The season just won’t end for Big Country teams, and that is a very good thing! Hawley knocked off Cisco in the only all-Big Country battle this week, while Albany, May and Westbrook all advanced as well to give us four area teams still alive heading into the fifth round of the playoffs.

2A DIVISION I REGION I CHAMPIONSHIP

HAWLEY 17, CISCO 14

The Loboes and Bearcats met in what turned out to be a brutal, old-school battle that featured the running game and great defense. Cisco grabbed an early lead on a Hunter Long touchdown run, but Hawley answered on a 28-yard Diontay Ramon score to even the score. Ramon ran for 120 yards in place of the injured Austin Cumpton at running back. Long ran for his second score late in the second quarter and Cisco led 14-7 at the break. However, that would be their final score as Aeneas Segura scored from four-yards out to tie it and Kason O’Shields added a 29-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that proved to be the game winner. Hawley stopped Cisco on a fourth down play inside the Bearcat red zone with just over a minute to play and ran out the clock to advance to the state semifinals for the first time in program history. The Bearcats only gained 252 yards, while Cisco picked up 291. Each team had three turnovers. Long ran for 153 yards and Trent Huston added 109 to pace the Cisco offense. The Loboes wrap up the season with an 11-3 record, while Hawley advances to meet Marlin in the state semifinals Thursday night at 7 p.m. in Weatherford.

2A DIVISION II REGION II CHAMPIONSHIP

ALBANY 28, WINDTHORST 14

The Lions got past defending state champ Windthorst to win the Region II title Friday night in Graham, avenging a playoff loss that ended their season in 2020. Albany scored the first two touchdowns of the game and never gave up the lead. The Trojans pulled within 14-6 late in the first quarter but Albany answered with another score in the second and one more in the third to build a 28-6 lead. Cole Chapman threw for 132 yards and three touchdown passes and ran for 63 yards and another score. The Lions only gained 208 yards of total offense, but only allowed 234 in a defensive battle. The Trojans wrap up the season with a 12-2 mark, while Albany advances to face Stratford in the state semifinals Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Lowrey Field in Lubbock.

1A DIVISION I SEMIFINALS

WESTBROOK 54, HAPPY 20

Cedric Ware ran for 258 yards and six touchdowns to lead Westbrook past Happy and into the first football state championship game in program history. The Wildcats led just 8-0 after one quarter but extended the lead to 32-12 by halftime. The Cowboys got as close as 32-20 in the third quarter but Westbrook answered with a 58-yard touchdown run from Ware and a 19-yard Shammah Stark to Bo Payne touchdown pass to put the game away. Stark threw for 129 yards to go along with a touchdown and a pick, and Ware was the leading receiver with two catches for 69 yards. Jimmy Roberts added 78 yards on the ground. Westbrook started the season 2-4 but has won eight in a row to reach the 1A Division I final on Wednesday, December 15 at 11 a.m. against May. Happy’s run ends with a 10-4 record.

MAY 50, ABBOTT 48

The Tigers passed their biggest test of the season, overcoming a fourth quarter deficit to beat Abbott 50-48 and advance to the 1A state championship game for a second straight season. May saw Abbott rally from a 30-16 halftime deficit to take the lead 40-36 with just under eight minutes to play. However, the Tigers scored the next two touchdowns to go ahead for good at 50-40. The Panthers scored with 1:13 to play to pull within two, but May recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock on their way to moving to 14-0 on the season. Abbott ends a great season at 13-1. It is the second straight season May has won a classic semifinal game in Dublin, a year ago they got past Blum 92-86 in overtime. Kaden Halk ran for 122 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Tiger attack. Blake Harrell threw for 114 yards and a score and ran for 69 yards on the night. May will face Westbrook for the state championship on December 15.