BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
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MANSFIELD – For the second straight week, the defending champion Celina Bobcats finished their game with star quarterback Bowe Bentley on the sideline.
Bentley left in the first half during the past two games – Friday against Alvarado and against Decatur in the regional semifinals. But #1 Celina turned to the ground game behind senior Luke Biagini and junior Evan Koehne to lead the Bobcats to a 52-27 win over the Indians in the Class 4A D1 Region 1 Championship at Newsom Stadium.
Celina (14-0), which beat Kilgore last December for the program’s ninth state title, faces Stephenville in the state semifinals. Stephenville defeated Canyon West Plains on Friday in the Region 2 Final. The Bobcats have won 30 straight games – with their last loss coming in the regional semifinals of 2023 against Stephenville 7-3.
Meanwhile, Alvarado ends 12-1.
The Indians reached the regional final in back-to-back years for the first time since 2010-2011. They lost to Celina 55-21 in last season’s regional final in Grapevine. Celina goes to the final four in back-to-back years for the first time since 2014-2015.
Celina defeated Decatur 33-7 last week and Bentley left the game in the first half. He was 4 of 5 for 72 yards plus 37 on the ground before he exited the contest. Fellow senior QB Gaurav Muttasseril came in and finished with 86 yards on 4 of 7 passes and two touchdowns.
On Friday against Alvarado, Bentley was down late in the second quarter and remained on the ground for a few minutes. He was able to walk off on his own power, but never returned. He was still in full uniform during the second half, but didn’t play.
Bentley, who signed his letter of intent with the Oklahoma Sooners during the early signing period on Wednesday, threw for 80 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Muttasseril finished the game, but Celina relied on the run game.
Muttasseril completed both his pass attempts for 29 yards and added a 20-yard run.
The Indians came out on fire with a 75-yard touchdown by Demarcus Belton on the first play from scrimmage. Then they recovered the ensuing kickoff, but the officials ruled the recovery out of bounds. Still, Alvarado’s defense forced a three-and-out. But when Alvarado got the ball back after a Celina punt, the Indians threw an interception that was picked off by Julian Mayfield.
Celina turned it into points when Bentley threw a touchdown to Koehne with 4:51 left in the first quarter. The Bobcats took the lead when Bentley found a wide open LJ Taylor from 32 yards for a 14-7 lead with two minutes left.
Alvarado couldn’t convert on a fourth down and Celina was able to march downfield. The Bobcats got third-and-11 when they picked up a first down following a 19-yard run by Koehne. Celina kicked a 30-yard field goal from Jax Holt to extend the lead to 17-7 with 5:49 left in the second quarter.
The Indians got a much needed touchdown before halftime when QB KJ Jenkins hit DJ Clampitt on a half back screen and 16-yard score. Celina led 17-14 the intermission.
The Bobcats then turned to Biagini in the second half, who finished with a game-high 122 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns. His 2-yard TD run capped off an 85-yard scoring drive and Celina led 24-14 midway through the third quarter. Celina drove down during another drive, but fumbled inside the Alvarado 10.
Layne Woolard got the ball, but the offense was stalled.
Alvarado managed just a one-yard punt and on the ensuing play, Biagini scored from 12 yards out to make it 31-14 early in the fourth quarter for Celina. Clampitt scored to pull Alvarado within 31-21 with under 10 minutes left in the final period, but Biagini added his third score of the night. Then Biagini picked off an Alvarado pass and on the next play, Jacob Brown scored on a 33-yard TD run.
Biagini said it was his first game rushing all season long.
During their win over Kilgore in the state title game last season, Biagini was voted state champ Defensive MVP with nine tackles, one interception and and half a sack.
