BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
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FORT WORTH – The Castleberry boys scored late in the first half to go up 2-0 at the intermission and the Lions’ defense didn’t give in – shutting out Decatur 3-0 during their Class 4A Division 1 regional semifinal match on Friday at Eagle Mountain HS.
Castleberry (20-1-3) faces Lake Dallas (18-4-2) in the Region 1 championship at 7 pm Tuesday at Eagle Mountain. The winner will advance to the state semifinal round which will likely be on Friday.
The Lions handed the Eagles their first and only loss (20-1-2).
“We knew coming into this, it was going to be a really tough game. Decatur hadn’t lost a game all year. We did a good job communicating and putting them away when we needed to,” said Castleberry coach Paul Smith, who led the Lions to the regional final in 2022.
It was evident the Lions had more control early on with a couple shots within the first few minutes. The pressure continued and Castleberry would turn it into a score in the seventh minute. Fernando Hernandez sent a ball from about the 30-yard line and it found the top of the head of Ethan Padilla, who was surrounded by two defenders. The ball found its way to the left corner of the net for a 1-nil lead.
The Eagles had multiple tries in the 13th and 15th minutes, but Calvin Kemp’s attempt was corralled by goalkeeper Caleb Castaneda and a free kick by Zeke Caldera went high. Richie Rodriguez then stole a Castleberry possession from about 15 yards out, but his shot on goal was caught by Castaneda.
Castleberry nearly went up 2-0 in the 27th minute. Jose Chairez out ran a defender and sent a ball across the box. Padilla slid for an open look at a goal but the pass and slide was off by a few feet – as the ball went past and out of bounds. The Lions scored just three minutes before the end of the first half. Decatur had the ball in the box and looking for its own goal, but Castleberry took away possession and a long pass found Chairez who ran away from a defender for about 30 yards before just beating the oncoming goalkeeper for a 2-nil lead.
“Ethan Padilla is a sneaky kid. He’s not the fastest, but he knows how to use his body. He knows how to use his feet to get by the defense and Jose Chairez, we call him Pepe, he’s a guy that when he goes, he goes, and when he gets a well timed through ball, I have all the confidence in the world that he’s going to put it away,” Smith said.
The Lions had an open look in the 52nd minute, but an attempt went high and off the bottom of the football goal post. Another shot in the 67th minute went off the top post. Padilla added Castleberry’s third goal and his second on a corner kick in the 69th minute. He sent the ball curving and the umpires ruled that it crossed the line for a score before Decatur touched it.
“We got three incredible center backs Christian Serrato, Fernando Hernandez and Michael Lujan – those are our three guys that we will greatly miss next year, but I’m glad we have them right now,” Smith said.
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WAXAHACHIE LIFE 4 DECATUR 0
In the second game of the day at Eagle Mountain HS, the Mustang girls scored on two penalty kicks to defeat the Eagles in their Class 4A D1 regional semifinal. Life improved to 26-0 and will face Stephenville (12-5-1) in the regional championship. It’s the second straight year that the Mustangs have reached the regional final.
“We have pretty much our whole team back from last year so they’re all just amped up and ready to do it for the school and for our families. We got knocked out last year by Salado in the regional final so these girls want to do it so they’re just motivated,” said Life coach Chase Bishop.
Stephenville advanced past Canyon West Plains.
Meanwhile, Decatur ends 16-6-2 with its deepest playoff run of all time.
The game quickly went from being scoreless to 2-0 in favor of Life in less than a minute. Jaynica Simpson found the. back of the net just under the 31 minutes left on the first-half clock. Then Life gain possession again and Simpson drew a foul inside the box. Kaylynn Griffis took the PK and scored to make it 2-nil Mustangs in the 10th minute.
Decatur put some pressure on later in the first half, but just couldn’t find a good look. The Mustangs drew another foul and Griffis scored on her penalty kick to give Life a 3-nil lead going into the intermission.
“We do have some pretty quick players up front. They’re able to get behind a lot and that’s happened a few times this year so we do try and play behind the defense a lot and our forwards try to get in there and either get the foul or the shot off so it’s definitely something we work on and they’re good at it,” Bishop said.
Life another to its lead in the 50th minute when Simpson assisted on a Zanae Nylund goal. Its roster has 22 players on it with six seniors and seven juniors.
“We have a strong back line and a lot of upperclassmen. Our goalie is a senior, center backs are seniors – just real experienced and they read the game well, and we’re happy to have them,” Bishop said.
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STAT OF THE NIGHT
11- It’s been 11 years since the Mesquite Poteet boys reached the fourth round of the playoffs. The Pirates snapped that drought with one of the biggest upsets of the week after taking down powerhouse Frisco Wakeland 3-2 in overtime during their Class 5A D2 regional semifinal showdown. David Mendoza, Andres Ojeda and Jeremias Martinez all scored for Poteet (18-3-3), which moves to play Highland Park (18-1-2) in the regional final – its first since 2014. Wakeland is a five-time state champ, was state-runner up in 2024 and had reached four of the past five state tournaments. Wakeland had become Poteet’s weakness – after making state in 2013, the Pirates had been knocked out by the Wolverines in four of six playoff trips including last year’s area round.
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BYE BYE DEFENDING CHAMP
In another big upset Lake Dallas took down last year’s Class 4A champ San Elizario in penalty kicks during their Class 4A D1 regional semifinal. Lake Dallas reaches the regional championship for the first time since 2019. The Falcons were up 1-nil at halftime before winning in the shootout.
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OTHER NOTABLE WINS
B – DIAMOND HILL JARVIS 1 EP BOWIE 0
Alex Ibarra assisted on a Edgar Resendiz goal and Reyes Medina posted the shutout as DHJ beat Bowie in their Class 4A D2 regional semifinal. The Eagles (23-2) will face Bridgeport (13-6) in the regional final.
B – PLANO WEST 1 BELL 0 (PLANO WEST WON PK 3-2)
After a scoreless regulation and overtime, the Wolves edged out the Blue Raiders in a shootout during their Class 6A D1 regional semifinal. Plano West (16-5-2) will play Coppell (19-1-1) in the regional final.
Plano West got PKs from Orlando Simancas, Samuel Boudet and Daniel Fialkov. Goalkeeper Max Pocsik made two big saves to help the Wolves clinch a regional finals appearance for the first time since 2007.
G – GRAPEVINE 1 MONTEREY 0
Tatum Harig scored from 35 yards out as the Mustangs took down Monterey in their Class 5A D2 regional semifinal. Grapevine (10-10-4) will face District 6-5A opponent Argyle (18-2-1) in the regional final on Tuesday from Coppell. Harig’s goal was assisted by Chloe O’Steen. Argyle beat EP Del Valle 3-2.
B – SL CARROLL 3 HALTOM 1
The Dragons led 2-0 at the intermission and then hung on to beat the Buffalos during their Class 6A D2 regional semifinal. SLC (17-3-4) will play in the regional final against Dallas Jesuit (20-1), which got past Byron Nelson.
Haltom ends 11-3-7 with its deepest run in program history.
Townes Hargrove (11th minute) and Tyson Lipp (38th) scored for Carroll in the first half. Hargrove added his second goal after burying an attempt from 8-yards out with the assist coming from Fife Adeyemo to make it 3-nil.
B – BRIDGEPORT 7 BROWNWOOD 2
Freshman Cory Lopez posted a hat trick as the Bulls ran past Brownwood in their Class 4A D2 regional semifinal. It’s the second time the Bulls have scored seven goals in a game this season. Meanwhile, Brownwood came in having given up just one goal in two previous playoff games.
G – COLLEYVILLE HERITAGE 4 TASCOSA 2
Ashlyn Bringedahl scored a brace and Addison Shimmick had two assists as the Panthers go back to the regional final after knocking out Tasocsa in the Class 5A D1 bracket. CHHS (15-2-1), which was 5A state runner-up in 2024, looks to get past another Amarillo team in Amarillo High during the Region 1 championship.
Brielle McDaniel and Camille Seeley also scored for the Panthers.
G – GODLEY 2 LUBBOCK LIBERTY 0
Stephanie Favela and Lexi Tyler scored, and goalkeepers Nola Briscoe and Kyla Williams held strong in net as the Wildcats shut out Liberty in their Class 4A D2 regional semifinal. Godley (16-4) will play Canyon Randall (20-5-1) in the Region 1 final.
B – GAINESVILLE 4 HENDERSON 0
Cesar De La Rosa scored a brace and the Leopards dispatched Henderson during Class 4A D2 regional semifinal. Gainesville (16-3-3) moves on to play Center (15-4-1) with the winner clinching a state semifinal spot. Matteo Guerreiro and Xavier Gonzalez scored the other two goals while Ethan Torres registered two assists.
B – HORN 2 GRAND OAKS 1 / MESQUITE 2 COLLEGE PARK 0
The Jaguars and Skeeters made it three boys teams from Mesquite ISD to reach the regional final after both took down their opponents in the regional semis. Horn (13-6-5) and Mesquite (17-3-4) will face off in the Region 2 championship of the Class 6A D2 bracket. Horn swept the season series in District 11-6A over Mesquite – winning matches of 8-0 and 2-1.
G – RED OAK 2 HIGHLAND PARK 1
Aja Nelson and Tatiyana Beamon scored as the Hawks picked up another big upset in DFW after taking down the Scots in their Class 5A D1 regional final showdown. Red Oak (18-3-1) will play Midlothian (22-1-1) in the Region 2 final. HP ends at 18-4-2.
Kennedi Robertson and Amora Turner both had one assist.
Londyn Artis won in the net and made nine saves for the Hawks.
G – MIDLOTHIAN 1 WALNUT GROVE 0
Macie Griffin scored on a Tatum Barnett assist, and Rebecca Hall posted a shutout as the Panthers beat the Wildcats in their Class 5A D1 regional semifinal. Walnut Grove ends its second season with a 20-2-1 record.
G – AUBREY 4 ATHENS 2
The Chaparrals made history with their first trip to the regional final after taking down Athens in their Class 4A D2 regional semifinal. Aubrey (17-3) will play Bullard (20-1) in the Region 2 final. Brynn Bohannon led the way with a hat trick while Macy Childers posted three assists.
