It is said that watching a Six-man game is more like watching a track meet, and the Booker Kiowas and Springlake-Earth Wolverines proved as much in a UIL Class 1A Division I bi-district matchup Friday night at Roughriders Stadium in Boys Ranch.
Reydn Rosales and Korbyn Vance of Booker came out victorious in the races, amassing 493 of the teams 557 yards of offense in a wild 75-58 Kiowas victory.
“This was a great win,” Booker head coach David Biddler said. “I’m so happy for our seniors, the team, and the town of Booker. Being back-to-back bi-district gold ball champions is amazing.”
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The Kiowas (9-2) are now headed to the regional semifinals and will get a showdown with Whiteface (9-2) at a time and place to be determined. Whiteface was victorious in its opening round playoff contest by beating Grady 58-36. This is also a rematch from last year’s second round where the Antelopes ended Booker’s season.
“Coach (Shane) Woods and Coach (Damian) DeSantiago have done a great job all year for us,” Biddler said. “They will have the team ready for our opponent. We will watch film, compete, and hopefully play a great game on both sides of the ball.”
The Wolverines were looking to avenge a loss in this exact matchup last season, and were able to start strong and fast. Earth senior spread back Froylan Agundiz put his team on the board just three plays into the game. Facing a third and 9, Agundiz rushed 66 yards for a TD and the early 6-0 lead.
The Kiowas matched that energy with a three-play drive, culminating with a 37-yard Axle Valdivia touchdown pass to Vance. The extra-point attempt was no good leaving the game tied at 6-6.
Agundiz began the next drive with a 36-yard rush, and ended it on the next play with a 14-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Robert Flores. The extra point kick was good for a 14-6 Wolverine lead.
The Kiowas fumbled at the Earth 14-yard line on the opening play of the next drive. However, they did not allow a Wolverine first down, getting the ball back on a turnover on downs.
Kiowa senior Marco Flores would find Rosales three plays later for a 71-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was no good, leaving the Kiowas down 14-12.
It would again take Agundiz just two plays to find Flores in the end zone with a 43 scoring toss and a 20-12 lead.
Booker got the final score of the opening quarter on the opening play of drive when Valdivia found Rosales with a 59-yard scoring pass. Flores’ extra-point kick was good for a 20-20 score heading into the second.
Agundiz opened the second quarter with a 17-yard scoring toss to junior Bryan Longoria. The extra-point kick was good for a 28-20 Earth lead.
Booker then began to unravel and commit turnovers on its next two drives, while not stopping the Wolverines on either of their drives.
Four plays into their next drive, Earth senior Donovan Striggers strutted in from 10-yards out for a score. The extra-point attempt was good for a 36-20 Earth lead. Agundiz would then lead an 8-play drive ending with a 17-yard touchdown pass to junior Kayla Frietze.
The ensuing kickoff return would change the game for the Kiowas.
Rosales took the kickoff 65 yards for a touchdown just four seconds before the half ended. The Kiowas went to the locker room down 42-28.
“We knew what they were going to do, and we just did not execute on defense in the first half,” Biddler said.
Booker received the second half kickoff, and took just four plays for Flores to find Rosales’ younger brother Haydn in the end zone on a 5-yard pass. Flores’ kick was good leaving his team trailing 42-36.
“We finally made some plays and got those stops we missed in the first half,” Biddler said. “However, the kickoff return right before halftime and then scoring on the opening drive of the second half changed our momentum.”
The Kiowas then forced a turnover on downs, and run some time off the clock while driving the ball 75 yards downfield with Flores finding R. Rosales in pay dirt. Flores’ extra point would give Booker their first lead of the game at 44-42 to end the third quarter.
The Kiowas started the fourth again forcing a turnover on downs. Three plays later R. Rosales dashed in from 12-yards out for a Kiowa score. The extra point put the Kiowas up 52-42.
Kiowa senior Brayland Gonzales would seal the game for his team when he recovered the ensuing onside kick.
“The onside kick we recovered definitely sealed the gamed, and let us go ahead and put it out of reach,” Biddler stated.
On the first play of the next drive R. Rosales dashed 34 yards for a score. Flores extra point kick put the Kiowas up 59-42.
Agundiz scored two more times for the Wolverines, but the Kiowas answered both times with scoring drives for the win.
R. Rosales ended the game with 11 carries for 198 yards and four scores, and four receptions for 184 yards and three scores. Vance grabbed five receptions for 111 yards and two scores, and H. Rosales had two receptions for 19 yards and a score.
Valdivia threw for 129 yards and two TDs, while Flores threw for 174 yards and three touchdowns. The two also combined for 45 yards rushing.