WHEELER – There is something to be said about how dangerous a team can be when an offense and defense click all at the same time.
That’s what the Wheeler Mustangs had working for themselves with a balanced offense, on top of a suffocating defense that resulted in an extremely impressive 41-21 runaway win against West Texas High in a small school battle Friday night at a packed Nicholson Stadium.
The Mustangs are far from overshadowed at this point and will be a force to be reckoned with in Region II as Wheeler ran its regular season win streak to 10 straight games while starting off a season 4-0 for the first time since 2009.
“Being 4-0 for the first time in 17 years is crazy to think about,” said Hoover, whose team has won 20 of their last 23 games. “Especially when you think of the great tradition Wheeler football has had and some of the great teams we’ve had just in the past 17 years. This team was fired up and wanted to make this happen.”
West Texas High saw its Texas Panhandle-best 13-game regular season win streak come to a halt Friday as the Comanches fell to 3-1. WT High’s last loss came on Nov. 8 of 2024 to Sunray, 52-16.
The third quarter is where Wheeler took total command. WT High made it close for a brief moment thanks to a 65-yard pick-six from Callan Graves, who cutoff an Israel Andrade pass which shaved the Mustang lead to 15-14 with 8:33 to play in the third, but from that point forward it was a Wheeler beatdown.
Wheeler answered immediately on the next drive. Behind a physical offensive line, running back Chris Gallardo got loose, galloping for 43-yards to get inside the Comanche 5-yard line. That help set up a Braxton McDonald score from 5-yards out putting the Mustangs up 21-14. On Wheeler’s next drive, it was the same thing. Wheeler went back to work on the ground with McDonald getting free for a 40-yard scamper back inside the WT High 10-yard line that resulted in an Andrade 5-yard touchdown, giving the Mustangs a commanding 28-14 advantage.
In the fourth, Wheeler then went to put the game away. Andrade and receiver Bryce Hill had quite the connection on the night and it was sealed with a 68-yard strike from Andrade to Hill as the Mustangs went up 35-14 at the 9:12 mark which was part of 27 unanswered second half points for Wheeler.
“We only threw it 10 times, but when we did we were effective,” Hoover said. “I think our offense was our best defense. The balance was so big for us. We were able to throw it down field to Bryce Hill and we won those matchups. Israel Andrade won his matchups and we have three sophomore offensive lineman that are coming into their own. They did a good job of being physical and opening holes.”
Believe it or not, Wheeler had to overcome a sluggish start. WT High scored on its first possession on a 50-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brady Layne to Zach Bryant putting the Comanches up 6-0. The Comanches were then able to get a safety to take an 8-0 lead late in the first quarter.
However, the Mustangs got things going towards the latter part of the second quarter. Trailing 8-0, Andrade sparked the offense with his feet and then used his arm to roll and connect with Hill for a 22-yard pitch and catch that put Wheeler on the board. Following a two-point conversion, the Mustangs tied the game, 8-8, and never trailed again.
Wheeler took the lead for good on the following possession. Getting a key interception from Jax Allen with just under three minutes to go before half, Wheeler took over at midfield and went right to work. Not three plays into the ensuing drive, Andrade dropped back and threw a perfect strike to Hill, who juggled the reception but held on to make an amazing snag inside the Comanche 5-yard. Moments later, Andrade kept it himself, punching it in from 2-yards out that put Wheeler up 15-8 at the break.
Andrade ended his outstanding effort going 4-of-10 through the air for 148 yard with the two touchdown passes to Hill. Andrade also added two rushing scores. Hill had three receptions for 130 yards with the two TDs from Andrade. Wheeler piled up 268 yards on the ground led by Braxton McDonald. McDonald was a workhorse, toting the ball 28 times for a game-high 149 yards. Chris Gallardo tacked on 49 yards.
Defensively, the Mustangs kept the Comanches out of sync from the first quarter on with Jaxxn Allen nabbing two interceptions and McDonald getting a 32-yard interception return for a score. Wheeler held the Comanches to just 75 yards rushing, and under 200 yards passing. The Mustang defense stifled the Comanches to 5-of-14 on third downs and just 2-of-5 on fourth down conversions. Gallardo made 12 tackles on the night and teammate Diego Soto tallying 17 tackles with a forced fumble.
“We had to sell out on defense in this game and we did,” Hoover said. “We knew if we were physical that would open up some things and that could get them to make mistakes. These guys play angry and we just hope for one more play on defense to get mistakes and those things happened. I’m super proud of the effort we had on both sides of the ball.”
WT High’s Zach Bryant did have six catches for 127 yards with two scores. The junior linebacker was also in on 15 tackles.
Photo gallery by Tucker Stroud:
