BY JASON DELLA ROSA

HERALD DEMOCRAT

If there was one thing Texoma Christian didn't want to see against San Antonio Keystone, it was players lining up for penalty kicks. There are no fond memories by the Eagles when it comes to the shootout format determining a winner.

"I didn't want to go to PK's," junior forward Jacob Noble said. "I didn't want to go through that again."

Keystone knocked off TCS in a shootout at last year's state tournament on the way to a runner-up finish. The defensive-minded Cobras carried that philosophy over to this season as well.

"They basically stack the box and try for PK's," Texoma Christian head coach Jeremy Blackburn said. "That's how they won their first playoff game. We practiced PKs the last three days to get set."

The Eagles made sure the result didn't come down to that as Noble scored a pair of second-half goals in a 2-0 victory over San Antonio Keystone in a TAPPS Division I region final match at Texoma Christian on Friday afternoon.

Texoma Christian (16-5) will face defending champion Kingsville Pan American in a state semifinal at 2 p.m. on Friday at Baylor University. The championship match is Saturday at 11 a.m.

It is the third straight state tournament appearance for the Eagles, who won the Division II title in 2007. This year's playoff run comes from a team that lost seven starters and has no seniors.

"It's a great feeling. It's been a learning experience all year," Noble said. "The juniors have been real leaders."

Keystone (7-8-1) had its best chance to score in the first five minutes of the second half. The ball went through TCS keeper David Sargent but defender Simon Nguyen was there to keep the rebound out of the net.

Noble put Texoma Christian in front for good a little more than 15 minutes later. A cross the left side was headed towards the net, got blocked and Noble punched it in.

"It was more of a lucky bounce," he said. "Garrett Gayoso had a header that I just got my foot on it and it went where the goalie wasn't."

Six minutes later Noble provided some insurance. Reid Burley sent a perfectly-placed free kick from near midfield in front of the net and Noble scored his 32nd goal of the year.

Both teams got off to slow starts but Texoma Christian did the better job of controlling possession.

Sargent, who was replaced in goal by Colton Nehib after the first TCS score, made a stop on a header from Zain Agha 13 minutes into the match while Noble and Nehib were unable to connect about eight minutes later on a play in front. The Eagles were also unable to generate anything off back-to-back corner kicks.

"We dominated maybe 80 percent of the first half and didn't score despite some good chances," Blackburn said. "Then there's 20 minutes left and you get worried they might sneak one by us. I was nervous all the way to five minutes left."