WACO – Skyline knew its regional semifinal opponent, Houston Cypress Woods, would refuse to quit. It also knew how to steal momentum at the right time.

Skyline used a touchdown with five minutes remaining and lock-down defense to seal a 35-21 win Saturday afternoon at Waco ISD Stadium. Skyline fought off a second-half rally by Cy Woods after once leading by four touchdowns.

"That's a good team we played, and we knew they weren't going to stay down," Skyline coach Reginald Samples said. "I didn't have to say anything to the guys. We just had to keep our heads up and keep fighting."

Skyline (12-1) advanced to a second consecutive Class 5A Division I Region II championship game. Next week, it will face Round Rock Stony Point, which beat Garland, 38-6, on Saturday.

Cy Woods, a first-year varsity program, finished its season 8-3.

Cy Woods (8-3) trimmed Skyline's lead to 28-21 early in the fourth quarter, but Skyline drove 73 yards in five minutes to retake a double-digit lead. James White, on fourth-and-2, took an option pitch and raced 20 yards for a touchdown.

"At first, we thought about kicking a field goal," said White, who finished with 148 rushing yards and two touchdowns. "If we missed [the kick], they'd have the momentum. I just told the coaches to put it in my hands."

Samples said he used the "the democratic process" to decide whether to go for it on fourth down.

"I've got a great staff, and I asked my staff what they wanted to do," he said. "I'm only one person. They are eight or nine guys, and I trust them. They made the right call."

Quarterback Chris Frazier added: "They wanted an option, and I felt more comfortable optioning it off to James. He was making plays all day."

After the score, Skyline's defense made two big stops. Defensive back Kerry Nation intercepted a pass by Lucas DeVilliers on the ensuing drive to give Skyline the ball back with 4:31 remaining.

Cy Woods' final possession ended with an incompletion on fourth down. Corey Nelson, Arthur Washington and Anthony Wallace were among several who pressured DeVilliers throughout the game.

"Our defense has been doing it all year. We've now developed an offense to help them out," Samples said. "As you go into the playoffs, you play against complete teams, and we can't expect our defense to shut out teams all the time."

Skyline's offense finished with 417 yards, compared with Cy Woods' 312.