Stephenville (TX) edges Celina (TX), 24-21: Live updates, score of Texas UIL 4A Division I clash between undefeated teams

Buck Ringgold

Stephenville (TX) edges Celina (TX), 24-21: Live updates, score of Texas UIL 4A Division I clash between undefeated teams image

Ronald W. Erdrich/Abilene Reporter-News/USA TODAY NETWORK

One of the more highly anticipated Texas state semifinal games takes place Friday night in Fort Worth.

Undefeated teams Stephenville and Celina, the defending University Interscholastic League 4A Division I champion, square off in the 4A DI state semifinals, taking place at Knight Stadium.

LIVE STREAM: Watch Stephenville vs. Celina live on the NFHS Network (Sign up today!)

Stephenville comes in at 14-0, with the Yellowjackets scoring 41 points or more in each of their last eight ballgames. Their lowest point total in that span came last week, when they scored 41 but held Canyon West Plains to 21 points in claiming a regional title.

Celina, also 14-0, has looked impressive during its bid to repeat as state champs. The Bobcats, led by senior quarterback and Oklahoma signee Bowe Bentley, scored 77 and 70 points in each of their first two playoff games, and also had a high point total last week, downing Alvarado 55-27 in the regional championship round.

Friday’s semifinal winner plays the winner of the other semifinal, between Kilgore and La Vernia, taking place on Friday at Waco. Those semifinal winners face off at next week’s state title game in Arlington.

Follow AllSportsPeople correspondent Buck Ringgold (@Bucks_Ballpark) for all of the live updates and scoring from Fort Worth.

Scroll down for live score and game updates from kickoff to the postgame. Refresh this page for the latest.

STEPHENVILLE 24, CELINA 21 FINAL

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POSTGAME

- That will do it, as we will have a new champion in 4A Division I. Stephenville will be playing Kilgore for the championship next week at Jerry World.

FOURTH QUARTER

- FIELD GOAL STEPHENVILLE. With two seconds left, Brighton DeVivo connects on a 45-yard field goal, and the Jackets are on the verge of upending the defending state champions. (Stephenville, 24-21 |:02, 4th) 

- The kick is up, it's long enough.......AND IT IS GOOD. STEPHENVILLE LEADS WITH TWO SECONDS LEFT. 

- Stephenville is going to try a 45-yard field goal in the final seconds. Trot Jordan able to get the Jackets in position with a 14-yard scramble.

- Celina misses a 43-yard field goal with 1:08 left. Stephenville takes over with perhaps a chance to win it at the end of regulation. 

- Celina regains possession as the Bobcats force a punt. They take over with more than three minutes left. 

- Celina is forced to punt as well, and Stephenville takes over on its side of the field. Less than five minutes to go. 

- Celina forces Stephenville to punt, and the Bobcats take over with more than seven minutes remaining. 

- TOUCHDOWN STEPHENVILLE. We are tied up once again. Jackets march 75 yards in six plays, as Zyler McClendon goes in from 7 yards out. (21-21 | 10:52, 4th) 

THIRD QUARTER

- TOUCHDOWN CELINA. Bobcats take advantage of the takeaway and punch it in to regain the lead. Bowe Bentley with a 32-yard pass to Evan Koehne for the go-ahead score. (Celina, 21-14 |:23, 3rd) 

- FUMBLE RECOVERY CELINA. Stephenville was driving in the red zone for the potential go-ahead score, but fumble on a trick play. Celina's Karter Lorick recovers and takes it the other way before getting the ball knocked out. However, it goes out of bounds, and the Bobcats will take over.

- TOUCHDOWN STEPHENVILLE. Yellowjackets storm out of the locker room and march 75 yards in only 5 plays, capped by a 10-yard TD pass from Trot Jordan to Adan Jergins, and the PAT squares things up. (14-14 | 10:19, 3rd) 

HALFTIME

- Oklahoma signee Bowe Bentley had a rushing TD and a passing score, and that's been the difference in the game so far as we are at the break.

SECOND QUARTER

- Stephenville gets a three-and-out with a sack of Bowe Bentley. Celina will punt, and the Jackets have the ball with less than two minutes to go in the half. 

- TOUCHDOWN CELINA. Bobcats regain the lead as Bowe Bentley scrambles 25 yards to the end zone on a third-and-long play. (Celina, 14-7 | 5:20, 2nd) 

- TOUCHDOWN STEPHENVILLE. The Yellowjackets tie things up as Zyler McClendon goes in from 2 yards out to cap a 12-play march. (7-7 | 10:41, 2nd) 

FIRST QUARTER

- TOUCHDOWN CELINA. Oklahoma signee Bowe Bentley engineers a first-quarter TD drive, ending it with a 6-yard pass on third-and-goal to Karter Lorick. (Celina, 7-0 | 4:17, 1st)

- INTERCEPTION CELINA. Jacob Brown picks off a pass on Stephenville's opening series.

PREGAME

- Live from Fort Worth, Stephenville and Celina face off in the 4A Division I semifinals, with a trip to next week’s title game in Arlington at stake.

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Contributing Writer