The Lone Star Rangers 2015 UIL Playoff run has now reached historic proportions, as they have now done what no Frisco ISD has ever done: reach the State Semifinals. Now, just a mere two wins separate the Rangers from the ultimate high school football prize: A State Championship.
W Lone Star (14-1) VS Lancaster (10-4)—49-34
The Regional Final matchup between the Lone Star Rangers and the Lancaster Tigers featured two of the region’s most high-powered offenses—the Tigers averaging 40 ppt in the playoffs, and the Rangers putting up just over 48 per.
But the often over-looked defenses of these two powerhouse teams would ultimately prove the difference. Entering the fourth round of the 2015 UIL Playoffs, Lone Star had surrendered an average of just 10 points per game, whereas Lancaster had given up 15.2 ppg. Both squads would be pushed to the limits in an explosive second half of high school playoff football.
In their previous three playoff contests, the Lancaster Tigers’ defense had yet to surrender more than 23 points. Thanks to an explosive, game-changing third quarter by the Lone Star Rangers, the Tigers defense would be battered into submission, on the way to giving up 49.
The third quarter fireworks got underway when Rangers WR Jaylen Dixon (125 yds, 2 TDs) hauled in a 40-yard pass from Jason Shelley, giving Lone Star their first lead since early in the second quarter. Then it was time for the salty Rangers defense to take control, as Nicholas Bolton intercepted a Ryan Ross pass and took it 94 yards to the house for a pick-6. Then, during the final seconds of the third, Shelley found the end zone on a two-yard scoring scamper, to put the Rangers up 42-21.
The Tigers weren’t done yet, however, as WR Omar Manning hauled in a 30-yard pass from Ross to bring Lancaster within 14 points of the Rangers. But Darrin Smith’s one-yard scoring run with 1:39 remaining in the game would be the final coffin nail to seal Lancaster’s fate, and catapult the Rangers into unchartered waters, as Frisco ISD’s first football team to reach the State Semifinals.
All told, both Lone Star and Lancaster’s defenses were pushed to the limits, but it was Lone Star’s dynamic offense that proved the difference.
Jason Shelley (338 total yards, 5 total TDs) was an easy pick for player of the game, with his counterpart QB Ryan Ross (302 yds passing, 3 TDs) putting up huge numbers in the losing effort.
