Bushland receiver Brody Sutterfield (20) celebrates with quarterback Coleman Junell after a touchdown against Dalhart during a District 2-3A Division I contest Friday at Falcons Stadium. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
It was a battle between the top two teams in District 2-3A Division I, and it didn’t disappoint. In a very competive matchup Bushland’s offense was able to make big plays down the stretch for a 37-21 win on a cold Friday night at Falcons Stadium.
Throughout the first half the game went back-and-forth before the Falcons took the lead for good right before the half. Tied 14-14 late in the second quarter, and the ball at their own 20-yard line, Falcons quarterback Coleman Junell threw a deep ball to Brody Sutterfield who just snagged it over a Dalhart cornerback’s fingertips, then Sutterfield sped away for an 80-yard score giving Bushland a 21-14 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Golden Wolves had cut the lead, 23-21, but Bushland was able to seal it with 16 straight points including another touchdown from Junell to Sutterfield of 34 yards.
Sutterfield put up a career performance with 259 receiving yards on 11 receptions and two touchdowns.
Junell keeps improving every week as the senior went 22-of-34 for 342 yards and three passing touchdowns. He also added two rushing TDs.
Brennan Lloyd led Dalhart with 113 yards on 13 carries.
Bushland (6-2 overall) clinches a Class 3A Division playoff spot while taking a firm grip on the District 2-3A DI title at 3-0. Dalhart is still in good shape at 5-3, 1-1.
Bushland 37, Dalhart 21
Dalhart 7 7 7 0 — 21
Bushland 14 7 2 14 — 37
River Road wins defensive struggle
It wasn’t the prettiest of games but River Road did what it needed to do in order of keeping its playoff hopes alive.
River Road keeps its chance of a postseason spot in hopes with 1-2 record in District 2-3A Dvision I and a 4-5 overall markz
The Wildcats broke a scoreless tie with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter to get out of Muleshoe with a 7-0 victory Friday.
Both defenses played excellent as the game remained scoreless into the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats were finally able to wear down the Mules just enough to execute a drive for the eventual-game winning touchdown. With 10 minutes left fullback Roland Smith punched in the only score. Smith finished the game with 92 yards rushing on 19 carries. Quarterback Lance Welps had a game-high 100 yards on 30 carries.
River Road’s defense limited Muleshoe (2-5, 0-2) to 91 yards of offense.
River Road 7, Muleshoe 0
River Road 7 — 7
Muleshoe —
District 3-3A DII
No. 1 Canadian pummels Chieftains
Canadian kept its foot on the gas in District 3-3A Division II play with its third straight 70 plus point performance.
The No. 1 Wildcats scored early and often on the way to a 73-14 blowout of Friona at Chieftains Stadium on Friday.
With the victory Canadian (7-1, 4-0) extends its Texas Panhandle-best district win streak to 41 straight dating back to 2012.
Canadian has absolutely dominated in three district games played. In wins against Highland Park, Dimmitt and Friona the Wildcats have totaled 232 points, while allowing only 20.
Quarterback Joshua Culwell picked a part the Chieftains (5-3, 2-2) secondary. The 6-foot-3 senior was almost perfect going 19-of-22 for 287 yards with four touchdowns. Culwell’s favorite target was receiver Reagan Cochran. Cochran snagged five catches for 140 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
Canadian 73, Friona 14
Canadian 28 35 10 — 73
Friona 6 8 — 14
Lynx blank Bobcats
Spearman took the frustration of not playing in 28 days out on Dimmitt with a 63-0 shutout on the road Friday.
The Lynx (7-1, 3-1) were playing their first football same the District 3-3A Division II opener against Childress on Sept. 25.
Spearman had to forfeit its district showdown due to COVID-19 concerns, then had Highland Park forfeit on them not to mention a bye week in the midst of the layoff.
Quarterback Jack Wilkerson led the offensive outburst that racked up 421 yards on 31 snaps.
Wilkerson tallied six touchdowns in the win, throwing for 211 yards on 11-of-16 passing with five touchdown tosses. He then added a TD on the ground thanks to a 6-yard scamper. Receiver Brayden Klafka had a game-high 88 yards receiving, snagging three catches, two of which were for touchdowns.
Spearman 63, Dimmitt 0
Spearman 28 21 7 7 — 63
Dimmitt —
Class 2A
District 4-2A Division II
Wellington running back Marc Ramirez goes in for one of his five touchdowns against Clarendon on Friday night at Broncos Stadium. [Tom Carver/ Press Pass Sports]
Wellington stays unbeaten
The No. 3-ranked Wellington Skyrockets kept its undefeated record in tact for another week with a convincing win of Clarendon, 42-22, on Friday at Broncos Stadium.
The Skyrockets are now a perfect 7-0 overall, and have clinched a playoff spot in Class 2A Division II with a 3-0 record in District 4-2A Division II. The Broncos fall to 6-2 overall and 1-1 in district.
Clarendon’s defense had no answer for Skyrocket standout running back Marc Ramirez. From the opening drive of the game to the final whistle, the bruising junior ran through, ran over or ran past the Broncos defense. When it was all said and done Ramirez had a career-night pummeling Clarendon for 303 yards on 26 carries with five touchdowns. If that wasn’t enough, on the defensive side of the ball the linebacker made 16 tackles Marc also had 16 tackles, a forced fumble with a pass breakup.
Wellington 42, Clarendon 22
Wellington 8 12 8 14 — 42
Clarendon 8 6 8 — 22
Wheeler survives Cyclones upset bid
The Wheeler overcame a 14-point halftime deficit to rally back for a big 36-20 win against upset-minded Memphis on Friday night at Cyclones Stadium.
The Cyclones were hot early as the defense kept Wheeler in place. The biggest deficit came when Jax Ferrel picked off a Wheeler quarterback Hesston Marshall pass and returned the interception 70-yards for the score, putting the Cyclones up 20-6 over the No. 5-ranked Mustangs at half.
That was final Cyclones touchdown of the game. Wheeler‘s defense clamped down and the offense woke up by outscoring Memphis 30-0 in the second half.
The offense was fueled by the ever dynamic Marshall. the do-it-all Mustang standout overpowered Memphis with 17 carries for 148 yards and three rushing touchdowns. He was impressive hurling the ball as well, going a near perfect 7-of-8 in the air for 89 yards and a TD pass.
Wheeler (7-1, 2-0) gets another challenge with Clarendon (6-2, 1-1) on Friday. Memphis falls to 3-6, 0-3.
Wheeler 36, Memphis 20
Wheeler 6 6 16 8 — 36
Memphis 6 14 — 20
District 1-2A Division I
Farwell QB Leefe Atkinson leaps a West Texas High defender during a District 1-2A Division I showdown Friday night. [Tucker Stroud/ Press Pass Sports]
Farwell bullies Comanches for key district W
This was the first test of many for the Farwell Steers and they passed with flying colors thanks to a dominating 40-6 win against West Texas High in Farwell on Friday.
Farwell has been flying under the radar all season, but this win should open some eyes, as the Steers defense silenced the high-powered offense with a physical presence on defense.
The Steers really opened this contest up in the second quarter with 14 unanswered points before half thanks to talented freshman Corey Stancell.
Stancell had his hands all over this game. On defense, the freshamn was a force picking up 11 tackles including two for a loss. He was a handful on the offensive end as well, racking up 269 yards on the ground to go with his three touchdown runs. Stancell carried the ball 26 times on the night and backed up his performance from last week with another stellar showing for the Steers.
WT High QB Avian Cruz was flustered and bottled up thanks to an impressive Farwell defense but was still able to throw for 221 yards.
Farwell (7-1 overall) clinches a Class 2A Division I playoff spot at 3-0, and will host Panhandle (6-2, 3-0) for the district title Friday.
Farwell 40, WT High 6
WT High 6 — 6
Farwell 14 12 14 — 40
Panhandle blanks Boys Ranch
In a season that has seen Panhandle allow 91, 68, and 50 points, the Panthers were able to shine on defense for a change with their first shutout of the season 62-0 against Boys Ranch on Friday night at Panthers Stadium.
The Panthers have shown their offensive prowess all season long, and Friday was no different as Panhandle put up 49 in the first two quarters.
Quarterback Wesley Jones and running back Landyn Hack had a field day in the first half as the two combined for all seven scores. Jones finished his night an efficient 9-of-13 passing for 237 yards for six touchdowns. Hack was just as impressive as the running back compiled 118 yards and two scores on only four carries.
The Panhandle defense was impressive holding Boys Ranch to only 93 yards in the contest. The defense also forced three turnovers including a Hack interception.
Panhandle (6-2, 3-0) clinches a Class 2A playoff spot and will now meet Farwell (7-1, 3-0) for the district championship on Friday.
Panhandle 62, Boys Ranch
Boys Ranch —
Panhandle 28 21 7 6 — 62
District 3-2A
Stratford’s hot start fuels win
The Stratford Elks left Gruver on Friday night a with their second district win thanks to a 26-12 win against a pesky Greyhound squad.
The running game for the Elks was the story of the night, as Stratford was able to compile 276 yards total on the ground on 41 carries.
Quarterback Trevor Bell led the charge for the Elks chewing up 98 yards and a score on the ground. As efficient as he was with his feet, his arm complimented the offense just as well. Bell completed 9-of-17 for passes 138 yards and a touchdown pass to Luke Braden.
Gruver (2-6, 1-2) did Its best to keep it close but never could fight its way out of an early 20-0 deficit. Mason Gibson led the Greyhound offense as the QB converted 15-of-31 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns.
After a rough nondistrict schedule, the Elks are off to a 2-0 start in District 3-2A Division II action and 4-4 overall. The Elks will battle Vega (6-2, 2-0) for the district title Friday.
Stratford 26, Gruver 12
Stratford 14 6 6 — 26
Gruver 6 0 6 — 12
Vega blasts Booker
It didn’t take the Vega Longhorns long to put away Booker as they took the District 3-2A Division II contest 51-7 in Vega on Friday.
Ryan Grawunder pushed over the 1,000 yard mark for the season in the win.
Grawunder also did with his arm throwing for
148 yards and three touchdowns. His back field counterpart, Riley Tiemann was a beast once again. Tiemann racked up 152 yards in the first half on eight carries and picked up two touchdowns before being taken out at half.
Vega (6-2, 2-0) has its biggest test of the season at Stratford (4-4, 2-0) for the district championship on Friday.
Vega 51, Booker 7
Booker 7 — 7
Vega 19 20 6 6 — 51
District 2-2A Division II
Smyer’s big first half too much for Bovina
If the fourth quarter had gone any longer, this game may have gone to the Mustangs, but nonetheless, Smyer got the 38-33 win in Bovina on Friday night.
The Mustangs held a 13-8 lead going into the second quarter, but the Smyer signal caller, Ethan Ramirez’s effort would quickly ruin that lead. The Bobcat QB connected on two touchdown passes as well as a 12-yard scamper on three consecutive drives to put his Bobcats ahead 30-13 late in the second quarter. Bovina never went away or backed down. Quarterback Cole Emery scored on a run with a second left in the first half, cutting the score down to 30-19 at the break.
Down 38-19 heading into the final quarter, Bovina had a mountain in front of them. With four minutes left in the game, Bovina had cut the lead down to 38-26. Emery then made things closer when he found Marco Oritz in the endzone to cut the lead to 38-33, but it was too little too late as Smyer held on to win.
Each team surpassed the 200 yard mark rushing on friday as Smyer took the win in the ground war. Smyer’s Ramirez ended the night with 30 carries for 141 yards on the ground as Bovina’s Darian DeLaRosa had 17 carries for 146 yards.
Smyer 38, Bovina 33
Smyer 8 22 8 — 38
Bovina 13 6 14 — 33