This matchup had it all. Five lead changes, constant momentum swings, and saw Bobcat quarterback Armando Lujan, fitting to his demeanor, quietly set the new UIL state passing record for yards in a career.
In this battle of unbeatens, Sunray suffers its first and only loss of the season ending 2024 at 12-1 while the Antelopes remain perfect at 13-0.
“I’m thrilled for this team,” Post head football coach John Wright said. “No one thought we’d win this game. We focus on ourselves a lot, but on gameday we pull out the dirt being said about us. Nobody has counted us in since day one. We weren’t even picked to make the playoffs by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. We’re 13-0 right now. This team has overachieved all year and we knew we could do it.”
Post is now set to take on another heavy weight in Stamford (13-0) in the state quarterfinals at a time and place to be determined.
Sunray had taken a 31-27 lead at the 1:23 mark of the third quarter off a Lujan to Dawson Bennett scoring connection of 35-yards. After the Bobcats forced the Antelopes to punt on the ensuing possession, the Bobcats had the ball back in hopes of a put away drive.
However, the tide turned in a hurry back to Post. With just over 7:30 to play in the fourth, Sunray had the ball at its own 35-yard line. Lujan eyed a pass over the middle into Antelope territory, but it was picked off by Kayandre Jefferson who returned it 30 yards to the Bobcat 25-yard line.
On the next play, Post made Sunray pay with standout running back Ian Vergara sprinting past the line and winning a foot race for his fifth and final touchdown of the night that gave the Antelopes the 34-31 advantage.
Sunray had one final shot with under five minutes to play after getting Post off the field with 4:23 left. The Bobcats took over just inside the Antelopes territory but couldn’t gain any momentum turning it over on downs with 2:46 to play. Without a timeout left, Post was able to run out the clock to get the massive victory.
“I thought this was a great football game, but things didn’t go our way,” Sunray head coach Wes Boatmun said. “Give credit to Post. Their kids fought to the end, and they had a great gameplan. It was their night.”
The Bobcats put themselves in an early 13-0 hole highlighted by a key fumble on a kickoff return and were 1-for-5 on extra points.
The Bobcats defense also didn’t have an answer for the speedy Vergara – who led the South Plains all season with over 2,500 plus yards rushing entering the contest.
Post won the battle in the trenches with its offensive line and the explosive Vergara made the Bobcats pay chewing Sunray up for 236 yards rushing on 32 carries including breaking a 90-yard touchdown run down the sideline in the third quarter.
“Ian has been a gamechanger all year,” Wright said. “He’s a special athlete and I love him to death. He’s the smallest player on the field but he’s tougher than a wood hauler. He takes some licks and just keeps on moving.”
Boatmun echoed Wright’s comments.
“We gave up big plays that we don’t normally do,” Boatmun said. “They kept us confused a good part of the game and executed their gameplan. We had a couple goals going in and we didn’t accomplish that. Vergara is an exceptional running back and we didn’t contain him. We also turned the ball over.”
Sunray’s four-year starting quarterback and team leader Armando Lujan needed just 117 yards to break Booker’s Hunter Lile (14,408) record to become the all-time leading passer in the state of Texas for yards in a career.
Lujan went to work getting 58 yards passing on his opening drive. On the second drive of the game, Lujan chipped away until breaking the record on a 52-yard scoring connection to Kagan Davis to open the second quarter that tied the game, 13-13.
Lujan, who seemed to be playing through injury in the second half, finished the contest going 23-of-39 for 309 yards with three touchdown tosses to one interception.
Lujan ended his prolific high school career throwing for an astounding 14,600 career yards.
“Armando has meant so much to this program,” Boatmun said. “I think what I take from this record the most is don’t let anyone label you. If you have a dream and desire that no one thinks you can do, show them you can do it. I’m proud of Armando and the record he broke.”
Connor Petereit led the Bobcats with eight catches for 111 yards and a score.