George Ranch takes down Vista Ridge, punches ticket to state final

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A lot of teams would love to have a "fourth-round curse."

Not George Ranch. The Longhorns - playing varsity football since 2012 - had been stopped at the regional final in 2013 and 2014. They wanted more in 2015.

"To me it's 'Why stop now?'," George Ranch running back Darius Anderson said. "After breaking that fourth-round curse, it put a lot of pressure on us. Now that we got here, I just want to keep working and win state."

The Longhorns (15-0) are in the state championship game for the first time against Lake Ridge at 8 p.m. Friday at NRG Stadium.

George Ranch's workhorse tailbacks did heavy lifting. Anderson had 18 carries for 277 yards and two touchdowns. Alex Fontenot chipped in 16 carries for 162 yards and one touchdown. The Longhorns had 639 yards total rushing.

George Ranch quarterback Antonio Jackson deserves a nod for going 6 of 8 for 162 yards and two touchdowns.

The Longhorns overcame rampant penalties - they had 12 for 118 - and Vista Ridge's stout option offense to win this one as well.

George Ranch's Darius Anderson (1) is congratulated after running in a touch down by the head coach in the third quarter of Class 5A Division I semifinals at NRG Stadium between George Ranch vs. Cedar Park Vista Ridge on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, in Houston. less George Ranch's Darius Anderson (1) is congratulated after running in a touch down by the head coach in the third quarter of Class 5A Division I semifinals at NRG Stadium between George Ranch vs. Cedar Park ... more Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 54 Caption Close George Ranch takes down Vista Ridge, punches ticket to state final 1 / 54 Back to Gallery

George Ranch's 21-10 second quarter made a difference after a 14-14 deadlock.

Much like George Ranch's path to a state title game, the obstacles kept showing up. But the team kept responding.

"We were behind the chains a lot which put some pressure on me throwing the ball, doing what I have to do to make plays," Jackson said. "But I feel real comfortable under pressure. I feel real comfortable with the O-line with this team. I feel they feel the same way about me."

Anderson and Fontenot have been the catalysts all year. Jackson was the understated hero Friday night.

Vista Ridge fumbled on the option pitch on a 3rd and 2 late in the second. The Rangers recovered, but were forced to punt.

That slight opening was all George Ranch needed and the Longhorns went away from the workhorse backs momentarily and let Jackson do the work.

Jackson threaded a pass over a Vista Ridge linebacker and into Quintin Morris' hands for a 62-yard touchdown. That 21-14 lead was the first of the night for the Longhorns and they never looked back.

Meanwhile, it seemed like the George Ranch defense found a way to disrupt Vista Ridge's option offense.

And instead of pounding the ball with Anderson or Fontenot on George Ranch's next drive, Jackson chunked a pass to Joshua Scruggs for 49 yards.

That left just enough time for Jackson's play-action pass to Daniel Boehm for an 18-yard touchdown. The Longhorns quickly had a 28-14 lead with 20 seconds left in the second.

"He does a great job running our offense," George Ranch head coach Ricky Tullos said of Jackson.

It seems like when we need a big play, he's the one that comes through with a big play."

Anderson always seems to make big plays, too.

He turned in his second 75-yard touchdown run of the night for a 35-17 George Ranch lead. That created enough distance to seal the win, too.

George Ranch and Lake Ridge will be a meeting of two young programs in the state. Both have been playing varsity football since 2012.

"I'm ecstatic," Tullos said. "I'm fired up for our school and our kids. We got seven days to get ready to play for a state championship."

Adam Coleman is a freelance writer.