Miami Makes a statement
Thompson, Hinshaw and Wheeler sounds like a big-time law firm but it’s simply the key to success for head coach DJ Howell’s Miami team. Those three were tantamount to overwhelming a banged up Wildorado (1-2) squad 65-20 Thursday night. Haiden Thompson, Miami’s talented spread back, put up big numbers again going 13-of-18 for 251 yards and five scores along with 118 yards on the ground and three more touchdowns. His top target was freshman Micah Hinshaw who had 149 yards receiving and four trips to the endzone along with 108 yards rushing and another score. Luke Wheeler, the bowling ball end for Miami (3-0), had 11 tackles with seven of those in the Mustang backfield as they simply had no answer for the junior. After the game, coach Howell was pleased with his team’s effort but was quick to point out that they “needed to keep getting better every day” as they get ready for a very competitive district slate.
Silverton pulls off upset
After three weeks of play Silverton may have pulled the biggest upset of the young season downing No. 4-ranked Whitharral 34-30 at home on Thursday. In a tightly contested game, the Panthers made one last ditch effort to score with the clock running out but was stopped at the one as time expired. The Owls (2-1) held a 28-14 lead at halftime before exchanging scores in the third quarter. Whitharral added a score with 5:07 left in the game but the Owl defense had the game saving stand as time expired. The Owls talented spread back, Sawyer Francis, made his name know by rushing for 222 yards on 25 carries and completing a pass for 31 yards with five combined touchdowns. Francis was a one-man machine on defense as well recording 9.5 tackles and a tackle for loss in the win.
Running back U
One of the hallmarks for Happy has been its ability to churn out productive running backs over the years. Cameron and Colton McCarley, Karson Bryan and Stetson Jameson come to mind, and we may need to add another name to that list. Tryce Johnson, in his first full year at running back, has now put up back-to-back 200 yard plus games against quality opponents. Against top-ranked Westbrook he only gained 22 yards but then registered 222 yards and six scores against Follett and 204 yards with five touchdowns Friday night against Springlake-Earth. Johnson, who entered last season as a backup for the Cowboys, found himself thrust into the starting lineup on early in the season due to injury and has never looked back. Johnson made a statement at linebacker registering a school-record 135 tackles and is now being asked to step into a lead back role. Based on the early results it looks like Johnson is finding his latest role to his liking and giving the Cowboys (2-1) another running back to keep an eye on.
Notes from Week 3
Every year fans can look at one week and simply ask the question, “what happened”? This week may have been that week as Silverton stunned the state with their win over number four ranked Whitharral. At Valley, injuries continue to hamper the Patriots (1-2) as they fell to Whiteface at home 64-50. Over in Groom the Tigers pushed Nazareth (3-0) as far as they could as they entered the final quarter within striking distance before falling to the Swifts 71-58.
White Deer is now 3-0 on the season after downing Amarillo PCHEA 60-0 and McLean is quietly 3-0 as well as they pummeled Darrouzett 66-0. Follett bounced back in style after falling to Happy last week by taking down Lefors 54-0 and Hedley picked up their first win of the season taking down Vernon Northside 49-31.
Westbrook sneaks past Rankin in thriller
The big game of the week across the state lived up to the hype as Westbrook squeezed by Rankin 59-58. This game started slow as the Wildcats held a 6-2 lead at the end of one, but the offenses began to turn it on after that. As they entered the fourth, Westbrook held a slim 40-34 lead. Both teams then scored on their next two possessions and the No. 4 Red Devils made it three in a row with 3:04 left in the game on a Baret Jackson 36-yard touchdown jaunt to put Rankin up 58-52. No stranger to big games the Wildcats marched down the field and Cedric Ware scored from six yards out with 42 seconds remaining. The state MVP then untied the game running in the 1-point conversion and the Wildcat defense stuffed Rankin on a fourth down with four seconds remaining to remain undefeated. Ware finished the game with 320 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns.
Looking ahead to Week 4
As we enter the second half of non-district action for most teams the schedule rewards us with some interesting matchups. On Thursday night, No.7-ranked Happy welcomes a Kress team loaded with athletes and now the favorites in District 3-1A. Valley’s season doesn’t get easier as they travel to Nazareth that is looking to make itself a legit Region I contender. Miami also hits the road to face Paducah in their toughest test to date. The Dragons beat Silverton in Week 2 and they are always a tough opponent at home. Finally, Claude welcomes Groom to town as the Mustangs lost their first game of the year to perennial power Borden County while the Tigers are still searching for their first win.