GISD Football Teams Eliminated in Area Round of Playoffs
Article Date: November 26, 2007
After posting a perfect 3-0 record in the first weekend of the 5-A Texas high school football playoffs, Garland ISD was bounced from postseason play last Saturday as all three teams suffered losses at Texas Stadium in the Area round.
GISD got off to a good start in the day’s opening game which pitted Naaman Forest (9-3) against Dallas Carter (7-5). After winning the first playoff game in school history a week ago, Naaman was on top throughout Saturday’s contest until late in the fourth quarter.
With just over two minutes remaining, Carter quarterback Jarvis Phillips connected with Juan McHenry for a 30-yard touchdown pass that put the Cowboys on top 21-20. Two questionable fourth-down spots on Naaman’s ensuing drives stalled any comeback possibilities the Rangers had, and Carter added a late touchdown for a 28-20 win.
In GISD’s second contest, the Rowlett Eagles were faced with a deficit from the start. In their first-round contest, the Eagles (6-6) stormed out to a 30-0 lead over Allen. Dallas Skyline – Rowlett’s Area-round opponent – reversed that strategy against the Eagles and jumped out to a 21-0 second quarter lead. After yielding a 60-yard touchdown pass just before halftime, Skyline's defense pitched a shutout over the final two quarters. The Raiders (11-1) also added four touchdowns, earning a 49-7 victory.
The day’s main event kicked off at 8 p.m. and featured two 10-1 district champions – the South Garland Colonels and Longview Lobos. South Garland fell behind early and trailed 21-0 at halftime but the Colonels mounted an impressive drive following intermission and cut their deficit to 21-7. Longview (11-1) answered with a 93-yard drive of its own and used a bruising ground game to carve out a 28-14 win.
South Garland, which won nine consecutive games after dropping its season opener, finished the year with a 10-2 mark.