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Giddings Advances Past Rio Hondo
Football is a game of inches. Down 28-21 in the third quarter, the Rio Hondo Bobcats drove to the Giddings Buffalo 1-yard line and faced a fourth-and-goal. They went for it, but the running back was stopped just inches shy of the goal line and they turned the ball (and momentum) over to Giddings. Three plays later, the Buffaloes traveled 99 yards and were in the end zone for a two-touchdown lead they never gave up as they stopped Rio Hondo 42-28 at Gustafson Stadium in San Antonio.
The game started out with lots of big plays. Rio Hondo took the opening kickoff 69 yards and scored on Trevor David’s 4-yard TD run. Giddings answered right back with a 42-yard TD run by Eric Rimes (13 carries, 154 yards) on a wild play. Rimes had gained about 5 yards and was presumed down by nearly everyone in the stadium. However, Rimes got up and zipped the rest of the way untouched for the score. Though Rio Hondo and James argued the call, it was to no avail as the Buffs tied the game with 7:19 to go in the first.
It marked the final high school game for the electrifying Bobcat QB Joseph Vela, who finished with 77 yards rushing on the day to finish his senior year with 1,972 total.
Rio Hondo who finished at 10-3 won its second straight 32-3A title, as well as a bi-district crown and area title for the first time in school history.
The Buffaloes (10-3) move on to face the Bellville next week.
San Antonio Clark routs Mission Sharyland
San Antonio Clark scored 42 unanswered points to overcome an early seven point deficit and to eventualy beat Mission Sharyland 49-21 in the third round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs at the Alamodome. After surrendering a 7-0 lead on Sharyland’s second possession, Clark, which led 35-7 at the half, reeled off TDs on seven straight possessions.
Cougars running back Jock Tilghman, who entered with 1,945 yards and 24 touchdowns, finished with 229 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries — almost all of which came in the first half.
Clark (12-1) will play the winner of Saturday’s Austin Westlake-Harlingen matchup in the fourth round at 4 p.m. next Saturday at the Alamodome.
Allen outlast Permian
Tucker Carter, Allen’s reserve quarterback, filled in well for injured starter Matt Brown and led Allen to a 28-22 win over Odessa Permian in a 5A Division I Region I semifinal thriller Friday. He completed 10 of 16 for 199 yards and two touchdowns
Permian trailed by 18 in the fourth quarter but used two Sherard Ray touchdown runs to trim the lead. Ray scored three times in the second half – on runs of 11, 4 and 6 yards – and finished the game with 256 yards on 30 carries.
Permian outgained Allen by 163 yards and recorded seven more first downs.
Permian finished its season 12-1. Allen (12-1) will play Euless Trinity or Arlington next week.
Rockwall-Heath Defense Steps Up In Win Over Ennis
The Rockwall-Heath defense came up big during a 17-14 win over Ennis to carry the Hawks to the Class 4A Division II Region II final in its first year in the playoffs. The defense, led by defensive back Darius Jones, who had two interceptions, recovered four fumbles, intercepted four passes and stopped Ennis on fourth down twice in the second half. One of those was on ourth and goal, when Ennis tried four straight runs from the 1-yard line and couldn’t get in the end zone. They held Ennis (11-2) 30 points below its scoring average.
Star running back Kendial Lawrence injured his shoulder midway through the second quarter. The senior has rushed for 2,684 yards and 43 touchdowns this season.
Rockwall-Heath, which will play Sulphur Springs in the Region II final next week.
Everman Wins Big Over Big Spring
called it the toughest pass he’s ever had to throw.
Evermans QB Marcus McAdoo led the Bulldogs to a 38-point second quarter that eventually gave Everman a 55-15 victory against Big Spring on Friday. With a 46-15 at half, Everman coasted the rest of the way in the 4A Division II regional quarterfinal playoff game at Shotwell Stadium.
The Steers finish their season at 8-5.
The Bulldogs (13-0) on on their way to a fourth-round matchup against the winner of today’s Stephenville vs. El Paso Parkland game. If it is Stephenville, the game will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 at Waco ISD Stadium. If it is Parkland, it will likely be in Midland or Odessa next Saturday.
Waco Midway Holds Off Highland Park Rally
Highland Park’s gritty fourth-quarter comeback fell short in Friday’s 41-36 loss to Waco Midway Class 4A Division I Region II semifinal. Midway’s 35-17 lead late in the third quarter seemed safe But three touchdown passes by Highland Park junior quarterback Luke Woodley in the fourth quarter twice brought Highland Park within five points.
A near-capacity Tiger Stadium crowd watched an offensive show by Midway senior running back John Hubert and Woodley. Hubert ran for 282 yards and four touchdowns. Woodley passed for 308 yards and four scores (giving him 41 for the season).
Highland Park (11-2) had two touchdowns and a 2-point conversion negated by penalties, lost its starting quarterback for two series and trailed by 21 points but still made things exciting.
Midway (12-1) couldn’t relax until it recovered Highland Park’s second unsuccessful onside kick with 50 seconds remaining.
Midway will take a 12-game winning streak into the Region II final against the winner of today’s Carter-Longview regional semifinal. This is their first time since 1999 to make it to the fourth round for the playoffs.
Fort Bend Hightower Kicks It Past Katy Cinco Ranch
Hightower kicker, Jake Kane hit a 40-yard field goal in the fourth quarter against Cinco Ranch and the Hurricanes held on for a 24-21 victory Friday in the regional semifinals.
Hightower trailed Cinco Ranch 14-0 in the second quarter but bounced back and held off Cinco Ranch in the second half. Cinco Ranch (11-2) started off hot using a nice mix of running and passing behind quarterback Shane Ros.
Hightower finally found its offense and scored a touchdown in the second quarter, then added another n the third.
After Hightower quarterback A.J. Highsmith found Darius Johnson and Lydell Williams for the first two scores, the Hightower defense got it done when Jeremy Woodson picked off a Cinco Ranch pass and took it 42 yards for the score to take a 21-14 lead.
Cinco Ranch tied it at 21 when Trevor Holt blocked a Hightower punt in the fourth quarter. Cinco’s offense took over and scored from 16 yards out.
Kane finished it up with his game winning kick with 5:54 left in the game. He also had two game-winning kicks during last year’s playoffs.
Hightower (11-0) will play the winner of the Katy Taylor/Pearland game set for 2 p.m. today at Tully.
By: Michael Wright
Lone Star Gridiron
www.lonestargridiron.com
