Shiner’s Brooks Brothers Shine in Win Over Post

By Chris Doelle
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Updated: December 17, 2020

Class 2A Division I State Championship Game

ARLINGTON - The Post Antelopes (15-0) and Shiner Comanches (13-0) faced off Thursday morning at AT&T Stadium to decide who would stand alone as the top Class 2A Division I team.

Game Simulation

To get ready for the real thing, LSG played the game with the board game Friday Night Legends using teams created with their real 2020 statistics. In this matchup, it was Post that came away with the win after a big 4th quarter rally. As much fun as it is to coach these teams yourself in the game, the fight for the 2020 crown however is fought on the field.

The Real Game

1Q
Shiner won the toss and elected to receive. A bobbled return left Shiner starting at their own 23 and the Comanches opened with their traditional running attack when QB Tyler Palmer took the sneak for a first down. The second carry saw Zane Rhodes take a pitch outside and grab a quick 16 yards. The drive continued with a couple helpings of Doug Brooks who was clearly the focus of the Post defense. Another 18 by Rhodes was followed by just two yards by Dalton Brooks. Trevor Haynes showed that Shiner's arsenal included a lot of runners as he rambled ahead but fell short of a 1st down. Facing their first 4th down conversion (1 yard to go) Shiner chose Dalton Brooks to take the toss to the right but was stood up short of the first by Pat Kirkpatrick.

Post took over at their 20 and set about attacking on the ground as well. When the Bold Gold managed nothing on the ground they took to the air. QB Slayden Pittman scrambled right and found nobody open. Cutting back to the inside, he was met by RB/DT Doug Brooks who punched the ball out and into the air before catching it himself and rambling toward the end zone. Just before crossing the line, Brooks handed the ball to teammate Max Machacek who was running alongside and giving him the gift of scoring in a state championship game. This made the game 7-0 Shiner.

A flag on the return left Post starting at their own 8. Another flag backed them up to the 4 when a Post lineman moved early. A 9 yard run by Jefferson took them out of the shadow of their end zone. Pittman then tossed to a wide-open Josiah Ward for 35 yards. After a short gain by Pittman, he ran a second time up the middle and was piled on at an odd angle forcing him out of the game with an injury. With Carter Rankin in at QB, the Antelopes were facing a 4th and 3. A halfback option pass found Ward open down the field for the first on a gutsy call by Coach Pittman. Avery Clarkson took the next carry around the right side and sprinted toward the end zone. Stepping out at the four yard line, Clarkson would complete the drive on the next play when he crossed the goal line for the first Bold Gold score. Electing to go for two points and the lead, Clarkson again got the call but lost yards when Shiner's Palmer showed why he plays both ways in shooting past his block into the backfield. 7-6 Shiner 3:33

The Comanches started deep inside their own territory as Dalton Brooks neglected to let the kickoff bounce out of bounds and was stopped inside the 10. The team them proceeded to put together a 90 yard drive consisting of a lot of runs by Rhodes, Palmer and Dalton Brooks combined with a 36 yard pass to Tyler Bishop. It was capped by a Dalton Brooks 3 yard run to give Shiner the lead. 14-0 Shiner 0:36

Post started at their own 20 and were had managed only to lose 3 yards as the quarter ended.

2Q
The Antelopes began the second on their 22 facing 3rd and 13. New QB Avery Clarkson tossed the ball to Nathan McDaniel who skipped through a gap on the left side and then raced 77 yards for a score. Another two point conversion fell short when Clarkson peeled out to the left side and was caught quickly by Rhodes. 14-12 Shiner 11:46

The Shiner crew started on their 24 and went about business as usual. The drive was highlighted by a 47 yard pass to Bishop and a 18 yard stand-up TD run by Dalton Brooks. His second of the game extended the Comanche lead. 21-12 Shiner 9:13

Undaunted, the Antelopes began their answer on their 19, A couple of opening runs gave way to a scary moment when Jefferson missed the handoff but fell on the fumble to keep the drive alive. Facing 4th and 1, Clarkson right to a wide open right side and after being slung down out of bounds added an extra 15 yards to a 10 yard run. From the Shiner 35 with new momentum, McDaniel raced untouched down the left sideline for his second score. This time the 2 point conversion succeeded. 21-20 Shiner 5:53

Shiner's Doug Brooks took a squib kick all the way to the Post 30 but it was called back because of a holding call. Instead, starting at their 35, Big Mo took over for Post and forced the Comanches to a 4th and 13 situation and the first punt of the game. Post regained control on their 16 and Jefferson busted a BIG play that covered both sides of the field en route to a 24 yard gain. A handful of runs that got nothing left them facing 3rd and 12 at midfield and they pulled out another option pass to Kirkpatrick who caught it on the tip at the 13. With just 30 seconds remaining and no timeouts they struggled to run and get out of bounds. On 3rd down attempting to spike the ball and stop the clock, Post committed a false start which ran out the clock.

First Half Stats
     Shiner                 Post
      230    Total Yards    318
      147    Rushing Yds    220
      9.2    Yards/Play    11.4
       10    First Downs     11
     11:41   Possession    12:19

3Q
Post began the second half with the ball on their 20 and started to move the ball slowly before a bad snap set them up with a 4th and 10. The punter who replaced Pittman - lost earlier to injury - had his kick blocked by Doug Brooks. Brooks raced to the back of the end zone to recover for the second Shiner defensive touchdown. The all-important extra point was good and a flag against Post for illegal substitution was declined. 28-20 Shiner 9:45

The Bold Gold took the field again on their 24. Once again Post put together some positive runs before the Comanche defense stepped up forcing a 4th and 4 at midfield. Clarkson found an edge on the right side and scampered past the first down marker but a flag indicated a chop block and 15 yard penalty. The second attempt at 4th down - this time with 19 yard - forced Post to punt again. The Antelopes added another penalty with and illegal substitution and were looking at 4th and 24. This time the punt was clean as momentum continued to shift in the direction of Shiner.

Zane Rhodes took the ball into Antelope territory with a 19 yard run to the 48. Several solid runs up the middle set up an 11 yard flea flicker to Michael Williams. Another quick 9 yard inside run by Doug Brooks set the table for Dalton Brooks who scored again, this time from 24 yards out. The 15 point lead was Shiner's largest of the game. 34-20 Shiner 3:08

Facing another crucial drive, the Antelopes began at their 30. Once again, the penalties hit as they started with an illegal formation. Facing 1st and 15 and needing another miracle, another halfback option pass to Josiah Ward in double coverage, saw the ball drop into Ward's hands and dig them out of another hole. The snakes kept biting however as another illegal formation call backed up Post once again. Facing another 4th down - this time for 5 - the quarter came to an end.

4Q
Post started the final stanza on a must-convert 4th and 5. It was not to be as McDaniel was unable to reach the distance. Shiner looked to put the nail in the coffin and looked to do so with that solid running attack. The drive included Doug Brooks delivering one of the most devastating stiff-arms you will ever seen during his 30 yard run. Rhodes and Brooks added a few more yards but left Shiner facing 4th and 3 at the Post 22. Rhodes came up short as the Bold Gold defense grabbed back the momentum.

The Antelope stop set them on another must-score drive. What looked promising at first left Post facing another 4th and 3 with just 5:45 remaining in the game. After the timeout, the play called was a rollout pass by Clarkson who through into heavy coverage and delivered and interception to the waiting hands of Colton Winkenwerder. Another Post personal foul added 15 yard to the return giving Shiner the ball at the Post 45.

The very first Comanche run resulted in a fumble during a scrum up the middle. The ball was recovered by Doug Brooks for Shiner to keep the momentum clearly on their side. Doug Brooks bruised his way for a big gain on the next play and Haynes added 5 of his own. Continuing the eat clock, the runs kept coming and snaps with just seconds left each play lulled Post to sleep. They woke when Tyler Palmer pulled up with a quick jump pass to Williams for a 27 yard TD run. His second catch of the day and 4th of the season seemed to lock in Shiner's 3rd State Championship. 42-20 Shiner 2:39

Post faced with being the state runner-up twice in a row was unable to get anything going as a fumbled snap gave the ball right back to Shiner. A few quick kneel downs in victory formation and it was over - but not before the Comanches brought an injured Hunter Nevlid in the game for the final two snaps.

The Offensive MVP went to Dalton Brooks and the Defensive MVP was Doug Brooks (pictured) .