Dumas running back Jacob Mares (20) sprints away from Canyon defenders during a District 3-4A Division I clash Friday night at Happy State Bank Stadium. [Trevor Freeman/ Press Pass Sports]
An eagerly anticipated matchup building for weeks finally came to a head Friday night in a District 3-4A Division I showdown between Canyon and Dumas at Happy State Bank Stadium.
In a game where both defenses figured to take center stage, it was the Demons that grounded the Eagles offense to claim sole possession of the district lead with a 23-9 victory.
Dumas now sits at 8-1 overall and 2-0 in district. The Demons can claim a fourth straight district title with a win at home against Pampa (8-1, 1-1) on Friday.
Canyon saw a seven-game win streak to start the year come to an end, falling from the unbeaten ranks at 7-1, 1-1.
The Demons were the ones showing offensive prowess in the first half despite two turnovers. Dumas opened a 13-0 lead they’d take into half on the balance of a pair of Ah Lee Yart field goals, quarterback Spencer Williams arm and a steady ground game. The lone touchdown of the first half was provided by Williams on a 39-yard connection to Juan Romero providing the 13-0 cushion with 9:43 left in the second quarter.
Throughout the second half Dumas stayed in control opening a 20-3 third quarter advantage when Williams hit his second scoring pass to Louis Ortiz for 25 yards.
But the story of Friday night was the Dumas defensive. The Eagles struggled to finding rhythm mustering 208 total yards against the stingy Demons D.
Canyon quarterback Jay Defoor didn’t have his best of efforts, completing only 9-of-31 passes for 125 yards. On the other hand, Williams was efficient for Dumas that totaled 382 yards of offense. The senior signal caller went 12-of-20 for 232 yards tacking on two touchdowns to one interception.
Romero made of those catches for a game-high 131 yards and a TD. Defensively, linebacker Cade Cox racked up nine tackles, five of which were solo.
Dumas 23, Canyon 9
Dumas 6 7 7 3 — 23
Canyon 9 — 9
First Quarter
D— Ah Lee Yart FG 35, 9:21
D— Yart FG 25, 2:29
Second Quarter
D— Juan Romero 39 pass from Spencer Williams (Yart kick), 9:14
Third Quarter
C— Elijah Smothermon FG 26, 9:59
D— Louis Ortiz 25 pass from Williams (Yart kick), 7:16
C— Dario Bressler 39 run (run failed), 5:33
Fourth Quarter
D— Yart FG 27, 2:15
Dumas Canyon
First Downs 17 11
Rushing 150 83
Passing 232 125
Total yards 382 208
C-A-I 12-20-1 9-31-1
Punts-Avg. 5-34.8 8-34.3
Fumbles-lost 3-2 0-0
Penalties-yards 7-60 2-20
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING— Dumas: Jacob Mares 7-77, Williams 20-21, James Bednorz 11-30, Bryan Mendoza 4-16, Brayden Rushing 1-6. Canyon: Brody Cook 7-8, Jay DeFoor 5-(-13), Rafe Butcher 1-(-4), Bressler 11-83, Dalton Hale 3-9.
PASSING— Dumas: Williams 12-20-1-232. Canyon: DeFoor 9-31-1-125.
RECEIVING— Dumas: Ortiz 3-71, Mares 1-1, Romero 6-131, Victor Chavez 2-29. Canyon: Grayson Hack 2-16, Butcher 3-50, Jack McKay 3-51, Parker Cunningham 1-8.
Pampa bounces back pummeling Hereford
Pampa rebounded from its first loss of the season to Canyon with a convincing 49-10 win against Hereford in the regular season home finale at Harvesters Stadium.
The Harvesters (8-1 overall) keep themselves in the hunt for a piece of the District 3-4A Division I crown at 1-1 overall. Pampa will need to beat Dumas (8-1, 2-0) on Friday to get itself a chance at share of the district title.
The victory was a costly one for Pampa. Already playing without star running back Cornelius Landers, who sat out with an injury, the Harvesters lost starting quarterback Jack Studebaker in the second quarter also to an injury and he did not return. Backup quarterback Sam Anguiano filled in nicely for In Studebaker’s absence completing 15-of-22 passes for 202 yards with two touchdown passes. The junior also used his feet rushing for 77 yards and a pair of scores. Sophomore receiver Jordan Lacy showed his versatility stepping up for Landers. Lacy carried the rock 10 times for 89 yards with two touchdowns, and made three catches for 90 yards with a TD.
Hereford falls to 3-5, 0-2 with the loss.
Pampa 49, Hereford 10
Hereford 3 7 0 — 10
Pampa 14 14 7 14 — 49
District 2-4A Division II
Perryton punches ticket to playoffs
Perryton is playoff bound after gaining a crucial 28-14 home win against the Seminole Indians on Friday night.
The Rangers earned the victory and the postseason berth by doing what they do best on offense, and that’s grinding out yards on the ground. Out of the Rangers 306 total yards against Seminole, 289 came from the run game.
Perryton never trailed building a 14-0 lead on a pair of touchdown runs from Jahir Romero. The Indians did give themselves a chance trimming the lead at 21-14 in the fourth quarter, before Ranger running back Brenton Heeter sealed a win breaking loose for a 59-yard touchdown run with under three minutes to play.
Heeter led the powerful run attack with 109 yards on 14 carries and a pair of touchdowns. Romero added 69 yards with two scores of his own.
Perryton (3-5 overall) improves to 2-1 in District 2-4A Division II. Lubbock Estacado (4-6, 3-1) clinched the outright title with a 41-24 win Friday against Levelland, but the Rangers can claim second place if they can beat Borger on Friday.
Perryton 28, Seminole 14
Seminole 7 7 — 14
Perryton 7 7 7 7 — 28
