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Sports

Wixon: 10 most memorable second-round playoff games since '02

Allen-Euless Trinity and DeSoto-Skyline top this year’s menu

With Allen vs. Euless Trinity and DeSoto vs. Skyline headlining a great schedule, the second round of the playoffs could be memorable. That always seems to be the case with the University Interscholastic League football playoffs.

It’s the second round when the heavyweights begin colliding and some of the best games occur. Here are 10 of the most memorable second-round games from the last 10 years:

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2009 5A DIVISION II

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Southlake Carroll 35, Allen 34 (2 OT): Allen quarterback Matt Brown threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Chase Gambill on the final play of regulation to force overtime, but Carroll's defense made the clinching stop in front of 40,000 fans at Cowboys Stadium. Allen tried to win with a two-point conversion in the second overrtime, but Carroll safety Justin Agnew stopped Brown on a quarterback keeper.

2009 5A DIVISION I

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Skyline 41, DeSoto 36: A couple of hours before the Allen-Carroll game, Skyline's Mike Davis was stellar at SMU's Ford Stadium. Davis caught four touchdown passes as a receiver, picked off two as a defensive back, and made the game-clinching play to help Skyline run out the clock. On a third-and-5 at the Skyline 27-yard line, Davis beat double coverage for an 11-yard reception.

2008 5A DIVISION I

Euless Trinity 42, Plano 35: Plano running back Rex Burkhead rushed for 142 yards, scored three touchdowns and intercepted a pass as a linebacker, but Trinity pulled off the win with a big pass at Texas Stadium. Quarterback Denarius McGhee, who had more than 300 yards passing in the game, connected with Tyree Tucker for a 26-yard touchdown with 15 seconds left.

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2007 5A DIVISION II

Hebron 50, DeSoto 44 (4 OT): Hebron forced overtime with a 60-yard pass from Tanner Marsh to David Crawford and a two-point conversion with two minutes left at the Birdville Fine Arts/Athletic Complex. Absalom Jones' 4-yard run gave Hebron the lead in the fourth overtime, and linebacker Alex Norman clinched the win by batting down Cyrus Gray's fourth-down pass.

2006 5A DIVISION I

Southlake Carroll 22, Euless Trinity 21: One of the greatest games ever featured 46,339 fans and would've attracted more if not for a massive traffic jam around Texas Stadium. Trinity led 21-16 when it tried a fake punt and failed with 2:30 left. Carroll drove 35 yards for the winning touchdown, capped by Riley Dodge's 2-yard run with 37 seconds left.

2006 5A DIVISION II

Garland 24, Longview 21: Shortly after Garland's Malcolm Williams ran past the midfield star at Texas Stadium on a 96-yard kickoff return, he became an even bigger star. With the score tied late in the fourth quarter, Williams stripped Longview's Jazmon Moon of the ball and recovered the fumble to set up Mladen Bjelica's 42-yard game-winning field goal.

2005 4A DIVISION II

Wylie 41, Woodrow Wilson 38: In an amazing comeback, Wylie rallied from a 31-3 halftime deficit to stun Woodrow Wilson at Kincaide Stadium. Sergio Kindle rushed for 323 yards and five touchdowns for Woodrow Wilson, but Wylie roared to life after halftime, and Zach Abbott connected with Max Boe for the winning 22-yard touchdown with 2:51 left.

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2004 5A DIVISION II

Denton Ryan 17, Plano West 14: Defenses dominated at Texas Stadium before Ryan's Justin Willis threw a 78-yard pass to Justin Fenty to give Ryan a 17-7 lead. Plano West's Eric Johnson connected with D.J. Searcy for a 42-yard touchdown with 5:48 left, and after a Ryan punt, Plano West drove to the Ryan 36 before Ryan's Daniel Woodard recovered a fumbled snap to clinch the win.

2004 5A DIVISION II

Mesquite 28, Carter 27: Mesquite quarterback Dray Johnson, playing with a broken left thumb, broke Carter's back by rushing for 201 yards and two touchdowns at Texas Stadium. Carter cut the lead to 28-27 in the fourth quarter, but a bobbled snap foiled its point-after kick. Johnson ran eight times for 74 yards as Mesquite drained the final five minutes off the clock.

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2002 3A DIVISION II

Daingerfield 21, Celina 20: Celina's state-record winning streak of 68 games came to an end in a dramatic game-ending swing. With 10 seconds remaining, Celina running back Josh Sharrock plunged into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown. But the point-after kick sailed wide left, ending Celina's hope for a fifth straight state title.