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Houston High School Athletics

GERMANTOWN - As the bucket of water poured down James Thomas' neck after Friday's TSSAA football playoffs semifinal win, the Houston coach couldn't help but think about the 1998 Mustangs who were in this same position. He thought about how close that '98 squad was to getting to a state championship and how devastated that team was when it fell short. The memory was still fresh for Thomas because he was a player on that 1998 Houston team. But this season, his team finished, capturing the program's first ever Class 6A home state semifinal win, beating previously unbeaten Ravenwood, 24-21, Friday. "I really wanted it for this team," Thomas said. "I wanted them to know what it felt like to win a significant game at home, a game as big as this. I didn't get my chance as a player back then. But I wanted these kids to have that feeling. I'm so glad they were able to get it done." Ladeadrick James' interception of Ravenwood quarterback Femi Babalola with just over 40 seconds left sealed the win as Ravenwood faced a 97-yard trek to the end zone on its final possession. The win moves the Mustangs (12-2) - the defending 6A state champs - back into the BlueCross Bowl championship game where it will face Oakland for the second straight year on Dec. 7 in Chattanooga. "We kept telling ourselves we're going back to state," said Houston wide receiver Andre Allen, who had three touchdown catches, including the go-ahead score, an 8-yard TD catch from Chandler Day, with 4:01 left. "We just kept repeating it throughout the playoffs. We were trying to speak that into existence. I guess it worked." Friday's win cements Thomas' program in the elite status. Last year's state title win ended Oakland's state championship winning streak at three. This year's appearance marks the first time Houston has made consecutive championship games. "Getting back to Chattanooga puts a stamp on the program," Thomas said. "It says we're here for the long term. These kids, the last few years, have done a great job changing the culture and our expectations are high now." Allen caught all three of Chandler Day's touchdown passes, including a 33-yard slant he took to the end zone late in the third quarter. After a scoreless first quarter, both teams traded touchdowns throughout the second half. Day finished 10-of-22 for 119 yards while James added 19 carries for 146 yards. "We didn't want to settle for just being average out there," Day said. "It took a while for our offense to get going but we were able to answer Ravenwood every single time." Ravenwood's bid for its first state title game since 2019 ended is disappointing fashion. The Raptors (13-1) were arguably 6A's best team, having beaten Alcoa on the road in Week 1 and Oakland last month. "That (Ravenwood) team is good," Day said. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy (beating them). But we're back in the state championship. We're back."

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Houston High School Athletics

HOUSTON CAN REPEAT AFTER KNOCKING OFF UNBEATEN RAVENWOOD IN TSSAA FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS SEMIFINALS

GEORGE ROBINSON

Commercial Appeal | 11/30/2024

PHOTO CREDIT: Emily Hume