ROYSE CITY - The Mineola Yellowjackets are in the state semifinals for the third straight year.
Quarterback Jeremiah Crawford and running back Chantz Perkins each scored touchdowns and the Yellowjacket defense was relentless as Mineola defeated Pottsboro 46-3 on Friday in a Class 3A Division I state quarterfinals playoff game at Royse City ISD Stadium.
The Yellowjackets (12-2) advance to meet Wall (11-3), a 28-17 upset winner over No. 1 Brock next week in the state semifinals. The game is tentatively set for Waco ISD Stadium next Friday.
For the third straight year, Mineola is in the final four, just a win away from playing for the state championship at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Pottsboro ended its season at 11-3.
The Cardinals actually led 3-0 before Mineola scored the next 46 points.
Pottsboro took the opening kickoff and drove inside the Mineola 10-yard line.
Facing a fourth-and-1, Mineola defenders Noah Sneed and Michael Drennon stopped Cardinal quarterback Hunter Watson on the option. The defense set the tone with the stop.
Later, Pottsboro intercepted a pass and the Cardinals got to the Mineola two before the Mineola defense stiffened.
Kade Werley booted a 20-yard field goal for a Pottsboro lead of 3-0 in the second quarter.
The Yellowjackets then got on track with Crawford leading the way.
Crawford stepped off a 38-yard run to the Cardinal 14 and three plays later, Crawford took the football up the middle for the touchdown. Cameron Sorenson added the extra point for a 7-3 advantage with 5:56 left in the first half.
Later Crawford added a 28-yard TD dash with 2:11 showing. The PAT failed, but Mineola led 13-3 at the half.
Mineola took the second half kickoff and moved it quickly down field to go up 20-3.
Chantz Perkins topped off the drive on a 2-yard TD run with 8:58 showing in the third. Sorenson made the PAT and Mineola led 20-3. Perkins had a 63-yard run to set up the short TD dash.
Mineola kept the pressure on as Courtland Sinches picked up his seventh sack of the season.
The Yellowjackets went ahead 26-3 on a 28-yard run by Crawford, his 37th TD of the year, but the pass for two failed as the teams entered the fourth quarter.
Perkins scored on a 9-yard run with 9:17 to go in the game. Sorenson added the PAT and Mineola led 33-3.
The defense then got into the act as Curtis London returned an interception for a TD for a 39-3 advantage.
Perkins scored his third TD of the game and his 16th of the season on a 3-yard run with 3:16 left in the game for a final of 46-3.