Ellis County Sports Your source for Ellis County Sports News
By Travis M. Smith | KBEC Sports
District champions were crowned and playoff pictures became clear across Ellis County in the final week of high school football.
Midlothian ISD now boasts two 5A district champions, Waxahachie ran away from Dallas Skyline, Ennis continued its incredible run and more!
Stats, quotes and links to photo galleries will be added throughout the weekend. Tune in to “The Press Box” on KBEC 1390AM/99.1FM at 6 p.m. Monday for additional insight and interviews with local coaches and players.
CLASS 6A
(8-2, 5-2) WAXAHACHIE 49, (0-10, 0-7) Dallas Skyline 21 — FINAL (Thurs)
The Indians picked off four Dallas Skyline passes in the first half to secure their 8th win of the regular season. The feat hadn’t happened in over a decade and locked the Tribe into its highest-ever finish in a 6A district (third).
For a deeper dive into what also made Thursday’s win so special, like a decade in the making special, click here!
Last Time Out: Waxahachie closed out the District 11-6A schedule with rather easy wins against Mansfield Legacy (31-21), Mansfield (31-20), Mansfield Legacy (39-31) and Skyline. The Tribe opened the district slate with a convincing win against Cedar Hill (51-21) before falling late in games against DeSoto (42-24) and Duncanville (24-7).
Up Next: Waxahachie will face (6-3) Temple in the 6A Division I bi-district round. The Wildcats finished second in District 12-6A behind Harker Heights. Weiss and Bryan also secured postseason berths in 12-6A.
This will mark the first postseason for Waxahachie to participate in the largest classification in the state.
CLASS 5A
(8-2, 6-2) Red Oak 28, (10-0, 8-0) MIDLOTHIAN 56 — FINAL (Thurs)
Bryant Wesco hauled in over 100 yards and two touchdowns in the first half to pace the Midlothian offense at home Thursday night. The junior finished the game with 4 catches for 146 yards — which included a 93-yard touchdown. His efforts, combined with the stellar defensive play, helped the Panthers secure the District 4-5A Division I title over Red Oak, 56-28.
Wesco has 14 touchdown grabs on the season. He’s hauled in 48 passes for 964 yards for an average of 96.4 yards per game.
The Panthers are unbeaten in the regular season for the first time since 1984. The 10-0 mark is the first in program history.
PHOTO ALBUM COMING!
Last Time Out:
Up Next: TBD
(8-2, 6-2) RED OAK 28, (10-0, 8-0) Midlothian 56 — FINAL (Thurs)
“There was no downfall. They beat us, and they were the better football team tonight,” Red Oak head football coach Tony Holmes told KBEC Sports following the District 4-5A Division I loss. “Our boys played their hearts out, and it was a good effort, and that’s all that matters.”
PHOTO ALBUM COMING!
Last Time Out: The Hawks fell to Lake Belton, 48-47, in overtime to open district play. They’ve since rolled off wins against Killeen Ellison (28-21), Killeen Shoemaker (38-35), Waco (69-7) and Cleburne (49-3).
Up Next: TBD
(9-1, 7-0) No. 6 MIDLOTHIAN HERITAGE 35, (8-2, 6-1) Everman 34 — FINAL (Thurs)
The Midlothian Heritage defense came up with its biggest stop of the season to thwart an Everman two-point attempt with under two minutes to play. The stand secured the District 5-5A Division II title for the Jaguars in their first season in Class 5A.
Last Time Out:
Up Next: TBD
(5-5, 4-3) Mansfield Summit 27, (5-5, 5-2) ENNIS 30 — FINAL (Thurs)
The Ennis Lions finished third in District 5-5A Division II with Thursday’s 30-27 victory against Mansfield Summit.
Last Time Out:
Up Next: TBD
CLASS 4A
(2-7, 0-4) LIFE WAXAHACHIE 35, (4-5, 2-2) Alvarado 77 — FINAL (Thurs)
Life Waxahachie was officially eliminated from the postseason Thursday. (9-0, 4-0) China Spring won District 5-4A Division I, while Waco La Vega, Alvarado and Stephenville secured the other three playoff spots in the five-team district.
(4-6, 4-1) FERRIS 27, (9-1, 5-0) Glen Rose 56 — FINAL (Thurs)
Ferris finished second behind state-ranked Glen Rose in District 4-2A Division II following Thursday’s outcome.
Last Time Out:
Up Next: TBD
CLASS 3A
(2-7, 2-5) MAYPEARL, (3-6, 3-4) Life Oak Cliff — 7:30 p.m. Friday
The Maypearl Panthers have already been eliminated from the 3A Division I postseason. District 7-3A Division I will be represented by West, Grandview, Whitney and Dallas Madison.
(9-0, 5-0) PALMER — BYE
No. 8 Palmer is one of four unbeaten teams remaining in 3A Division II, joining No. 1 Gunter, No. 2 Holiday and No. 9 Lexington.
Palmer is also enjoying a much-deserved bye week after already securing the District 7-3A Division II crown. (7-2, 4-1) Scurry-Rosser finished second.
The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 36.3PPG to 10.6PPG, which amounts to just 96 total points allowed through nine games. That same defense allowed a season-high 23 points in a 36-23 Homecoming win against then-state-ranked Rogers.
For a little history, head coach Don Waddle and the Bulldogs are 38-7 overall and 23-1 in district play since 2019. Their last district loss, 29-28, came against Rice — with multiple Palmer starters out — on Sept. 25, 2020.
The Bulldogs’ past four seasons are as follows:
• 2022: 9-0 (5-0 District)
• 2021: 8-4 (6-0 District)
• 2020: 9-2 (5-1 District)
• 2019: 12-1 (7-0 District)
Up Next: TBD
CLASS 2A
(4-6, 3-3) ITALY — BYE
District 7-2A Division I will be represented by (9-1, 6-0) Cayuga, (6-2, 4-1) Axtell, (4-6, 3-3) Rio Vista and (3-7, 3-3) Kerens. Italy lost the tie-breaker.
Kerens defeated (2-7, 1-4) Cross Roads, 20-8, on Thursday.
Last Time Out:
Up Next: TBD
CLASS 1A
(5-4, 1-2) AVALON, (5-4, 3-0) Blum — 7 p.m. Friday
Avalon will face Blum in the final District 11-1A Division I matchup of the regular season. The Eagles have already been eliminated from postseason play.
(3-1, 5-3) MILFORD, Veritas Academy — 7 p.m. Friday
Milford is travel for a non-district tilt on Friday. The Bulldogs have already secured a District 11-1A Division I playoff berth.
Last Time Out:
Up Next: TBD
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Travis M. Smith, @Travis5mith
tsmith@kbec.com
