Wheeler’s Jovany Gallardo comes down with a late fourth quarter interception preserving a Mustangs win Friday night. [Ernie Bowen/ For Press Pass Sports]
Wheeler Sophomore Jovany Gallardo intercepted a pass in the endzone in the closing seconds preserving a thrilling 37-30 win over Gruver on Friday night at Mustangs Stadium.
The Class 2A Division II matchup lived up to its billing coming down to the final play.
The No. 9-ranked Greyhounds had rallied from a 31-14 third quarter to give themselces a chance. Gruver had cut the lead, 37-30, on a 70-yard pitch and catch from Jalin Conyers to Carter Armes midway through the fourth.
The Greyhounds found themselves with one final chance inside the Wheeler 10-yard and 40 seconds to play. Gruver moved Armes to quarterback to give the 6-foot-5 Conyers a chance to come down with a game-tying touchdown, however, it was Gallardo coming down with the pick, preserving the Mustangs win.
Wheeler’s ground game was the difference. Between quarterback Gustavo Andrade and running back Hesston Marshall, the Mustangs
were able to build a 31-14 lead, running off 25-unanswered points.
The explosive duo gave the Greyhounds fits rushing for 365 of 468 total yards. Marshall had a game-high 181 yards on only 12 carries with a touchdown. Andrade carried it 21 times for 132 yards with TD runs of 66, 30, and 26-yards.
Andrade also threw for two more scores.
Wheeler closes out its nondistrict schedule at 4-1. Gruver falls to 4-2.
Wheeler 37, Gruver 30
Gruver 14 16 — 30
Wheeler 12 6 13 6 — 37
First quarter
W—David Rascon 75 pass from Gustavo Andrade (Marcos Herrera kick)
G—Jalin Conyers 1 run (conversion failed)
G—Conyers 3 run (Creed Calloway run)
W—Andrade 66 run (conversion failed)
Second quarter
W—Andrade 30 run (conversion failed)
Third quarter
W—Hesston Marshall 83 run (Rascon kick)
W—Andrade 26 run (conversion failed)
Fourth quarter
G—Calloway 3 run (Hunter Haynes run)
W—Baldemar Gallardo 27 pass from Marshall (conversion failed)
G—Carter Armes 70 pass from Conyers (Conyers run)
Gruver Wheeler
First downs 17 14
Rushing yards 120 365
Passing yards 203 103
Total Yards 343 468
C-A-I 10-24-1 2-5-0
Punts-Avg. 6-25 3-31
Fumbles-lost 0-0 0-0
Stratford quarterback Walker McBryde (15) gets set to deliver a pass against Perryton on Friday. [David Erickson/ Press Pass Sports]
Elks keep on rolling
Stratford offense piled up the points against Perryton, putting the Rangers away with a 43-13 on Friday night at E.L. “Sam” Bass Stadium.
The No. 4-ranked Elks (5-1 overall) stayed hot, closing out their nondistrict schedule on a four-game win streak.
Over the last four weeks the Stratford offense has been blistering opponent’s defenses, averaging 50 points a game.
In the win over the Rangers (1-5) the Elks won the battle up front rushing for 339 of their 517 total yards. Running backs Britt McQuitty and Iuden Romero went over the century mark. McQuitty carried it 16 times for 116 yards with two touchdowns. Romero added 151 yards on 14 attempts with a pair rushing TDs and a receiving score.
Quarterback Walker McBryde was his efficient self, going 14 of 27 for 177 and three touchdown passes.
Stratford 43, Perryton 13
Perryton 0 7 6 0 — 13
Stratford 13 22 8 0 — 43
Key stat: Stratford’s offense put up 517 total yards.
Top performance
Stratford
Rushing:Brit McQuitty 16-156; Iuden Romero 14-151.
Passing: Walker McBryde 14-27-2-177.
Vega blanks Memphis
It was a quick night due to mother nature but that didn’t stop Vega from a 46-0 shutout of Memphis on Friday night at Longhorns Stadium.
The game was called at halftime because of lightning.
Quarterback Carson Kirkland was a mismatch for the Cyclones defense. Kirkland scored on all four carries he had, rushing for 197 yards. The senior broke loose on scoring runs of 65, 55, 41 and 36 yards. He also threw for two more touchdowns in the win.
The Longhorns wrapped up their nondistrict schedule at 5-1 overall.
Memphis continues to struggle at 1-4.
Vega 46, Memphis 0
Memphis x x —
Vega 26 20 x x — 46
Key stat:Vega rushed for 369 of its 396 total yards.
Top performers
Vega
Rushing: Carson Kirkland 4-197.
Passing: Kirkland 3-5-0-26.
