A year after winning the Class 1A Division I state title, Westbrook gave no reason why not to expect them to win another title. Behind last year’s MVP Cedric Ware and a relentless defensive rush No. 1-ranked Westbrook wore out number four Happy 62-16 Saturday night in the finale of the Jayton Gridiron Classic. Ware finished the game with 209 yards rushing and six touchdowns. The Wildcat defense stymied Happy’s rushing attack holding the Cowboys to only five yards rushing and 131 yards in total offense. Westbrook was up 44-0 before Happy was able to answer twice late in the first half but Westbrook finished the game off with 4:53 left in the third on Ware’s sixth score of the game.
Injury bug bites Valley again
Valley led Garden City at halftime 26-14 and looked sharp doing it. However, injuries reared its ugly head again as the Patriots were unable to overcome two second half scores from the Bearkats and fell 30-26 at the Jayton Gridiron Classic Friday night. The Patriots used a strong rushing attack in the first half to build a lead, but Garden City’s passing game came alive in the second half notching two scores through the air behind senior quarterback Logan Seidenberger who finished with 225 yards passing and three scores.
A team that had already lost their dynamic playmaker Blake Beard during the first scrimmage in early August saw more injuries in the second half to three key contributors. With a depleted roster head coach John Stanaland had to revert to putting his 260-pound end Tucker Schlueter in the backfield at fullback in the fourth quarter as the Patriots tried to rally after going down by four in the third. Senior Corbyn Standlee went 6-17 for 100 yards and a pick in the loss.
Wildorado’s Barnett gets first victory
Led by Junior Aden Woodard and senior Trey Matthews the Wildorado Mustangs grabbed a decisive win over Lefors Thursday night at Wildorado 67-12. The win was the first for fist-year head coach Rance Barnett as he took the reins of a team looking to make the playoffs for the third year in a row. Woodard did his part on offense by toting the rock 11 times for 137 yards and hitting paydirt on seven of those rushes. He added two interceptions with eight tackles on the defensive end.
Matthews was just as impressive tallying 12 tackles including seven of those solo and adding two fumble recoveries. Next up for Barnett and company is another Mustangs team, Benjamin. The No. 1-ranked team in Division II. Benjamin also added last year’s state MVP from Strawn in Grayson Rigdon along with All-state linebacker Tallon Hayes to a team that finished 10-1 and had all six starters back.
Atwood leads White Deer to upset
After five straight winning seasons the Bucks fell to 3-7 last year but look poised to get back to their winning ways. A missed extra point conversion by Groom in the first quarter turned out to be the difference as White Deer pulled an upset over No. 10 Groom downing the Tigers 38-36. Hunter Atwood, only a sophomore, turned in an outstanding performance for the Bucks racking up 214 yards and three touchdowns on the ground on only 14 carries. Junior Brodie Weathers helped out Atwood with 139 yards rushing on 13 attempts with a score.
A rude awakening to Six-Man
The area saw a new team enter the fold in the Six-Man arena as Amarillo Panhandle Christian Home Educators (PCHEA) took on Miami on Thursday night and the Warriors gave PCHEA a rude awakening. Behind a school-record 63 points in the first quarter Miami pummeled the Warriors 76-0 to win via the mercy rule at halftime. The numbers from this game were flat out eye-opening with Miami’s eight interceptions topping the list.
The defense also added 15 tackles for loss and five sacks on top of those picks. Offensively, freshman Micah Hinshaw stole the show. Hinshaw scored all four times he touched the ball, twice each rushing and receiving. The freshman added to his evening by grabbing three of the eight Miami interceptions. As a team the Warriors only ran 10 offensive plays and scored on six of those.
Seniors lead the charge
Several area senior players put up gaudy numbers on the opening weekend of high school football. Nazareth’s do everything senior Luke Schulte propelled the Swifts to a 63-20 victory over Whiteface. Schulte amassed 223 yards with six touchdowns on 20 carries with another 78 yards passing and a scoring toss. Another senior, Follet’s Shayne Franks, amassed 101 yards rushing on seven attempts with three of those ending in the end zone. His teammate, Justin Humbert, was just as impressive racking up nine tackles, three tackles for a loss and a forced fumble in the Panther’s resounding 60-0 win over Hedley.