-all with 5:08 to go.

For 3 1/2 quarters, Angleton seemingly had no life. The Wildcats struggled to move the ball with any sort of effectiveness. Smithson Valley controlled everything. But everything changed with that defensive touchdown. Angleton's sideline is buzzing.

TURNOVER! Maurice Hightower picks off his second pass of the game. Another one-handed grab. This one gives the ball back to Angleton at its 47 with 4:50 to go.

TURNOVER! Angleton gives it right back with a fumble on its first play off the interception. Smithson Valley recovers a fumble at its own 43 with 4:39 to go.

TOUCHDOWN! Cade Spradling seems to be just fine after being hobbled earlier. He takes a keeper off the left end and sprints 41 yards for a touchdown. Trent Amaya adds the extra-point to make it 21-14 with 2:56 left in regulation.

While scrambling from multiple defenders, Angleton Bryce Duron lost a handle on the ball and fumbled it out of bounds for a 16-yard loss. He's sacked by Hudson Woods on the next play. Wildcats face fourth and 29.

Angleton punts from its own end zone with 2:01 left. Smithson Valley takes over at the Wildcats' 36 with 1:57 to go.

Cade Spradling ices the game for Smithson Valley with 1:39 to go - rushing for 10 yards and a first down on a keeper. Angleton won't be able to stop the clock now.

Despite struggling to do much of anything offensively for most of the game, two quick scores late in the fourth quarter stunned the crowd as Angleton erased a 14-point deficit to tie it late.

In the end, much as it was all day, Smithson Valley's defense got the last laugh. Forcing a key turnover on a potential go-ahead drive, the Rangers quickly capitalized with the go-ahead score by quarterback Cade Spradling.

The Wildcats (13-2) will take on Highland Park (14-1) for next week's Texas Class 5A-Division 1 state final.

More Texas high school football news

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Denton Ryan vs. Dallas Highland Park: Live score; updates; Texas high school football state semifinal

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-- Levi Payton | @sblivesports