Wellington’s John Michael Holcomb (10) blocks a Wheeler punt Friday night. [Tom Carver/ Press Pass Sports]
Wellington claimed its third straight district title with a convincing win at rival Wheeler 38-18 on Friday night.
The Skyrockets clinch the outright District 5-2A Division II title with a 9-1 overall mark, and 5-0 district mark.
Wellington advances on to the Class 2A Division II postseason where they’ll face Electra at 7 p.m. Thursday at Fair Park Stadium in Childress.
Wheeler (8-2, 4-1) will play Archer City
at p.m. 6 p.m. in Vernon.
Wellington’s powerful ground attack of John Michael Holcomb and Marc Ramirez were tough for the Mustangs to stop. Holcomb, who also blocked a punt in the game, ran for 114 yards with three scores. Ramirez added 111 yards and a score.
Despite the loss, Wheeler running back Hesston Marshall rushed for 115 yards and a TD.
Wellington 38, Wheeler 18
Wellington 8 14 16 — 38
Wheeler 12 6 — 18
Stratford takes down Gruver for district title
Stratford running back Iuden Romero takes a sweep for big yards against Gruver on Friday night. [Misti McBryde/ For Press Pass Sports]
The Stratford Elks earned a measure of revenge with a 47-12 rout of Gruver on Friday night at E.L. Sam Bass Stadium.
Gruver had beaten the Elks two times last season.
Stratford (9-1, 5-0 in District 3-2A DII) wins its third district in four years, sending the seniors out on a high-note at home.
Iuden Romero had a night to remember as the senior got it done on both sides of the ball for Stratford. Romero rushed for 227 yards and four touchdowns on 16 carries. Romero also broke the 1,000-yard rushing mark, with 1,030 on the season.
If that wasn’t impressive enough, the senior also was an anchor on the defensive end accounting for three of the teams total five interceptions.
Stratford will face New Home in a Class 2A Division II bidistrict game at 4 p.m. Thursday on Happy State Bank Field at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium. Gruver (6-4, 3-2) finished the season as the fourth seed and will get Tahoka (8-2) at 8 p.m. Friday at Kimbrough.
Stratford 47, Gruver 12
Gruver 6 6 — 12
Stratford 20 13 14 — 47
Vega wins battle for second place
Clarendon gave Vega all they could handle and more Friday night, but it was the Longhorns who came away with the 42-23 win in Clarendon.
It was a tight game headed into the fourth quarter as the game was knotted up at 21. Vega’s Riley Tiemann found the end zone on the first possession of the final quarter, but the Broncos were able to return the blocked extra point attempt to keep the lead down to 27-23. The momentum sided with the Broncos, until the Longhorns were able to put the game out of reach with two scores by sophomore Clay Gilter.
The senior signal caller Carson Kirkland had another solid night accounting for 167 of the Longhorns 410 rushing yards and two scores.
The Longhorns earned second place and will take on Smyer in the opening round of the Class 2A Division II playoffs at 7 p.m. Thursday in Plainview.
The Broncos (4-6) fell to 3rd place with their loss to Vega, will take on Ralls (9-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in Tulia.
West Texas High is district champions
The West Texas High Comanches clinched outright District 1-2A D1 championship with a 55-19 win in Sunray on Friday night.
The Comanches (8-2, 5-0) took over by scoring 34 unanswered points after Sunray scored on a Carlos Castellanes run to cut the lead to 7-6.
Comanche QB Avian Cruz got the offense rolling throwing for 148 yards and two scores. He’d also find the endzone two more times on the ground.
West Texas High will play Olton at 7 p.m. Friday at River Road.
Bovina grabs final playoff spot
A huge first quarter was all Bovina needed, as the Mustangs were able to extend their season with a 47-12 win against Springlake-Earth on the road Thursday night.
In a win or go home playoff scenario, Bovina (4-6, 2-3) clinches the fourth and final playoff spot out of District 2-2A Division II.
The Wolverines see their season come to an end at 2-8, 1-4.
The Mustangs left no doubt in this game, jumping out to a 28-6 first quarter lead. Running back Darian DeLaRosa was explosive during the first 12 minutes, breaking touchdown runs of 48 and 35 yards.
DeLaRosa ended his night with 105 yards on 13 carries. Quarterback Cole Emery was just as elusive, rushing for 106 yards on 11 carries with three TDs, and throwing for 114 yards.
Bovina 28 8 6 8 — 47
Earth 6 6 — 12
