TYLER, Texas — The UIL State Championship week has arrived, and all eyes are on East Texas as the region’s top teams prepare to compete at AT&T Stadium. CBS19 Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the dynamic matchups featuring the Malakoff Tigers, Kilgore Bulldogs, and Carthage Bulldogs.
For expert insights, we turned to Mallory Hartley and Ashley Pickle from Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, who shared their predictions and analysis of the highly anticipated games.
The Malakoff Tigers, an undefeated 15-0 powerhouse, face off against the 14-1 Columbus Cardinals in the 3A-D1 title game. According to Hartley, this matchup is a must-watch. "Malakoff’s quarterback, Mike Jones, is a name everyone knows, but Columbus brings a gunslinger of their own. These are two explosive offenses, and this game could come down to who has the ball last."
In the 4A-D1 division, the Kilgore Bulldogs (13-2) take on the undefeated Celina Bobcats. Celina, led by standout quarterback Bowe Bentley, is chasing its ninth state title. Pickle highlighted Bentley’s exceptional season, calling him “dynamic” and praising his supporting cast, including running backs Harrison Williams and Logan Gutierrez. “This offense has been firing on all cylinders,” she added. Kilgore will need a flawless defensive effort to knock off Celina.
Finally, the 4A-D2 matchup features the Carthage Bulldogs (14-1) against the La Vega Pirates (12-3). Despite an early season loss, Carthage has regained its dominance under legendary coach Scott Surratt, who boasts a perfect 9-0 record in state championships. While La Vega's star running back Bryson Roland poses a significant challenge, Hartley and Pickle emphasized, “We never pick against a streak.”
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