GAMES
RANKINGS
INSTANT REACTION: No Mercy From Sterling City
ARLINGTON - Oh how different things work out from Week 2 to the state finals.
In the first matchup, Sterling City erased a 14-point second half deficit and won a close game, 44-40, over May. In the rematch, a shootout looked to be brewing until Sterling City (15-0) put the clamps down to run away with a 68-22, mercy rule victory en route to its first-ever state championship.
Cross Knittel, the game's offensive MVP, was electric for Sterling City, accounting for 311 total yards and five of his team's touchdowns.
The route wasn't without some challenges early on, though. May scored on its first play from scrimmage, a 67-yard run by Kaden Halk, to take an 8-0 lead.
Sterling City responded in two plays to tie the game and then forced a turnover on downs - the first of three in the first half - that resulted in another Sterling City score.
May countered, but from that point on, it was all Sterling City. Sterling City scored late in the first quarter to take the lead again and then proceeded to outscore may 40-8 in the second quarter.
The Sterling City defense forced a fumble at the goalline, intercepted a pass and forced two more turnover on downs all while scoring on all of its possessions.
The game was finished as Sterling City hit the 45-point mercy rule as it scored on the first play of the second half.
STATE PREVIEW: 1A DI Sterling City vs. May
It's a rematch of a mid-season tilt between Sterling City (14-0), the Region II champion, and May (13-1), the Region IV champion. Way back when the season was young, Sterling City edged past May 44-40 in come-from-behind fashion.
Since then, May has rattled off 12 straight wins by an average of 41.8 points per game with five shutouts during that span. Sterling City has been perfect this season with three shutouts of its own.
Both teams score with the best of them in six-man football with each averaging 60 points a game this season. But it's been defense that has guided both to the title as opponents have scored an average of less than 30 points this season.
Combined, these two teams have one state title (May). This is the second state appearance for Sterling City while it is the sixth for May.
HOW STERLING CITY GOT HERE
- BI-DISTRICT: Beat Hermleigh 61-12
- REGIONALS: Beat Rankin 100-88
- QUARTERFINALS: Beat Westbrook 64-32
- SEMIFINALS: Beat Borden County 48-40
HOW MAY GOT HERE
- BI-DISTRICT: Beat Irion County 46-0
- REGIONALS: Beat Jonesboro 62-16
- QUARTERFINALS: Beat Leakey 72-38
- SEMIFINALS: Beat Blum 92-86
LINE: Sterling City favored by 6