The two most unlikely teams to be playing in the Region II-4A, Division II final are actually about to do just that.
Bastrop (10-3) will take on Mesquite Poteet (11-2) Saturday at Waco ISD Stadium for a shot at advancing to the state semifinals for the first time in 44 years.
The two teams would have met in the first round of the playoffs had Bastrop defeated Hutto in the final week of the regular season.
But destiny had other plans and now the runner up from District 16-4A and the fourth place team from 15-4A will battle it out to be among Class 4A’s remaining four teams in Division II.
Perry said this magical season sent him back to his high school playing days at Lorena.
“We weren’t that good,” Perry said. “We weren’t supposed to get out of the first round, but things fell into place and we won a state title that year. This team here at Bastrop reminds me of that team.”
While the Bears might be a team of destiny, it seems no giant has been to big for Bastrop to take down.
Last week, undefeated Frisco Liberty was the latest victim as Bastrop’s offense, which is averaging 600 yards and 50 points per game in the playoffs.
Prior to that, Bastrop took down tradition-rich Corsicana and the 2008 Class 4A, Division II state champions Sulphur Springs.
“The kids are playing with so much confidence right now,” Perry said. “Josiah (Monroe) has stepped up his game and our defense is getting better and better.
“When a team plays with as much confidence as we are playing with, it’s hard to beat them.”
Mesquite Poteet will be unlike every team Bastrop has played against.
The Pirates don’t have the impressive numbers as Bastrop. They don’t have a dual-threat quarterback like Monroe.
Perry said they are more “opportunistic,” and don’t have a big-threat running back like the teams Bastrop has played in its playoff run.
“(Mesquite Poteet) isn’t a real flashy team,” Perry said. “I always like to play against a passing team because that’s what our defense sees in practice every day.”
Bastrop and the Pirates have played two of the same teams this year — Hutto and Corsicana.
While Bastrop defeated Corsicana and lost to Hutto, Mesquite Poteet defeated the Hippos in the first round of the playoffs and was defeated by Corsicana 44-10.
The Pirates, however, defeated two storied programs — Highland Park and Whitehouse — like the Bears en route to their berth in the regional finals.
“They are a lot like us,” Perry said. “They are a good team and forces you to not make mistakes.”
The Pirates forced Highland Park into five turnovers last week, which aided Mesquite Poteet to a 45-21 win over the Scots.
The Pirates tend to struggle against passing teams, so don’t look for the Bears to run the ball that much.
Mesquite Poteet gave up 231 and 209 yards through the air in losses to Corsicana and West Mesquite, respectively. Both teams predominately run the football, but had more passing yards against the Pirates.