Week 14 Rewind
Thoughts, stats, standings, and much more on the third week of playoff football in the Big Country, presented by (insert your business name here and get exposure across the entire Big Country).
OFF THE TOP
Jim Ned came up short in a defensive battle against Paradise, falling 10-7. The Indians got stopped on a fourth down run in Paradise territory late in the game as they were driving to tie or take the lead. Johnathon McClure’s first season as head coach was a good one, as the Indians earned a share of a district title and finished 9-4.
Stamford kept its dream season alive with a 55-7 win over Cisco, their second victory over the Loboes this season. Post is up next in a battle of unbeatens for the 2A DI Region I championship. Cisco wraps up the year at 8-5.
MORE COVERAGE OF STAMFORD/CISCO
Albany has historically had Muenster’s number in the playoffs, but the Hornets were just too powerful this season and ended the Lions season 56-14. Albany won back-to-back 2A Division II state titles, but will not get a shot at making it three in a row.
Westbrook’s bid to reach Jerry World for fourth straight season ended with a 70-38 loss to Water Valley. But what a run it’s been for Westbrook over the past five seasons:
2024: 10-3, regional finalist
2023: 13-2, state runner-up
2022: 14-1, state champions
2021: 11-4, state champions
2020: 11-2, regional finalist
This is the deepest playoff run for Water Valley in program history.
Photo: Gordon Longhorn Athletics
Defending state champion Gordon is on to the semifinals with ease, thanks to a 56-6 win over Jonesboro. The Longhorns have now won 28 in a row, all by mercy rule, and will face unbeaten Abbott next week.
Jayton doubled up two-time defending state champ Benjamin 100-50 to move on to the 1A D2 semifinals against Klondike.
Stephenville rolled past Canyon Randall 47-7 and will face another Canyon team in the regional finals, this time West Plains. West Plains knocked out Lampasas last week and Brownwood the week before.
Graham and Brock will meet again after earning round three wins last week. The Steers got past Glen Rose 38-27, while Brock blasted Benbrook 56-13. Graham dominated Brock 38-0 in their first meeting this season that decided the district title.
Wall took down Littlefield 56-21 at the Mustang Bowl Friday afternoon to advance to the fourth round for the third year in a row. Canadian awaits the Hawks once again in the regional final; they beat them 31-12 last season and 45-10 the year before.
Tolar saw its first season of 3A D2 football come to an end at the hands of powerful Holliday, 46-20.
Hamilton is still alive and still undefeated thanks to a 14-7 victory over Kerens. The Bulldogs will now face 12-1 Axtell in the quarterfinals Friday night.
Richland Springs fell to Oglesby in the playoffs for the second year in a row, this time 60-46. The Coyotes wrap up the 2024 season with an 11-1 record.
HONOR ROLL
The best individual performances of Week 14
11-MAN
Julius Proffitt, Cisco: 77 yds, 1 td rushing; 4-9, 39 yds passing
Gray Beasley, Jim Ned: 10-18, 105 yds, 1 td passing; 28 yds rushing
Dean Guffey, Jim Ned: 5 rec, 59 yds
Cle Whitfield, Stamford: 122 yds, 3 td rushing; 3 tkl, 1 ff
Kaston Vega, Stamford: 119 yds, 2 td rushing; 1 rec, 11 yds, 1 td; 15 tkl
Drew Faulks, Stamford: 2 rec, 75 yds, 1 td; 2 tkl
Christian Duran, Stamford: 47 yds, 1 td rushing; 6-7, 116 yds, 2 td, 1 int passing
Brayden Jimenez, Stamford: 14 tkl
Mahsyn Alvarado, Stamford: 14 tkl, 2 tfl
Alek Hernandez, Stamford: 10 tkl
Case Beeson, Stamford: 5 tkl, 2 fr
6-MAN
Keegan Hayes, Benjamin: 87 yds, 2 td rushing; 27-43, 288 yds, 2 td, 1 int; 77-yard kickoff return for td
Preston True, Benjamin: 7 rec, 108 yds, 1 td
Brayden Walters, Gordon: 4 rec, 104 yds, 3 td
Stryker Reed, Gordon: 4-5, 140 yds, 3 td; 3 rec, 34 yds, 1 td; 12 yds rushing
Ry Reed, Gordon: 56 yds rushing; 1 rec, 31 yds, 1 td; 1-1, 20 yds, 1 td passing
Noah Kostiha, Gordon: 6-11, 99 yds, 2 td passing
Bode Ham, Jayton: 260 yds, 9 td rushing
Griff Reel, Jayton: 3 rec, 89 yds, 1 td
Sean Stanaland, Jayton: 5-6, 114 yds, 2 td passing; 62-yd kickoff return for td
Grayson Jeffrey, Westbrook: 256 yds, 3 td rushing; 2-6, 31 yds, 1 td passing; 2 rec, 9 yds; 18 tkl
Damien Stewart, Westbrook: 7 tkl, 1 sack
Case Custer, Westbrook: 7 tkl; 38 yds rushing
PLAYOFF SCORES AND PAIRINGS
5A DIVISION I
BI-DISTRICT
Abilene High 84, El Paso Parkland 0
AREA
Aledo 59, Abilene High 14
5A DIVISION II
BI-DISTRICT
El Paso Del Valle 63, Cooper 35
Wylie 46, El Paso Andress 10
AREA
Anna 56, Wylie 21
4A DIVISION I
BI-DISTRICT
Brownwood 56, Big Spring 13
Stephenville 70, Lake View 0
AREA
Canyon West Plains 49, Brownwood 14
Stephenville 35, Hereford 7
REGIONALS
Stephenville 47, Canyon Randall 7
REGIONAL FINAL
Stephenville (12-1) vs. Canyon West Plains (10-3)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Midland
4A DIVISION II
BI-DISTRICT
Graham 60, Fort Worth Dunbar 0
Brock 46, Godley 10
AREA
Graham 60, Monahans 6
Brock 62, Lubbock Estacado 13
REGIONALS
Graham 38, Glen Rose 27
Brock 56, Benbrook 13
REGIONAL FINAL
Graham (12-1) vs. Brock (12-1)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Stephenville
3A DIVISION I
BI-DISTRICT
Peaster 33, Comanche 30 - OT
Jim Ned 38, Iowa Park 20
Vernon 28, Sweetwater 9
Paradise 47, Clyde 0
AREA
Jim Ned 35, Dalhart 7
REGIONALS
Paradise 10, Jim Ned 7
3A DIVISION II
BI-DISTRICT
REGION I
Wall 74, Anthony 6
REGION II
Tolar 49, Millsap 14
Jacksboro 54, Brady 27
City View 53, Clifton 0
Holliday 85, Dublin 7
AREA
REGION I
Wall 49, Childress 14
REGION II
Tolar 21, Bells 0
REGIONALS
REGION I
Wall 56, Littlefield 21
REGION II
Holliday 46, Tolar 20
REGIONAL FINAL
Wall (12-1) vs. Canadian (10-3)
Friday, 6 p.m.
Patriots Stadium - Lubbock Cooper Liberty
2A DIVISION I
BI-DISTRICT
REGION I
Stamford 45, Sonora 8
Cisco 34, Reagan County 16
Hawley 57, Ozona 21
Anson 46, Christoval 11
REGION II
Coleman 40, Wolfe City 35
Hamilton 49, Whitewright 13
De Leon 48, Alvord 7
Tioga 42, Ballinger 7
REGION IV
Crawford 21, San Saba 15
AREA
REGION I
Stamford 49, Panhandle 13
Post 42, Anson 35 - OT
Cisco 38, Abernathy 19
Sunray 49, Hawley 40
REGION II
Axtell 45, Coleman 6
Mildred 30, De Leon 29
Hamilton 27, Frankston 14
REGIONALS
REGION I
Stamford 55, Cisco 7
REGION II
Hamilton 14, Kerens 7
REGIONAL FINAL
REGION I
Stamford (13-0) vs. Post (13-0)
Thursday, 7 p.m.
Snyder
REGION II
Hamilton (13-0) vs. Axtell (12-1)
Friday, 7 p.m.
Tiger Stadium, Belton
2A DIVISION II
BI-DISTRICT
REGION II
Albany 46, Era 0
Lindsay 34, Miles 27
Collinsville 52, Roscoe 0
Muenster 70, Hamlin 0
REGION III
Goldthwaite 55, Maud 12
AREA
REGION II
Albany 48, Archer City 14
REGION III
Grapeland 39, Goldthwaite 29
REGIONALS
Muenster 56, Albany 14
1A DIVISION I
BI-DISTRICT
REGION II
Knox City 64, Valley 52
Newcastle 74, Spur 22
Westbrook 116, Robert Lee 110
Water Valley 64, Ira 32
REGION IV
Jonesboro 64, Baird 16
Gordon 56, May 8
Menard 54, Benavides 7
AREA
REGION II
Water Valley 56, Knox City 0
Westbrook 98, Newcastle 52
REGION IV
Gordon 48, Menard 0
REGIONALS
REGION II
Water Valley 70, Westbrook 38
REGION IV
Gordon 56, Jonesboro 6
STATE SEMIFINALS
Water Valley (11-2) vs. Whiteface (13-0) - TBA
Gordon (13-0) vs. Abbott (13-0)
Saturday, 6 p.m.
Godley
1A DIVISION II
BI-DISTRICT
REGION II
Blackwell 56, Balmorhea 30
Jayton 54, Crowell 6
Loraine 90, Grandfalls-Royalty 71
Benjamin 62, Aspermont 6
REGION III
Strawn 76, Fannindel 6
Gold-Burg 64, Woodson 62
Oakwood 74, Three Way 36
REGION IV
Zephyr 46, Evant 0
Oglesby 46, Blanket 0
Cherokee 102, Rochelle 82
Richland Springs (10-0) BYE
AREA
REGION II
Jayton 60, Blackwell 8
Benjamin 86, Loraine 36
REGION III
Iredell 91, Strawn 90
REGION IV
Richland Springs 64, Zephyr 6
Oglesby 116, Cherokee 76
REGIONALS
REGION II
Jayton 100, Benjamin 50
REGION IV
Oglesby 60, Richland Springs 46
STATE SEMIFINALS
Jayton (13-0) vs. Klondike (9-4)
Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Frenship
Oglesby (11-2) vs. Oakwood (8-5)
Saturday, 2 p.m.
Waco Robinson
TAPPS DIVISION II
BI-DISTRICT
Rockwall Heritage 72, Abilene Christian 48
COLLEGE ROUNDUP
ACU 24, Northern Arizona 0
ACU’s first ever FCS playoff game was a great one, especially on defense, as the Wildcats beat the Lumberjacks 24-0.
More Big Country Blitz Coverage: ACU Shuts Out Northern Arizona in FCS Playoff Debut
ACU Coverage: Wildcats blank NAU for first FCS playoff win
Next: Saturday, 2 p.m. at #2 North Dakota State in FCS Second Round
Mary Hardin-Baylor 17, Hardin-Simmons 13
The old adage of it being hard to beat a team three times in a season proved to be true for HSU Saturday in a 17-13 loss to rival Mary Hardin-Baylor
More Big Country Blitz Coverage: Cowboys Come Up Short Against Cru in D3 Playoffs
HSU Coverage: Cowboys Fall To UMHB In NCAA Football Playoffs
Hardin-Simmons wraps up the season at 10-1, while UMHB will visit Linfield next week.
