Abilene Christian comes up short in state title game shootout + Photos
Thank you to Nutrien Ag Solutions for sponsoring Big Country Blitz’s Abilene Christian state championship coverage.
WACO, Texas -- Abilene Christian "kept chopping" at a second-half deficit, but could not cut down Conroe Covenant in the end.
Covenant held off a furious second-half rally to beat Abilene Christian 80-76 and claim the TAPPS 6-Man Division II state championship in a thriller at Waco ISD Stadium.
The Panthers got down to the Cougar 10-yard line with under a minute to play but turned it over on downs when Carson Schwiethale's fourth down pass to the end zone fell incomplete.
"They just kept chopping," said ACS head coach Kirk Wade. "That's been our motto all year long, and we didn't give up. I'm proud of our kids for not hanging their heads. We were down two scores multiple times in the second half, but we just kept battling. We finally got the stop that we needed, and you can't ask for more than to have a chance to win it in the last minute. We didn't make the plays, but I can't tell you how proud I am of the seniors and this group and the resiliency that they showed."
Brooks Armstrong and Davis Patteson scored three rushing touchdowns each to lead the Panther attack, and Schwiethale threw four second-half touchdown passes; three to Bryce McGlothlin.
Jackson Rudy led Covenant with ten rushing touchdowns in the game.
This was Conroe Covenant's final season of six-man football before they go up to 11-man next year.
The 156 combined points between the two is a new TAPPS state title game record.
The Panthers led 16-6 after one quarter on a pair of Armstrong touchdown runs, but saw the Cougars answer with a 30-point second quarter to lead the game 36-30 at the half.
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
4:04 - ACS Brooks Armstrong 2-yd TD run — 8-0 ACS
1:44 - CC Jackson Rudy 9-td TD pass to Colby Van Bruaene — 8-6 ACS
0:12 - ACS Brooks Armstrong 30-yd TD run — 16-6 ACS
Second Quarter
8:41 - CC Jackson Rudy 1-yd run — 16-12 ACS
8:25 - ACS Davis Patteson 28-yd run — 24-12 ACS
8:01 - CC Jackson Rudy 60-yd run — 24-20 ACS
4:10 - CC Jackson Rudy 6-yd run — 28-24 CC
1:45 - ACS Brooks Armstrong 40-yd run — 30-28 ACS
0:44 - CC Jackson Rudy 2-yd run — 36-30 ACS
Third Quarter
6:53 - CC Jackson Rudy 28-yd run — 44-30 CC
2:52 - ACS Carson Schwiethale 37-yd pass to Bryce McGlothlin — 44-38 CC
1:15 - CC Jackson Rudy 9-yd run — 52-38 CC
1:04 - ACS Davis Patteson 60-yd run — 52-44 CC
0:01 - CC Jackson Rudy 9-yd run — 58-44 CC
Fourth Quarter
9:29 - ACS Carson Schwiethale 7-yd pass to Bryce McGlothlin — 58-52 CC
8:56 - CC Jackson Rudy 59-yd pass to Christopher Wade — 64-52 CC
7:58 - ACS Carson Schwiethale 33-yd pass to Nate Garza — 64-60 CC
7:34 - CC Jackson Rudy 54-yd run — 72-60 CC
7:17 - ACS Carson Schwiethale 45-yd pass to Bryce McGlothlin — 72-68 CC
3:11 - ACS Davis Patteson 3-yd run — 76-72 ACS
1:50 - CC Jackson Rudy 6-yd run — 80-76 CC
