LUBBOCK – Over the past several years, plenty of points were scored between West Plains and Estacado.
Since the two sides first faced off against one another in 2022, a total of 179 points had already been tallied. In all three previous meetings, the Wolves have come out on top.
That trend indeed continued, as the No. 2-ranked (Class 4A-Division I) Wolves outpaced the Matadors with a 63-34 final score on Friday at Lowery Field at PlainsCapital Park.
Senior quarterback Reid Macon and junior running back Slade Russell provided the balance for the highly talented West Plains offense. Macon was 19-of-24 for 247 yards with two touchdowns, while rushing for 43 yards and four more scores. Russell racked up 191 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries.
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Senior Cedric Ross was explosive for the Matadors, accounting for a majority of Estacado’s points. By game’s end, the Colorado State commit rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns, and picked up 150 receiving yards and one trip to the endzone.
The Wolves moved to 3-0 overall, the best start in the program’s young history.
West Plains returns home next Friday, when the Wolves welcome Bushland into Happy State Bank Stadium in Canyon. The Falcons (1-2) fell to Midland Christian in a 27-24 overtime heartbreaker on Friday at Gordon Awtry Field in Midland.
Estacado dipped down to a 1-2 record.
The Mats will look to bounce back, facing off against Sweetwater next Friday at the Mustang Bowl in Sweetwater. The Mustangs (1-2) have lost two of their opening three games, following a 58-7 road setback against Seminole on Friday.
Estacado was the first side to score, when Ross tore through the West Plains defense on the first play from scrimmage for an 80-yard touchdown. Following the successful PAT from Javian Torres at the 11:42 mark, the Mats opened the game with a seven point advantage.
The home side’s lead quickly evaporated, though, as West Plains put together a methodical march down the field in response. Macon struck paydirt from two yards out, as the Wolves tied up the game at 7-7 with 5:41 left in the initial stanza.
The Wolves then forced Estacado into a pair of three-and-outs and put up two more scores. Macon connected with senior wideout Lawson Betancourt for a 32-yard touchdown with 22 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Then, with 6:51 left until halftime, Macon used his legs to score from one yard out.
Halfway through the second, West Plains presided over a 21-7 lead.
Estacado responded 14 seconds later, thanks to a 70-yard touchdown run from Ross. The thrilling play allowed the Mats to get within one score of West Plains.
The Wolves were unfazed, though, finishing off with their next two drives with touchdowns.
At the 3:17 mark, Macon connected with senior Kane White-Tinsley for a 17-yard touchdown. A little more than a minute later, senior Kaden Hooker returned an interception for a 90-yard touchdown.
By the two-minute timeout, the Wolves had built up a 35-14 lead.
Before the break, Estacado did see Ward and Ross connect for a 62-yard touchdown pass. The PAT failed with 1:07 on the clock, which thinned the West Plains lead to 35-20 heading into intermission.
Returning to the field, Ross provided Estacado with a 90-yard touchdown run with 6:41 on the clock. Despite another failed PAT, Ross’ fourth TD narrowed the Wolves’ lead to nine points at 35-26.
West Plains answered, as Russell plunged into the endzone from one away with 1:53 to go in the third period. Macon produced another score with 10:22 left, followed by another rushing touchdown with 5:20 remaining.
At that point, the Wolves stretched their lead to 30 points at 56-26.
Estacado saw Ward connect with Donivan Torres from nine yards out with 3:09 left. West Plains provided the finishing touch with Hooker scoring on a 19-yard rush to seal the victory.
Aiding Macon and Russell was White-Tinsley, who snagged six receptions for 89 yards and one TD. Along with his pick six, Hooker caught five passes for 43 yards. On defense, senior linebacker Brycen Williams recorded two quarterback sacks.
For the Mats, Ward collected 140 passing yards.