Gruver’s Hunter Haynes races In for a touchdown against Tahoka during a Class 2A Division II bidistrict game Friday night. [Tom Carver/ Press Pass Sports]
Gruver’s Carter Armes intercepted a Braden Stone pass at the Greyhounds 10-yard line to preserve an emotional 44-41 win over Tahoka in a wild Class 2A Division II bidistrict matchup Friday night at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.
Tahoka, the District 4-2A champions, made things interesting after falling behind 30-0 in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs closed the gap with a ferocious fourth quarter. Gruver took a 38-12 lead into the start of the final frame, only to see Tahoka (8-3) chip away and chip away scoring at will, cutting the deficit at 44-41 with two minutes remaining behind the play of running back Malik Hamilton and receiver John Stone. After holding the Greyhounds a third straight three and out, Tahoka was driving for what looked to be a game-winning score. That’s when Armes came up with the timely interception that lifted Gruver to a bidistrict gold ball.
Hunter Haynes shined in the victory for the Hounds, rushing for 99 yards and a score while racking up 103 yards receiving and two more touchdowns.
Armes also threw for 301 yards and four touchdown passes.
Gruver (7-4) advances to play Van Horn in the area round at 7 p.m. Friday at Frenship.
Gruver 44, Tahoka 41
Tahoka 0 12 0 29 — 41
Gruver 16 14 8 6 — 44
Class 2A Division I
West Texas High’s Jonah Villanueva runs down the sideline against Olton on Friday night. [Tucker Stroud/ Press Pass Sports]
Comanches pile up points on Olton
West Texas High opened the playoffs in stellar fashion with an eye-opening 79-26 rout of Olton in the Class 2A Division I bidistrict round Friday at River Road.
It wasn’t just the Comanches offense scoring points. West Texas High scored in a variety of ways.
Jonah Villanueva took the opening kickoff 80-yards. Defensive back Jaykob Hernandez had two interception returns of 85 and 36 yards for touchdowns and freshman Andreus Cruz took a punt 40 yards for a TD.
Villanueva added four catches for a 121 yards receiving, including a 94-yard touchdown.
Hernandez offensive effort was as astonishing as his defensive, blazing past the Olton defense for 161 yards rushing on only three carries, scoring all three times. The seniors longest came on a 67–yard run.
West Texas High is now 9-2 on the year and will play Seymour at 7 p.m. Friday at Fair Park Stadium in Childress.
WT High 79, Olton 26
Olton 20 0 0 6 — 26
WT High 32 27 20 0 — 79
Sundown stuns Panthers
Sundown’s Cade Conway (26) fights for yards against Panhandle on Friday during a Class 2A Division II bidistrict game. [Tom Carver/ Press Pass Sports]
The Sundown Roughnecks and Panhandle Panthers had a West Texas shootout on Friday afternoon at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.
When the dust finally settled, it was all said and done, the Roughnecks outlasted a the Panthers in a wild 60-56 Class 2A Division I bidistrict contest.
Defense wasn’t the strength for either side, as the two teams combined for 116 points, totaling 1,156 yards of offense.
The Panthers, who were a favorite to many in region 2A D1, end a dis pointing at 8-3. In all three losses this season, Panhandle’s defense had its issues allowing a 65.6 points a game.
Panhandle had its chances. Down 60-49, Wesley Jones found Zach Wood on a 70-yard score. However, key turnovers in costly situations doomed Panhandle late.
Sundown senior Christian Huey made plays time and time again. The dual-threat quarterback totaled seven touchdowns in a career effort, throwing for 334 yards and five scores while rushing for 71 yards and two more TDs.
Receiver Michael Ojeda nine of those catches for 281 yards and three scores.
Depsite a losing effort, Jones threw for 481 yards and six touchdowns, as junior receiver Wood totalled 251 yards and three touchdowns.
Sundown (7-4) moves on to the area round where they will face Lindsay (9-2).
Sundown 60, Panhandle 56
Sundown 7 21 19 13 — 60
Panhandle 7 14 21 14— 56