Offense    Bastrop
The logical choice is Bastrop and the reason behind that is Josiah Monroe. Bastrop’s senior QB has thrown for 1,203 yards and ran for 436 for a total of 1,639 yards of offense in three playoff games. The Bears are averaging 50 points per game in the playoffs. Mesquite Poteet is riding the high of beating two of the favorites — Highland Park and Whitehouse — in Region II in back-to-back weeks. The Pirates aren’t a running team, so Bastrop’s cornerbacks will be tested by QB Beau Nowell, who has 2,715 passing yards this season.

Defense    Bastrop
Bastrop’s defense is very deceiving when looking at the numbers. However,  the Bears only gave up 134 yards through the air last week against Frisco Liberty. Why is that number important? Bastrop has given up more 200 yards passing just once this season. The Bears’ 34 points against per game is deceiving when your offense is scoring at will. Poteet seems to struggle against passing offenses. The most telling statistic about the Pirates is the 258 passing yards the gave up to Corsicana, a predominately running team.

Intangibles    Bastrop
The Bears haven’t made it this far in the playoffs in nearly 10 years. Mesquite Poteet are coming off back-to-back 1-9 seasons. These two were the most unlikely choices to be playing this far in the playoffs, but both teams have proven their legitimacy. Bastrop has more momentum after knocking off three very tradition rich programs and the way Monroe is playing, no one is stopping the Bears.