Football: Friendswood set for playoff game

A pair of 12-1 teams square off with a region championship and state semifinals berth on the line when Friendswood and Montgomery meet at Rice Stadium.

It's the second region title game of the day at Rice — after Pearland meets Katy at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4 - and Friendswood, a region finalist the last two seasons, is looking for a return to the state semis where they fell in 2008.

ABOUT THE GAME

• Matchup: Friendswood (12-1) vs. Montgomery (12-1)

• When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4

• Where: Rice Stadium

• What's at stake: Advancing to face Cedar Park (13-0) or Austin Lake Travis (11-2) in the Class 4A Division I state semifinals on Dec. 11 (tentative date)

• Friendswood players to watch: QB Pete Maetzold, RB Jonathan Johnson, DE Travis Manning, LB Mark Brezina

• Montgomery players to watch: QB Tyler Bolfing, RB Leroy Dobbins, RB Tevin House, WR Devon Gasaway, WR Alex Peppe

TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Friendswood: The Mustangs' lone loss was by one point (21-20) to Santa Fe, which didn't qualify for the playoffs. Friendswood's current four-game win streak features victories against Texas City 35-28, and in the playoffs over Foster 24-19, Wheatley 50-6 and Humble 35-13. Friendswood started the season by beating Angleton 49-28, West Orange-Stark 35-34, Stratford 24-14, Channelview 58-20, Ball 55-22, Dawson 34-27, La Marque 55-41 and Manvel 41-37 ... ... Maetzold has thrown for 3,147 yards and 30 touchdowns on 239-of-385 passing with nine interceptions and run for 468 yards and 15 touchdowns on 155 tries, Johnson is the top rusher with 1,357 yards and 13 scores on 213 attempts and has 38 receptions for 457 yards and six touchdowns, and Kennemer is the leading receiver with 740 yards and four touchdowns on 53 catches.

• Montgomery: The Bears have won six in a row dating back to their only loss to Brenham 31-26 on Oct. 15. Since then, Montgomery has downed Spring Woods 62-13, Northbrook 66-0, Magnolia 55-21, and in the postseason, Huntsville 31-0, Crosby 42-12 and Dawson 24-20 last week at Turner Stadium. The Bears started the season with six consecutive victories over Crosby 56-30, Spring 35-19, Jones 50-0, Stratford 34-10 Magnolia West 38-7 and Waller 14-7 ... Bolfing has thrown for 1,667 yards and 25 touchdowns on 127-of-223 passing with five interceptions, and his top targets are Gasaway (38 receptions, 710 yards, 14 touchdowns) and Peppe (32, 330, five) ... When the Bears go ground, they use Dobbins and he's responded with 1,807 yards and 28 touchdowns on 202 carries.