District 2-1A Division I

Happy rides defense to win

Behind a defense that racked up three scores, Happy took down rival Nazareth 62-14 on Friday night at Swifts Stadium to capture the outright District 2-1A Division I championship.

With the win, the Cowboys (9-1 overall, 4-0 in district) will make a playoff appearance for the 12th time in the last 13 years and nabbed their ninth district title in that same timeframe.

The Swifts season comes to an end at 6-4 overall and 2-2 in district.

Happy’s defense made the first big play of the game after pinning the Swifts deep in their own territory. A short pass from Nazareth found its way into the arms of Ryelan King for a four-yard return and score for an 8-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Happy got things going on offense as Braylan King plunged in from one yard out for a 16-0 lead.

The Cowboy defense then made their second big play by tackling the Swifts in the endzone for a safety with 4:35 left in the half. After returning the ensuing free kick to the Nazareth 25-yard line, Braylan King found paydirt on the next play to extend the lead to 24-0.

On the very next Swifts offensive play, Jaxon Stoker stepped in front of a Nazareth pass and took it to the house from 45-yards out to give the Cowboys an insurmountable 32-0 lead.

On the night the Cowboys defense held Nazareth to 99 total yards while registering three touchdowns. Mason Hix was a thorn in the Swifts side all night getting consistent pressure in the backfield while registering two sacks and a scoop and score and taking a kick back 50-yards for a touchdown. Braylan King carried the ball eight times for 81 yards and those two scores.

District 1-1A Division I

Booker, Wildorado prep for playoffs

The final games of the regular season had no impact on the district race as Booker and Wildorado had already sewn up playoff berths last week but both teams continued their winning ways as they head to postseason action.

Booker, the district champ, took out White Deer at Kiowas Stadium on Friday night, 56-0.

The win ensured a nine-win season for the Kiowas (9-1, 4-0), their first since a four-year run from 2011 to 2014 when they won at least nine games all four years and only the sixth time in school history since 1964.

Quarterback Chase Nelson had a solid game for Booker going 7-of-8 through the air for 114 yards and a score while rushing for 42 yards and two touchdowns. Marco Flores was his favorite target hauling in four balls for 81 yards and a score.

Wildorado (6-3, 3-1) secured a 50-19 win over Boys Ranch on Friday night. The Mustangs will be making their third playoff appearance in the six-year history of the school and looking for their first playoff victory ever.

District 5-1A Division I

Valley punches playoff ticket 

A strong second half propelled Valley into the playoffs with a 36-28 win over Petersburg on Friday night at Buffalo Stadium.

The victory by the Patriots (4-6, 3-1) was their fourth in five games after starting the season with five straight losses. The win also secured first-year head coach and former Baltimore Ravens tight end, Crockett Gillmore.

Petersburg (4-6, 2-2) went up 28-14 halfway through the second quarter when Dayln Parraz raced 25-yards for the score. The Buffaloes took that lead to half and looked to be in good shape for a playoff clinching win.

However, Valley began to chip away at the lead with a rushing touchdown midway through the third quarter. After getting the ball back, the Patriots tied it up just before the end of the quarter as Carson Tucker hit Damian Valdez on a scoring pass to tie the game at 28.

After exchanging possessions, Valley put together a playoff securing drive that ended in a touchdown run that ran the score to 36-28 with 4:38 to go in the game. Then the Patriots defense tightened once again and forced a fumble with 1:34 left to secure the win and a playoff spot for Valley.

In other district action, Spur (10-0, 4-0) finished off their regular season without a loss as they had no issues with Lorenzo (4-6, 1-3), taking down the Hornets 52-7 at home.

District 1-1A Division II

Miami nabs playoff berth

Friday night was a big night in Miami as the Warriors were celebrating their delayed Homecoming, senior night and facing a Groom team in a win or go home game.

None of that pomp and circumstance fazed the Warriors (6-3, 2-1) as they captured the second spot in the district with a 64-44 win over the Tigers.

The Warriors held a 22-12 lead at halftime, but it was the third quarter where Miami broke the game open.

That quarter saw the home team rack up 28 points while allowing a single score for Groom (5-5, 1-2) to build a 50-18 lead which was enough for a victory.

Jack Kotara racked up 153 yards on the ground and four scores while Noah Homfeld tacked on 173 yards and two scores.  Kasey Benge led the Warriors defense with 12 tackles.

With everything going on in this one the highlight of the night may have been Breken Early suiting up and kicking for the Warriors. The senior suffered a broken arm in the game against Jonesboro a month ago but has healed quickly enough to help his team out with kicking duties.

District 2-1A Division II

Motley County holds on for district title

Despite McLean’s Stran Henderson putting up a career night, Motley County held on for a 58-38 win at home which secured a district title for the Matadors.

The win also nailed down an undefeated regular season for Motley County at 10-0 overall and 4-0 in league action.

McLean (4-6, 2-2) entered the game needing to win by 21 or more points to nail down a playoff spot which many considered impossible. The Tigers held a slim lead midway through the third quarter before the Matadors pulled away for the win.

Despite the loss, Stran Henderson put up a career night for McLean. The speedy sophomore carried the ball 39 times for 323 yards and five scores.

Around the State

It’s been a week of twists and turns in District 6-1A after Perrin-Whitt beat Knox City last week by six points.

This set up a potential three-way tie atop the district assuming a win for the Pirates and Newcastle this week. However, the district guidelines for a tri-champion left some ambiguity in how the district would determine the top two teams.

On Thursday, the district held a coin flip to determine how to apply the rules which would have Newcastle as the district champion either way but would determine whether the Pirates or Greyhounds would take the second spot. The coin flip resulted in Perrin-Whitt assuming the second spot if both teams won.

On Friday night, Newcastle (6-4, 3-1) took care of Bryson (5-5, 1-3), by a 54-6 count while Perrin-Whitt (7-3, 2-2) took down Northside (4-6, 0-4) easily.

However, during the game, the Pirates administration realized a player had partaken in the game who was ineligible. They self-reported the violation which resulted in a forfeit win and a shake up in the district standings again.

With two losses, Perrin-Whitt was now out of the playoffs and Knox City (7-3, 3-1) assumed the district title and Newcastle fell to second as the Greyhounds picked up a narrow win over the Bobcats earlier in district action.

In District 14-1A, No. 8 Jonesboro took down No. 5 May, 60-30, to take the district title.  The win was a big one for the Eagles (8-1, 3-0) as the runner-up Tigers (9-1, 2-1) must face off with No. 1 Gordon in the bi-district round next week.

No. 3 Abbott claimed the district 11-1A title with a 58-8 blowout over No. 9 Aquilla (9-1, 3-1).

Both teams entered the game undefeated, but it was the Panthers (10-0, 4-0) who made a statement with the big win.

Prairie Lea (8-2, 3-0) wrapped up its first district title in 80 years with a 51-6 over the Rockcrushers from Knippa (2-7, 1-2).

No. 2 Whiteface (10-0, 4-0) grabbed the district 3-1A title with a 90-40 win over perennial power Borden County (6-4, 3-1) Friday night.  In the win, Ethan Kauffmann had another stellar performance.  The bruising runner carried the ball 20 times for 429 yards and nine scores.