District 2-5A Division IÂ
Tascosa rolls over Caprock to clinch 2-5A DI playoff berth
The Tascosa Rebels left Dick Bivins Stadium on Halloween night with a whole bucketful of goodies.
It wasn’t a scary evening at all for the Rebels with a playoff berth from District 2-5A Division I on the line against crosstown rival Caprock on Thursday night. Tascosa showed the form which marked its most successful football, dominating for most of the last 3 1/2 quarters to roll to a 42-14 victory and set the district’s playoff field.
The Rebels (4-5, 3-2 in district) bounced back from an extremely tough loss at Abilene High a week earlier to become the district’s fourth playoff team.
Where Tascosa ends up seeded will be determined by next week’s traditional game against crosstown rival Amarillo High, also headed to then playoffs, next Friday night at Bivins.
Caprock (2-7, 1-4) has been eliminated from playoff contention.
While the game was competitive for almost a quarter, things changed when Tascosa quarterback Coltyn Fulton was able to get a grip on things.
Caprock took advantage of the first break of the game, when Tascosa fumbled away the ball on the first offensive play and the Longhorns converted it into a touchdown. But it was all Tascosa the rest of the way, as Fulton ran for four touchdowns to give the Rebels a 35-14 halftime lead.
The only mistake Fulton made in the first half was when he fumbled the snap on the first play from scrimmage and Caprock recovered at the Tascosa 25-yard line. Caprock converted when Juan De La Cruz carried it in from two yards out for a 7-0 lead.
Fulton ran for 183 yards on only 15 carries, with 172 of them coming in the first half. In between his two long runs, he scored on runs of two and six yards.
The other scores in the first half came on long passes. Fulton took a break on one play to start a drive, and Charlie McKinney connected on a 72-yard scoring pass to Josiah Fields for a 28-7 lead. Caprock answered when De La Cruz hit Xavier Vargas for a 59-yard score only 69 seconds later.
While the Rebels flashed their signature running game by rolling over the Longhorns for 326 yards, they also displayed an efficient passing game. The Rebels completed 5-of-6 passes for 132 yards, not throwing an incompletion until the fourth quarter.
Tascosa outgained Caprock by a 459-288 margin. The Rebels concluded the scoring on a 3-yard run by Reese Cabe late in the third quarter.
Vargas led Caprock with 72 yards on 13 carries.
Amarillo High destroys Lubbock High
Amarillo High’s offense stayed in high gear on the road Friday night as the Sandies continue to roll on in anticipation of bigger things ahead.
The Sandies had another big game on the road Friday night, as Jett Lopez had a career night with six touchdown passes to lift Amarillo High over Lubbock High 47-7. With the win Amarillo High (5-3, 4-1 in district) is tied with Lubbock Monterey for second place in the district going into next week’s regular season finale against crosstown rival Tascosa.
Lopez had one of the most prolific passing performances in school history, completing 12-of-20 passes for 252 yards. He threw two scoring passes each to two receivers, as Oliver Parsons had five catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns, and Cooper Manning had four catches for 68 yards and two scores.
Lubbock fell to 3-6 and 0-5.
District 2-5A Division IIÂ
Palo Duro rolls past Wichita Falls Legacy
The Palo Duro Dons stayed alive in the playoff hunt with their second straight win, taking care of Wichita Falls Legacy 34-6 at Dick Bivins Stadium to set up a big game next Friday night.
Palo Duro (5-4, 2-3) now needs to beat Abilene Cooper next week in Abilene in the regular season finale to clinch the district’s fourth and final playoff spot.
Sophomore Julian Reese II had perhaps his most impressive game so far for the Dons. Reese completed 18-of-21 passes for 211 yards and four touchdowns.
New school Legacy fell to 0-9 and 0-5.
District 2-4A Division IÂ
West Plains routs Dumas
West Plains was locked in a close game at Dumas, but the Wolves closed the game with 21 straight points in the fourth quarter to roll to a 42-14 victory and stay undefeated atop the district standings.
The Wolves (6-3, 4-0) will clinch the outright district title by beating Hereford next week. Dumas (3-6, 1-3) will make the playoffs by beating Pampa next week.
West Plains led 21-14 going into the fourth quarter when quarterback Reid Macon scored on a 74-yard run to give the Wolves all the momentum. Macon completed 19-of-23 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 115 yards on six carries. Slade Russell ran for 74 yards and two scores.
Colton Mills completed 20-of-29 passes for 208 yards and two scores for Dumas.
Hereford rallies past Canyon
In a game with major playoff implications, Hereford came from behind to close out the game with 16 straight points to beat Canyon 30-21 and make the district’s playoff picture a bit clearer.
Hereford (7-2, 3-1) clinched a playoff spot and has a chance at the district’s No. 1 seed with a win over West Plains next week. Canyon (5-4, 1-3) is still mathematically alive but will need some help to have any chance at the postseason.
The Whitefaces trailed 21-14 going into the fourth quarter, but took over the game. Kalub Ramirez threw two touchdown passes, between which was sandwiched a safety which gave the Herd the lead.
Ramirez completed 12-of-21 passes for 186 yards. Tell Bryant had seven catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.
Randall blanks Pampa
Randall also sewed up a district playoff berth, as the Raiders recovered from their first loss of the season by routing Pampa 37-0 at Happy State Bank Stadium.
The Raiders (8-1, 3-1) got back in the win column as their offense found some rhythm. Quarterback Kaison Benton threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns, while Dylan Ray ran for 92 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.
Kaiden Miller had five catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Benton also ran for 77 yards on nine carries.
Pampa fell to 2-7 and 0-4.