Quarterback Camren Cavalier runs in for a game-winning touchdown giving Canadian a thrilling 27-24 overtime victory against Idalou in a Class 3A Division II bi-district game at Happy State Bank Stadium in Canyon on Friday night. [Mathers Hale/ For Press Pass Sports]
In the truest of forms of the tale of two halves, Canadian erased a 21-point second quarter deficit to rally back for a gutsy 27-24 overtime victory over Idalou in a Class 3A Division II bi-district game at Happy State Bank Stadium on Friday night.
The Wildcats (8-3 overall) are the only District 3-3A Division II team still standing after Friday’s opening week of the postseason, and will move on to battle Sonora (7-4) in the area round at a time and place to be determined.
Like these two teams have done in the past, Canadian and Idalou had another playoff classic.
It came down to free football with the contest going to overtime tied, 21-21. Canadian won the toss, electing to play defense. Idalou gained a brief 24-21 lead settling for a Mark Phillips 24-yard field goal following a Canadian stop at the 7-yard line.
Canadian took over and faced a crucial 3rd and 10 on its ensuing possession. That was until quarterback Camren Cavalier found Luke Flowers in the flats. Flowers made an Idalou defender miss and was able to move the chains getting down to the 9-yard line. On the very next play, Cavalier faked a handoff to Flowers, calling his own number to find his way into the endzone for the game-winner giving Canadian the 27-24 win.
“We’ve battled a lot of adversity,” Canadian head coach Chris Koetting said. “Our guys never quit. It shows we weren’t done playing football, and we have big hearts. I’m proud of how these guys never quit.”
Idalou (8-3) dominated the first half taking a 21-0 lead, racking up 203 yards of offense, and holding Canadian to 59 yards.
However, the tide started to turn before halftime when Flowers scored on an 11-yard run cutting Idalou’s lead down 21-7 before the break.
On the opening possession of the second half, Canadian’s Preston Miller intercepted a Landin Fulcher pass at near midfield. Not two players later, Cavalier spotted Flowers over the middle, and Flowers sped off for a 50-yard score to make it 21-14 Idalou.
Canadian’s defense came up big once again forcing an Idalou punt. That led to Canadian tying the game on a 12 play, 58 yard drive resulting in a Flowers 1-yard TD.
Canadian finished with 277 yards with 218 of those coming in the final two quarters. Idalou tallied 254 yards, but only 51 in the second half.
Flowers showed a tremendous effort rushing for 66 yards on 25 carries and two touchdowns, while snagging four catches with another score.
Idalou’s Chase Hill had six carries for 63 yards.
Friday didn’t fair so well for the rest of District 3-3A Division II.
Abernathy upended Friona, 33-14, in Muleshoe during a bi-district matchup, and District 4-3A champion, Lubbock Roosevelt dismantled Spearman 46-11 at River Road.
Friona ends its season at 8-3. The Lynx finish at 6-5.
Canadian 27, Idalou 24 (OT)
Idalou 7 14 0 0 3 — 24
Canadian 0 7 14 0 6 — 27
Class 3A Division I
Bushland soars past Slaton
Bushland took full advantage of hosting its Class 3A Division I bi-district game by making quick work of Slaton, 55-6, Friday night at Falcons Stadium.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Falcons exploded for to open the game up with 34 unanswered in the second stanza taking a 34-0 lead into halftime.
Quarterback Brian Marrell completed 12-of-18 passes for 194 yards with two touchdowns, and tacked on 52 rushing yards for another three scores. Receiver Kash Bradley snagged four catches for 81 yards and a touchdown, adding another 43 yards on the ground for another TD.
Defensively, linebacker, Kyler Duke had eight tackles with a sack and a forced fumble.
The Falcons improve to 8-2 overall, advancing to play Whitesboro (7-4) in an area round contest
Bushland 55, Slaton 6
Slaton 0 0 0 6 — 6
Bushland 0 34 14 7 — 55
Wellington’s Marc Ramirez strolls in for a score during a Class 2A Division II bi-district game against Vega at Happy State Bank Stadium in Canyon on Friday night. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Class 2A Division II
Wellington drops Vega
In a matchup many probably didn’t expect to see in the opening round of the Class 2A Division II playoffs, the No. 8 Wellington Skyrockets handled the Vega Longhorns 38-7 Friday afternoon at Happy State Bank Stadium in Canyon.
The Skyrockets used their devastating ground game that separated them from the Longhorns (7-4). Senior All-State running back, Marc Ramirez, got the scoring going for both sides as he gave his team the lead late in the first quarter breaking off a 57-yard run to go up 8-0 after the 2-point conversion.
This was only the start of huge effort from Ramirez. Ramirez ended his night with and impressive 205 yards on 27 carries picking up two touchdown runs along the way. Do-it-all signal caller, Creighton Killiian had a helpful hand in the offense as well completing 6-of-12 passes for 92 yards, and adding 48 yards and a score on his 10 carries.
The Wellington defense held true holding Vega to only 195 total yards of offense. Vega quarterback, and senior, Ryan Grawunder gave his best effort in his final contest going 9-of-15 passing for 106 yards and a TD, while adding on 42 yards rushing on nine carries.
The Skyrockets (7-3) move on to the area round where they will face the McCamey Badgers (9-1) at 7 p.m, in Littlefield on Friday.
Wellington 38, Vega 7
Wellington 8 8 8 14 — 38
Vega 0 0 0 7 — 7
Gruver runs away from Shamrock
Gruver jumped out to a big lead and never looked back downing Shamrock for a second time this year, 60-40, in a Class 2A Division II game in Stinnett on Friday.
This game was lopsided from the beginning, however with the Greyhounds getting out to a 30-18 before opening up the advantage, 51-18 by the third quarter.
Gruver’s offense showed much balance with 207 yards coming by air and 232 on the ground in the victory.
It was familiar faces that put the Greyhounds ahead. Quarterback Mason Gibson threw for 156 yards and two touchdown passes on 12-of-17 passing, and Pratt McLain finished with 93 yards rushing and a score on just 10 carries. Ridge Holland capped it all off with 90 yards and three scores on 16 carries for the Greyhounds.
Gruver (9-1) moves on now to the area round where they will faceNew Home (8-3) at 6 p.m. Friday at Happy State Bank Stadium in Canyon.
Gruver 64, Shamrock 40
Shamrock 6 12 0 22 — 40
Gruver 16 14 21 13 — 64
Class 2A Division I
Panhandle flattens Floydada
The Panhandle Panthers stayed red hot blanking the Floydada Whirlwinds 56-0 in a Class 2A Division I bi-district game at Younger Field in Tulia on Friday night.
Panhandle (6-5) has now won six straight games after an 0-5 start to the year, and are the only team remaining out of District 1-2A Division I.
The Panthers move on to the area round where they’ll match up with Cisco (9-2) at 7 p.m. Friday at Leo Brittain Field at Lions Stadium in Vernon.
Per usual, quarterback Landyn Hack was the story for the Panthers. Floydada had no answer for the junior dual-threat quarterback, as Hack ran for 193 yards on 15 carries with four touchdowns. He also went 7-of-14 passing for 195 yards and another three scores.
Teammate Wyatt Brookshire added a pair of scores on 95 yards rushing on nine carries, and receiver Nick Mize caught four passes for 122 yards with a TD.
The rest of District 1-2A Division I didn’t go a smooth as Panhandle. Post beat Farwell 46-14, and Sundown knocked off Sanford-Fritch 52-13.
Class 1A Division I
Valley pulls away from Nazareth
The Valley Patriots came away from Claude Friday night with an opening round playoff victory over the Nazareth Swifts, 77-32, in a Class 1A Division I bi-district game on Friday.
The Swifts led for a majority of the first half and seemed to be cruising, but that was before the turnover bug found their huddle.
Up 24-15 in the second quarter, the Swifts had an opportunity to put a large margin between themselves and the Patriots, but saw the first of what would be five turnovers go into the Patriots hands. The Patriots never failed to capitalize, finding the endoze on two pick sixes to outscore the Swifts 62-10 the final three quarters.
Even with the offensive blunders, Nazareth found themselves down 43-32 at the beginning of the final quarter and driving down the field, but the second pick six of the night would put the Patriots up 49-32 and an offensive explosion by the Patriots would end the game prematurely in the 4th.
Valley’s speedy back Jackson Edwards finished his night with 220 yards rushing and six touchdowns on only 10 carries. Blake Beard got in on the action picking up 119 yards and two more scores on only six carries.
Valley (8-3) will move on to the regional semifinals to battle Spur (10-1) at a time and place to be determined.
Valley 77, Nazareth 32
Nazareth 16 8 8 0 — 32
Valley 15 16 12 35 — 77
Class 1A Division II
Kuehler powers Groom past Miami
Groom’s Stephen Kuehler had a game to remember Friday night as he helped the Tigers defeat Miami 72-22 in a bi-district contest in Lefors.
One of the must watch players of Six-man before the season began, Stephen, was ready to lead his team to a victory, and not allow anyone to overlook the Tigers again.
Stephen finished his night throwing for 101 yards and three touchdowns on just 6-of-11 passing. If that wasn’t enough, Stephen rushed for 317 yards and six touchdowns in the Groom victory on 21 carries.
Miami’s Haiden Thompson, the talented sophomore, was held to just 23 yards on the ground. The Groom defense was electric picking up three turnovers on the night led by another Kuehler, Damon, with nine tackles including three sacks.
The Tigers (8-3) advance to take on Klondike (10-1) in the regional semifinals at time and day to be determined.
Groom 72, Miami 22
Groom 28 16 22 6 — 72
Miami 14 0 8 0 — 22
Follett whips Wildorado
In a repeat meeting of last years bi-district matchup, the Follett Panthers again defeated the Wildorado Mustangs in the opening round of the playoffs, 60-21 in White Deer on Friday.
There was no love lost or punches held back in this one as the Mustangs came out swinging.
Wildorado jumped out to the first lead of the night scoring on their first possession of the game. Follett responded by outscoring the Mustangs 34-7 the rest of the half.
A quiet second half saw the Panthers seal the deal and take the 60-21 win over the Mustangs. Shayne Franks was a menace once again for the No. 5-ranked Panthers. The junior running back compiled 233 yards and five scores while sitting out a majority of the second half.
David Meeks chipped in 98 yards and two house visits on nine carries.
Follett (11-0) faces their biggest test of the season in the regional semifinals as they take on No. 6 Anton (10-0) at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Claude.
Follett 60, Wildorado 21
Wildorado 6 7 0 8 — 21
Follett 16 18 14 12 — 60