Booker edges McLean

A year ago, these two teams matched up in a high scoring affair that saw the Kiowas scoring till the very end notching a 93-49 victory. Fast forward a year and these same squads found themselves in a defensive struggle, but the winner remained the same as Booker (1-1) held on to beat McLean, 20-14, Friday night before a cold and wet crowd at Booker.

Things started out quickly as Reydn Rosales raced in for a 27-yard score, his first of two on the night, to give the Kiowas a quick 8-0 lead 88 seconds into the game.  That’s when the defenses stiffened until just before half.

With 1:24 remaining before half, the Tigers (0-2) drove down the field and Carter Jones capped off the drive from one yard out send this one to half tied at eight.

Defenses continued to dominate in the third quarter but, with 3:06 left, Rosales turned in the play of the game.  With the ball at the McLean 35, the Kiowas pitched the ball back to the speedy senior who immediately found himself in trouble trying to go around the right end. After breaking two tackles in the backfield, Rosales kept retreating into Booker territory where he broke two more tackles at the 36 and found daylight.  Racing down the sideline in front of the home crowd he avoided one last tackle before hitting paydirt and giving Booker a 14-8 lead.

On the next drive this game landed in Booker’s lap as Wyatt Hagler threw an interception at midfield to Axel Valdivia who raced 35 yards to set up a first and goal for the Kiowas offense. Two plays later, and the first play of the fourth quarter, Marco Flores hit Brayland Gonzales from four yards to extend the lead to 20-8.

McLean scored midway through the fourth but was unable to punch it in on their last two drives with the last one ending up three yards short on fourth down at the Booker 16.

Rosales hit the century mark on the night gaining 100 yards on 14 carries. McLean’s Stran Henderson was a workhorse for the Tigers toting the ball 18 times for 119 yards.

Gordon looks impressive against Valley

It didn’t take long for top ranked Gordon (2-0) to show why they are the defending state champs.  After fielding the onside kick to start the game, Stryker Reed, an Air Force commit, rambled 44 yards to paydirt and the Longhorns never looked back as they beat Valley, 64-14, Friday night in Valley via the 45-point mercy rule.

Riding a 31-game winning streak heading into this game, Gordon was far from finished in the first quarter as they held the Patriots (0-2) on downs and Noah Kostiha found Brayden Walters, their first of two scoring strikes on the night, from 22-yards out and went up 14-0.  

After forcing the Valley offense off the field with a turnover on downs, the Longhorns had to run four plays before Army commit Ry Reed plunged in from four yards out for a 22-0 lead. 

Aiden Shank then finished things off in the quarter with a 65-yard pick six and Gordon took a 36-0 lead into the second.  After that play most of the starters found a seat on the bench as the Longhorns played a large portion of their second team the remainder of the night.

The highlight of the night for Valley was the passing game.  Carson Tucker finished the night with 205 yards through the air while Damian Valdes made his presence known by taking short passes and rumbling 57 and 34-yards to paydirt as he finished with five receptions and 136 yards.

Walters caught four balls for 148 yards and three scores for the Longhorns while Kostiha completed all four passes for 133 yards and three touchdowns.

The two-time defending state champs are now 44-1 since 2022 and look poised to three-peat this season behind the Reed duo and Walters.

Bucks defense thwarts Pirates

Ruben Guerrero is back at the helm in his second stint for his alma mater and the veteran coach has his team flying high as they notched a 54-8 victory Thursday night at home against Lefors.

The Bucks (2-0) were up 12-8 with two minutes left in the first when the wheels fell off the bus for the Pirates (1-1).  Joe Johnson avoided a sack and found Aydin Madron open on a dump off pass. Madron picked up five yards before a hustling Caynden Mynear clubbed his arm from behind to knock the ball loose and Foster Black recovered it at the Pirates 37.

The White Deer offense then took advantage of the short field as Black rolled right and found Lucas Radina open at the goal line and hit him between two defenders from 16 yards out.  That score widened the lead to 18-8 with just six seconds gone in the second quarter.   

Just over four minutes later the Bucks struck paydirt again. Logan Matlock rolled out to the wide side of the field and found Isaac Lanham leaking out from his end position. The senior caught the ball at the 22 and avoided two defenders at the five to waltz in for the score and a 26-8 lead with 5:38 remaining in the half.

On the very next play from scrimmage Mynear’s hustle put the game away. After Johnson avoided his initial rush, he floated to his right looking to find an open receiver down field. The Bucks track star chased the play down from behind and separated Johnson from the ball as he was attempting to pass, scooped it up at the eleven and raced untouched into the end zone to put this one away.

Mynear forced two fumbles on the evening and registered eight tackles while Matlock stacked up 13 stops including one for a loss as they held Lefors to 107 total yards. On the offensive side, Black led the ground game with 111 yards and two scores on only nine attempts.

Guerrero’s quick starting Bucks hit the road next week as they take on Amarillo San Jacinto as they attempt to go to 3-0 for the first time since 2022.

Upstarts Boys Ranch and Hart win again

Last year, Boys Ranch and Hart combined to go winless on the season while suffering 18 losses with twelve of those coming via the 45-point mercy rule.  However, don’t tell that to this year’s squads as both teams are now 2-0 to start the season.

Thursday night at home, the Roughriders made mincemeat out of Lazbuddie (0-1) notching a 60-0 win.  Up 7-0 in the first, Isaac Acosta found Jacobe Gonzales in the middle of the field at the 35 and he avoided a tackler before sprinting the rest of the way for the score.

On the next possession Acosta went to work again hitting Cord’e Jackson on a 32-yard bomb and a 19-0 lead.  Jackson then had a scoop and score from 50-yards out to widen the lead to 26 in the first quarter and the Roughriders cruised from there.

Acosta finished the night with 270 yards in the air and five scoring strikes while Gonzales scored both times he caught the ball and registered 104 yards.  Jackson was a menace on defense with six tackles, two fumble recoveries and an interception with two scores on the defensive side of the ball.

After notching a 46-0-win last week against the West Texas Tornadoes, the Longhorns did much the same Friday night on the road against Amarillo FFC. Hart registered its second straight shutout with a 48-0 win against the Lions (1-1).

That victory marks the first time Hart has started the season 2-0 since their inaugural season in six-man in 2006.

Week two quick hits

It’s been a rough start for Happy (0-2) as they faced a tough Whiteface (1-1) team on the road and fell 55-0. The shutout marked the first time they have gone scoreless in back-to-back games in a season since they entered the Six-Man ranks in 2000.

The Swifts (0-2) tried to stun the state by upsetting Borden County (2-0) but a strong final nine minutes by the Coyotes was the difference as they won 60-26 Friday night in Nazareth. Leading 34-26 with nine minutes remaining in the game, the Coyotes reeled off 26 straight points to put this one away.

Paducah (2-0) was too much at home for Springlake-Earth (0-2) downing the Wolverines 73-24 while Kress (2-0) toppled Wellman-Union (1-1) 54-32 to remain undefeated on the season.

Noah Homfeld had a rushing, receiving and kick off return touchdown Thursday night as Miami (2-0) toppled Rotan (1-1) 62-6 in Yellowhammer country.

Claude (2-0) continues to roll with a 54-6 win against Petersburg (0-2) at home Friday night.

Groom (1-1) notched their first win of the season with a 58-14 victory over Hedley (0-1). San Jacinto Christian Academy (2-0) backed up its big victory last week with a 28-16 win over the Lubbock Titans (0-2).

Silverton (0-2) is off to a rough start falling to Northside (1-0) 64-18 and Lorenzo (0-2) lost its second straight nail-biter, 69-58, against Guthrie (1-1).

Greg Johnson notched 124 yards on the ground as Whitharral (2-0) ran by Veribest (0-2), 46-0.

Benjamin (2-0) dispatched of Follett (0-2) at home, 64-12 and Amarillo PCHEA (1-1) dumped Wildorado (0-2) 73-27.

Lubbock Christ the King (2-0) dispatched of Amherst (0-2) 60-13 while Lubbock Kingdom Prep (2-0) had no problem with Anton (0-2), downing the Bulldogs 62-12.

Statewide roundup

In the biggest game of the week across the state, it was No. 7 Richland Springs (1-1), out of Division II, who took the lead 14-8 with four minutes left in the first and picked up a hard fought 42-14 win over No. 9-ranked May (1-1) in Division I.

Union Hill’s EJ Mowery continues to be a one-man wrecking ball as the senior passed for 283 yards and six scores while rushing for 155 and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs (2-0) downed Crowley Nazarene Christian (0-2) squad, 66-16.

Sophomore sensation TC Hennig ran for five touchdowns and 194 yards while tacking on 15 tackles and an interception as Division I No. 7 Aquilla (2-0) beat Perrin-Whitt (1-1), 60-12.

Also in Division I, No. 2-ranked Water Valley (2-0) beat Hermleigh (1-1) 56-8, and No. 3 Newcastle (2-0) destroyed Crowell (0-2) 73-0. Eighth ranked Rankin (2-0) notched its second straight shutout, 46-0, over Irion County (0-2) and No. 10 Westbrook (2-0) beat up on Jonesboro (1-1), 64-16.