Week 13 Rewind/Playoff Pairings
As a majority of area teams move on to basketball season we continue to plug away with the best of the best advancing to play in the third round. Many football coaches will tell you one of their goals is to have practice on Thanksgiving, and eight from the Big Country will get to do just that this season. Here’s a look back at the area round of the playoffs.
4A DIVISION II
AUBREY 42, SWEETWATER 7
The Mustangs saw their season come to an end at the hands of a very good Aubrey team Friday night in Stephenville. Sweetwater played well early, leading 7-0 when they scored first after recovering an onside kick, but saw the Chaparrals score the next 42 to get the win. The game was tied 7-7 after one quarter, but Aubrey pushed its lead to 28-7 by the half. Leo Holsey wrapped up a fantastic career, throwing for 203 yards and a touchdown on the night. Aubrey dominated on the ground, running for 319 yards. They only completed one of five passes on the night for 56 yards. Aubrey advances to face Monahans in the third round, while Sweetwater finishes 8-4 in their first season under head coach Russell Lucas.
SNYDER 14, GRAHAM 3
The Tiger defense was dominant, holding the Steers to just 103 yards and a field goal to help lead the team to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2011. Snyder took a 7-3 lead on a Hunter Stewart one-yard quarterback keeper in the second quarter and added a Stewart to Tim Henderson four-yard touchdown pass in the fourth for the only scores they’d need. The Tigers only picked up 167 yards, but their defense did more than enough to help them advance. Graham wraps up the year with a 7-4 record. Snyder (9-3) will face Celina.
3A DIVISION I
JIM NED 49, MULESHOE 20
Xavier Wishert ran for 327 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Indians past Muleshoe and into a highly anticipated third round matchup with Brock in the third round. Jim Ned was only up 21-14 at the half but pulled away with a pair of third quarter Wishert touchdowns to pull away. He added a 99-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to seal the deal.
Courtesy: Jim Ned Sports Nation
Tate Yardley threw for 113 yards and a touchdown as well.
Muleshoe’s season ends at 6-6. Jim Ned moves on to face Brock in a 1-2 battle that may very well decide the state title.
Photo: Jim Ned Sports Nation
SHALLOWATER 43, EARLY 14
Early fell into an early hole and could not get out in suffering a 43-14 loss to Shallowater. The Longhorns end a great season with a 9-3 record, while the Mustangs move on to play Whitesboro in the regional round. Shallowater jumped out to a 13-0 lead after one, pushed it 23-0 by halftime and 43-0 at the end of three quarters. Early got on the board with a Jaxyn Price to John-Stewart Gordon touchdown pass and a Franky Villarreal scoring run in the fourth quarter. Price threw for 179 yards and the score but also tossed a trio of interceptions. Early had four turnovers overall in the loss. Shallowater ran for 282 yards, threw for 72 and did not turn the ball over. Early’s nine wins are the best for the program since winning ten games in the 2007 season.
Photo: Brownwoodnews.com
3A DIVISION II
ABERNATHY 45, BALLINGER 26
The Bearcats saw their season come to an end at the hands of a very good Abernathy squad that has been in the top ten of the rankings all season. Ballinger trailed just 28-20 after three quarters, but saw the Antelopes score the next two touchdowns to put the game out of reach. The Bearcats season is over with a 6-6 record, while Abernathy (11-1) will advance to face Sonora/Canadian in the third round.
BELLS 67, EASTLAND 37
The Maverick offense did its part, but the defense could not stop the Panthers in a thirty point loss in the area round of the playoffs. Bells racked up 565 yards rushing on the way to the win, one that avenged an area round Eastland victory in 2020. Three Panthers ran for over 100 yards (Grady Waldrip 150, Brock Baker 146, Blake Rolen 115) and another, Bo Baker, ended up with 96. Bells led 16-7 after one quarter and 30-14 at the half. Eastland got 121 yards rushing and 166 yards passing from Keaton Hicks. The Mavericks finish the season with a 6-6 record, while Bells advances to face 12-0 Holliday.
2A DIVISION I
HAWLEY 40, SUNDOWN 22
The Bearcats jumped out to a 40-0 lead and knocked Sundown out of the playoffs for a third straight season. The 12-0 Bearcats will now meet 11-0 Coleman in the regional semifinals Friday at 6 p.m. at Abilene Wylie’s Hugh Sandifer Stadium. Hawley scored 20 in the first quarter and 20 more in the second quarter to cruise to victory. Rodey Hooper threw for 151 yards and two touchdowns and Austin Cumpton ran for 182 yards and four scores to lead the offensive attack. Will Scott and Westyn Balch each recorded nine tackles, while Diontay Ramon, Aeneas Segura and Hez Parked each added eight. Ramon added two sacks and Maddix Salazar recovered a fumble for the Bearcats, who allowed a season high in points, but all after the game was decided. Sundown finishes the year 8-4.
Photo: April Stevens Nichols
COLEMAN 43, POST 0
The Bluecats knocked the Antelopes out of the playoffs much earlier than they’ve been accustomed to Friday night in Colorado City. Post, who had lost in the state championship game the last two seasons, could not keep up with a Coleman offensive attack that totaled 301 yards rushing and 94 yards and three Jadin Jackson touchdown passes through the air. Devinar Roberson ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns. The Bluecat offense only gave up 203 yards on the night on the way to shutting out their fifth opponent this season. Now the Bluecats get set to face unbeaten Hawley in the next round. Post ends up with a 5-7 record.
Photo: Brownwoodnews.com
Photo: Brownwoodnews.com
CISCO 69, PANHANDLE 21
The Loboes ran the ball as well as they have all season in an easy win over Panhandle. Cisco led 21-7 after one and 48-7 at the half, rolling up 664 yards rushing, 334 by Hunter Long and 146 by Trent Huston, on their way to victory. Both players scored three touchdowns and Long added a touchdown pass to Dawson Hearne. Tre Brackeen added 77 yards rushing on just three carries. The Loboes move on to face New Deal in the third round Friday at 2 p.m. in Colorado City. Panhandle finishes the year 6-6.
Photo: Gary Stennett
Photo: Gary Stennett
2A DIVISION II
SANTO 33, ROSCOE 12
The Plowboys return to excellence season came to an end with a 33-12 loss to Santo Thursday night in Cisco. Roscoe scored first but saw the Wildcats answer with the next two touchdowns to go ahead for good. The Plowboys pulled as close as 14-12 in the third quarter on a Jax Watts to Antonio Aguayo touchdown pass but could get no closer, as Santo scored three more touchdowns and kept Roscoe off the board. The Plowboys were held to -5 yards rushing, while the Wildcats racked up 318 yards on the ground and only 15 yards through the air. Roscoe sees its season end at 10-2, while Santo (11-1) will move on to face defending state champ Windthorst Friday in Graham.
ALBANY 32, OLNEY 12
The Lions beat the Cubs for a second time this season to move on to the regional semifinals against Muenster Friday at 2 p.m. in Springtown. Albany scored a pair of first quarter touchdown to lead 12-0, but saw Olney put ten of their own on the scoreboard in the second to pull within 12-10 at the break. But the second half belonged to Albany and three Coy Lefevre touchdown runs helped them pull away. Lefevre ran for 104 yards, second to Jaheim Newton’s 174 yard, two-touchdown effort as the Lions racked up 396 yards on the ground. Adam Hill led the defense with 19 tackles, while Brooke Neece was in on 18 and Taren Farmer in on 14. Olney wraps up the year with a 6-6 record.
1A DIVISION I
WESTBROOK 86, RANKIN 38
The Wildcats advanced to their second straight regional championship game with a head turning 86-38 victory over Rankin. The win itself was not the thing that raised eyebrows, but the margin did. Westbrook and Rankin traded plenty of punches in a wild first quarter that saw the Wildcats put up 48 points to the Red Devils 32. The Wildcats extended to a 64-38 lead by halftime and scored the only points of the second half to secure the mercy rule victory. Westbrook improves to 8-4 and will meet district rival Sterling City for the Region II championship Friday at 7 p.m. in Colorado City. Rankin’s season ends with a 10-2 record.
Photo: Westbrook ISD
MAY 84, JONESBORO 55
Jonesboro scored first, but May answered with the next 32 and never looked back on their way to knocking the Eagles out of the playoffs in the area round for a second consecutive season. Jonesboro had the lead and the ball, but Kaden Halk return an Eagle fumble 14-yards for a touchdown to fuel the May rally. May forced five turnovers in the game and returned two of them for touchdowns. The Tigers improve to 12-0 and will take on Water Valley in the third round Saturday at 6 p.m. in Robert Lee, while Jonesboro’s season ends at 11-1.
Photo: Brownwoodnews.com
Photo: Brownwoodnews.com
1A DIVISION II
JAYTON 34, LORAINE 14
The Bulldog offense just could not get on track against Jayton and saw a great season come to an end with an 8-4 record. Loraine led 8-6 at the half and extended to a 14-6 advantage on an AJ Williams third quarter touchdown run before the Jaybirds answered with the final 28 points of the game. Jayton led 28-14 by the end of the third and added the only touchdown of the game in the fourth to advance to meet district rival Motley County in the Region II championship Friday at 6 p.m. in Idalou.
UP NEXT - rEGIONAL PLAYOFF PAIRINGS
4A DIVISION II region i semifinals
Snyder (9-3) vs Celina (10-1) - Friday, 1 p.m. - Mineral Wells
3A DIVISION I region i semifinals
Jim Ned (12-0) vs Brock (12-0) - Friday, 2 p.m. - Brownwood
2A DIVISION I region i semifinals
Hawley (12-0) vs Coleman (11-0) - Friday, 6 p.m. - Abilene Wylie
Cisco (10-2) vs New Deal (11-1) Friday, 2 p.m. - Colorado City
2A DIVISION II region II semifinals
Albany (11-0) vs Muenster (12-0) - Friday, 2 p.m. - Springtown
1A DIVISION I Region II championship
Westbrook (8-4) vs Sterling City (10-2) - Friday, 7 p.m. - Colorado City
1A DIVISION I Region IV championship
May (12-0) vs Water Valley (12-0) - Saturday, 6 p.m. - Robert Lee
COLLEGE ROUND-UP
#1 SAM HOUSTON STATE 35, ABILENE CHRISTIAN 9
Top-ranked Sam Houston State took down ACU 35-9 to finish a perfect season Saturday afternoon, while the Wildcats finish 5-6 and will be looking for a new head football coach. The school decided to part ways with Adam Dorrel after five seasons where he went 19-32 as head coach of the Wildcats. His best mark was a 6-5 2018 season.
In out of the Big Country but still in Texas college football playoff news:
Angelo State beat Minnesota Duluth 48-14 and will advance to meet Nebraska-Kearney in the second round of the Division II playoffs.
Mary Hardin-Baylor beat Trinity 13-3 to move on to the second round to play Birmingham-Southern in the Division III playoffs.
New Mexico Military beat Tyler 45-10 to win the Southwest Junior College Football Conference championship.
