Roundup: Jefferson comes up one point short in Texas title game
Northwestern wide receiver commit Jacob Jefferson caught six passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns for the Houston St. Pius X Panthers, but Plano Prestonwood Christian rallied from 18-point deficit and got a thrilling 42-41 win in the championship game of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS).
It was a hotly contested match with big plays on both sides, combining for 1,123 yards of offense and plenty of high drama. St. Pius X got things started early with an 80-yard touchdown from quarterback Grant Gunnell to Chase Lane. The Prestonwood Christian Lions answered with a field goal a few minutes later, then took the lead when Jeremiah Lewis caught a 16-yard touchdown from Wiley Green partway through the second quarter.
Jefferson, a three-star prospect, got his first score only 1:25 after that, courtesy of a 34-yard connection from Gunnell. When Prestonwood's Green threw another touchdown on the ensuing drive, Jefferson answered the call again, this time for a 33-yard touchdown reception and putting the Panthers back in the driver's seat.
A few frantic possessions ensued, including two Prestonwood field goals with less than a minute before the halftime break, but the Panthers held a 28-23 lead at the break.
Much of the third quarter played to a stalemate until the four-star, Texas A&M-bound Gunnell rushed for a 14-yard touchdown with 2:19 to go. Then a turnover on a muffed kickoff return allowed Gunnell to throw a 31-yard touchdown just thirteen seconds later.
Looking at a 41-23 deficit late in the third, Prestonwood might have folded mentally. Instead they played with poise to score two touchdowns in the span of 1:38 and get back to within shouting distance.
“I am so proud of our kids and coaches. They never stopped believing,” said Chris Cunningham, Prestonwood head coach. “It looked like we didn’t have answers, but we just kept on playing and doing what we’ve been doing all year long. We never stopped believing in each other.”
The Lions seized their first lead since midway through the second quarter after junior Josh Cunningham scored on an 11-yard run for a 42-41 edge with 7:36 to play. But the tense moments were still to come. Prestonwood forced a turnover on its ensuing defensive series but missed a 35-yard field goal off the right post. Then St. Pius missed a 40-yard field goal short of the crossbar, surrendering possession back to the Lions with 3:31 to play.
Two clutch third-and-long conversions extended a final drive for Prestonwood and they were able to ride the clock out to victory.
The Panthers finished the season 10-2 overall and are now 39-9 under fourth-year coach Stephen Hill.
"One thing when you're playing a good team is you can't let off, and I think we let off a little bit," Hill said. "They're a great football team, very well coached football team, and they were able to take advantage. I'm just proud of my guys and the way they fought all year.
"We battled through some injuries and adversity, but they had a great year, great run, and we fell one point short in the state championship to a great program, so I couldn't be more happy for my kids."
NOTE: Jefferson was the last Northwestern 2018 commitment in action. This is the final Recruit Roundup of the season.