RICKY MOON/Special Contributor

Johnny McKnight ... scored four goals in Highland Park's state-title victory.

The lows and highs of sports. Highland Park senior football and lacrosse player Johnny McKnight experienced them both in a five-month span.

In December, McKnight walked away heartbroken following a 36-34 loss to Lake Travis in the Class 4A Division II state football championship game. In May, he celebrated with his lacrosse teammates following a 9-3 victory against Episcopal School of Dallas in the state final.

"I'll always remember winning state for the rest of my life, and I'll always remember losing state," McKnight said. "You need to fail sometimes to win, truly. It ended on a high note, and it was a lot of fun."

McKnight fueled Highland Park's drive to the lacrosse title with four goals in the state championship game and five in a 12-3 victory against Austin in the semifinals.

"Anytime we needed to make a play, we knew he was going to make that play," Highland Park coach Derek Thomson said.

McKnight, a third-year varsity lacrosse player, had 41 goals and eight assists this season. There was a time when McKnight considered quitting football when he didn't get enough playing time, but he decided to stick to both.

"I grew up my whole life wanting to play football on Friday nights," said McKnight, an All-Area second-team defensive back in his only varsity football season. "But I ended up liking lacrosse."

And McKnight got to do both.

Stats: 41 goals, eight assists

Notable: Plans to play club lacrosse at Texas.

Notable: Thomson, a former Duke player, led Highland Park to its third state championship in his fifth season at the school.

Notable: Montgomery (6-2, 185) started every game for St. Mark's and instantly became the team's top defenseman. Coach Hayward Lee had enough confidence in Montgomery to allow him to defend the opponent's top attackman.

RICKY MOON/Special Contributor

Taylor Thornton had 48 goals and five assists this season.

Redemption in a week. That's the best way to summarize Hockaday's historic run to the girls state lacrosse championship. A week after losing to Houston St. John's in the SPC final, Hockaday defeated three-time defending state champion St. John's in overtime to become the first school outside of the Houston area to capture the Texas Girls High School Lacrosse League title.

And junior defensive midfielder Taylor Thornton was in the middle of making it happen.

"That week we were the most focused, most dedicated that we've ever been," Thornton said. "We had drive, and we were ready."

Hockaday coach Patty Wick said Thornton's versatility and speed keyed the team's 18-2-1 season. Thornton was a tremendous one-on-one defender, and her speed made her an asset on the attack. Thornton had 48 goals, 46 ground balls and five assists.

"She was the most dominant player for us," Wick said. "She brings the entire package from one end of the field to another. Any top [Division I] program would love to have her."

Luckily, for Wick, Thornton will play for 2007 SPC champion Hockaday one more season before she heads to college.

"We want to repeat our state championship," Thornton said. "And reclaim our SPC title."

Stats: 48 goals, five assists, 46 ground balls

Notable: Thornton has been playing lacrosse since seventh grade.

Notable: Hockaday became the first school outside the Houston area to win the girls state lacrosse title. Hockaday had made six previous trips to the state tournament.

Notable: Martin made an immediate impact for ESD. A quick learner, her stick stills and work ethic earned her a starting spot. She rarely left the field. Coach Cressita Bowman said Martin has tremendous upside.