FLOYDADA — Throughout the 2025 season, the West Texas High football team thrives from running the rock and chewing up the clock. Heading into the Class 2A Division I regional semifinals, New Home leaned on its playmakers and a little postseason determination.
To go one step further, those forces had to collide. Under an overcast sky and a cold wind, however, the elements played to the Comanches’ advantage.
WT High relied on its ground game before defeating the Leopards by way of a 26-19 decision on Friday afternoon at Charles Tyer Stadium. The game almost became a back-and-forth battle between New Home and the Comanches, before a fumble recovery by WT High senior Kooper Hernandez on the Leopards’ goal line shifted the momentum in WT High’s favor.
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The Comanches also dished up 370 rushing yards, as senior quarterback Cayde Winters led the way with 217 yards and three touchdowns on 41 carries. Senior Kelby Sherwood rushed for 152 yards and one touchdown on 24 attempts.
Furthermore, WT High was a perfect 7-of-7 at converting fourth downs.
“When we have the football, we’ve done a good job of moving the chains and keeping the clock moving,” said Jeff Smith, WT High head coach. “Over the past three weeks, it’s been all about trying to get those defensive stops. The kids are awesome, and I can’t be prouder for the way they do things.”
The Comanches maintained their unblemished record, improving to 13-0 overall. They also returned to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2018.
In the Class 2A Division I Region I Championship, WT High will now prepare for Cisco. The matchup between the Comanches and Loboes is set for 6 p.m. this coming Friday at Pirate Stadium at First United Park in Woodrow.
On Friday afternoon at the same venue, the Loboes (12-1) outlasted Spearman with a 28-20 outcome.
According to Winters, it will take what the Comanches have been working on all season — polishing up on the minuscule things.
“It takes preparation, and (working on) the little things at practice,” Winters said, following his performance. “I’ll say it 1,000 times. It takes showing up, being consistent and asking questions. That’s what we’ve lived by the whole year. We’re 13-0, so it’s working.”
For New Home, the season came to a bitter end with a 10-3 record. In achieving the Leopards’ third double-digit victory season in four years, head coach Jon Ward tipped his cap to his senior class.
“I can’t say enough about those guys,” Ward said. “They’ve left this program better than they’ve found it. I can’t say enough about their leadership — just how they handle themselves day to day, and responding to things when it goes their way and responding when things don’t go their way.”
“Two good football teams played here,” added Ward. “We made more mistakes and ended up on the wrong side of it.”
The Leopards struck first, as senior quarterback Brayson Beck provided a 12 touchdown pass to senior tight end Avin Madrid with 8:54 left in the opening stanza.
WT High responded, putting together a methodical march before Winters scored a seven-yard touchdown run with 3:47 remaining in the first quarter. The two-point conversion was stopped short, and New Home held onto a narrow 7-6 lead into the second period.
New Home aimed to build onto their lead, made possible by a 36-yard run from senior running back Ryder Starkey. Positioned at the WT High one yard line, the Leopards looked to extend their advantage.
In the handoff between Beck and senior Colby Cook, the football popped out of the latter’s hands. Hernandez pounced on the pigskin, placing the Comanches on their own five yard line.
“It’s a great job by Kooper and a great job by everybody,” Smith said, praising the defense as a whole. “When we get a stop and get the ball, (our opponents) aren’t going to get it back for a while. That’s something that we talk about a lot.”
WT High cashed in on the opportunity, completing their drive with a 34-yard touchdown run from Sherwood. Even though the conversion was again stopped short, WT High held a 12-7 lead with 7:32 left until intermission.
With 16 seconds before the break, the Comanches tacked on another score. This time, Winters followed his blockers for a three-yard touchdown. At halftime, WT High latched onto an 18-7 lead.
Returning from the break, both sides traded possessions. Late in the third, New Home got within five. On a second and goal, Starkey punched through for a one-yard touchdown run.
The Leopards went for two, but the pass from Starkey to Beck fell incomplete. Trailing 18-13, New Home sought to trim that lead a little bit further.
To Ward, the moment reminded him of the Leopards’ come-from-behind victory over Stamford in the area round.
“We were in a similar position this last week, and we told (the players) we weren’t out of it,” said Ward. “We told them to continue to fight and respond the right way. In the second half, (WT High) did a great job of keeping the ball away from our offense.”
The Comanches countered with a time consuming drive, which culminated in a four yard touchdown run from Winters. With 5:37 left and a successful two-point conversion, WT High extended their lead to two scores at 26-13.
“We didn’t focus on getting chunk plays,” Winters said of the scoring drive. “It was about getting three or four yards to keep getting first downs and to keep the clock rolling.”
New Home did cut into the lead once more, which came from a seven yard score from Cook. The PAT sailed wide right, though, only granting the Leopards six points.
With 2:44 remaining, the Leopards cut their deficit down to seven at 26-19. New Home attempted the onside kick, which was reeled in by Hernandez.
WT High, aided by hard running and a New Home penalty, proceeded to run out the clock.
Along with his 217 yards and three TDs, Winters was 2-of-3 passing. Sophomore Zach Bryant collected one catch for five yards.
Beck was 6-of-8 for 60 yards and one score. Overall, the Leopards compiled 174 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries.
Cisco ends Spearman’s postseason run in the Class 2A Division I regional semifinals
Following three rough seasons, the Spearman football team set their sights on turning things around.
The Lynx did just that, and for the first time in a half-decade, they returned to the regional semifinal round. Spearman finishs a nice turnaround season with an 8-5 overall record.
The Cinderella run came to an end, though, as Spearman fell short against Cisco in a close 28-20 final score on Friday afternoon at Pirate Stadium at First United Park in Woodrow.
Spearman scored first, but fell behind. Despite the Lynx’s best efforts for an upset, the Loboes kept their postseason run alive by maintaining their lead. Eventually, Cisco ran out the clock.
Junior Jailen Vasquez put in a herculean effort for the Lynx. Vasquez was 12-of-19 for 152 yards, and put up 92 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. On defense, Vasquez totaled eight tackles and one stop for a loss on defense.
Alongside Vasquez, senior receiver Hudson Swan put together a solid performance for the Lynx by snagging 10 catches for 116 yards and one touchdown. Junior Vlad Caro recorded nine tackles, with one stop for a loss. Freshman Julian Leyva contributed with seven tackles, with one tackle for a loss.