IRVING – After all the pinpoint passes thrown by Rockwall quarterback Braden Smith. After five rushing touchdowns by Plano's Rex Burkhead. After Rockwall receiver Royce Miller injured his hamstring and fell down going in for the tying score.

After all of this, Saturday's Plano-Rockwall classic came down to one player not wanting to get beat by the same play twice.

Plano safety Justin Collins, who was beaten for a touchdown on a crossing route earlier, stayed inside against the same pattern and made an interception in the final seconds to seal a 42-35 victory over Rockwall in a Class 5A Division I Region II bi-district game at Texas Stadium.

Collins was called for holding on the previous play, taking away an apparent game-clinching interception by Plano's other safety, LaRon Kelly. But Collins didn't know the penalty was called on him, so he was able to focus on covering Rockwall receiver Michael Patterson, who had made a 13-yard touchdown catch against him.

"I just wanted to keep inside leverage," said Collins, a junior who replaced injured starter Ryan Campbell this season. "I figured they would go to their best receiver there."

Rockwall (6-5), which lost a 15-point halftime lead, responded to falling behind for the first time since the second quarter by driving from its 24 to the Plano 2. The drive incuded a 51-yard catch by Miller, who was running away from the secondary when he pulled up lame at the Plano 15 instead of tying the game.

"In all my years of football, I haven't seen that happen," Plano coach Gerald Brence said.

The 16-year head coach also hasn't seen many performances like the ones put on by Smith and Burkhead. Smith completed 24 of 33 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns. Burkhead rushed for 179 yards on 26 carries.

Burkhead scored three touchdowns to help Plano rally from a 28-13 halftime deficit, including a 3-yard run on a direct snap that gave Plano a 42-35 lead with 2:42 left in the game.

Plano (10-1) did what District 9-5A rivals Allen and Wylie couldn't do Saturday – rally from a double-digit deficit. Plano's defense, which allowed touchdowns on three of four possessions in the first half, stopped Rockwall on its first drive after halftime. Plano then needed four plays to score. Burkhead followed a 30-yard touchdown run with a two-point conversion to cut the lead to 28-21.

Plano's Luke Terrell blocked a punt two minutes later and Cameron Kistler recovered at the Rockwall 6. Burkhead scored from the 3 to tie.

Smith and Rockwall responded immediately, driving 87 yards in eight plays. Smith threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Mark Ulbik for a 35-28 lead.

After Plano failed on a fourth-down conversion deep in Rockwall territory, the defense came up with the tying score. Linebacker Chris Mendenhall tipped a Smith pass into the hands of cornerback Kenny Watkins, who raced 57 yards for the touchdown with 10:19 left in the game.

It was one of several key plays late by the Plano defense, capped by Collins' game-winning interception. Rockwall had five plays from inside the Plano 5 in the final seconds.

"Our defense prides itself on 'Bend but don't break,' " said middle linebacker C.J. Martin, who had several tackles down the stretch. "You might get us once, but you're not going to get us again."