IRVING – Euless Trinity kicker Pery Negreiros says he makes his field goals "most of the time" in practice, with the pressure of either his team's huge offensive or defensive linemen having to run if he misses.

It was Negreiros who did all of the running Saturday night.

The senior kicker made two field goals in overtime, the last a 23-yarder in the second overtime that sent him sprinting into the arms of his teammates, setting off a wild celebration after Trinity's dramatic 30-27 victory over Plano in a 5A Division I state semifinal before thousands of drained fans at Texas Stadium.

"It was just like we do in practice, pressure kicks," said Negreiros, who had made one of two field goals in regulation. "Coach [Steve Lineweaver] said even though I missed the first one, you'll make the next one, and I did."

Trinity (14-1), trying for its second title in three years, will face six-time state champion Converse Judson (11-4) in Saturday's 5A Division I state game at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

A late-season playoff game between two traditional powers lived up to the hype and left the winner wondering how it almost lost, and the loser wondering how it didn't win.

After both teams settled for field goals in the first overtime, Trinity finally got control of a game it had all but won before running back Samir Baker fumbled at his own 29-yard line with a 24-21 lead and 42 seconds left in regulation. Plano (13-2) didn't score the game-winning touchdown after the turnover, but Ryan McDuff did make a 24-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.

McDuff's miss short from 41 yards after Plano went three-and-out on its possession in the second overtime gave Baker, the star of the game with 206 rushing yards, a chance to redeem himself. His 13-yard run to the Plano 1 set things up for Negreiros, who finally got his chance to win the game on third down.

"The range of emotions is just amazing," Lineweaver said, speaking to the highs of winning the game after the low of almost fumbling the victory away.

Plano coach Gerald Brence, coaching his final game of a 16-year career, will look back on moments when his team needed only a few yards for a victory.

Plano had a third-and-2 at the Trinity 8 with 18 seconds left in regulation, but running back Rex Burkhead, who finished with 157 yards, was stopped for 1 yard on a sweep. McDuff kicked his game-tying field goal to force overtime.

Plano had another third-and-2 inside the Trinity 10 in the first overtime, this time at the 6-yard line. But Burkhead was again stopped, this time for a 2-yard loss, forcing another McDuff field goal to extend the game.

Plano, which trailed at one point 17-7, also had a chance to take a 28-17 lead as it drove deep into Trinity territory late in the third quarter.

On the drive's 15th play – and the quarter's last play – Carson Meger threw into the end zone, and appeared to have Kris Lott open across the middle. But Wayne Heimuli jumped in front of Lott for the interception.

"We were just trying to make a play," said Meger, who threw three interceptions. "I probably should have eaten that one."

Trinity used only seven plays to retake the lead.

Quarterback Denarius McGhee threw a 30-yard pass to Tyree Tucker to the Plano 39. On third-and-8, Baker broke loose for a 37-yard touchdown run and a 24-21 lead with 8:51 left in the game.

That seemed to be the score that would stand as the winner, especially when Meger fumbled at the Trinity 22 with 1:33 left. But this game was not meant to end on a turnover.

"That was just a hard-fought game right there," McGhee said.

FACING OFF AGAIN

In each of its three appearances in the state title game, Euless Trinity has faced Converse Judson, which will be playing in the final for the 10th time. A look at the results:

*Carter won, 31-14, but had to forfeit because it used an ineligible player.