Happy’s TS Bow is wrapped up by Westbrook tacklers during a Class 1A Division I state semifinal game in Slaton Friday night. [Johnna Reynolds/ Texas 1A Fan]
The Happy Cowboys were hoping their third trip to the state semifinals would be a charm but the Westbrook Wildcats ran wild in a 54-20 semifinal victory Friday night Tiger Field in Slaton to advance to the Class 1A state title game.
Happy ends a fantastic season at 10-4 overall.
Cedric Ware, the junior spread back for Westbrook, haunted the Cowboys all night long racking up 258 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Westbrook went into the half with a 32-12 lead looking to put the Cowboys away. The Cowboys, as they have done all post season long, fought back. After holding Westbrook on their initial drive of the second half, Pace Bressler rumbled for 38 yards to get Happy to within 32-20. On the next possession Tryce Johnson picked off a Shammah Stark pass and returned it to the Wildcat 36-yard line giving the Cowboys an opportunity to close to within a score. However, facing a 4th and 5 at the 26, Bressler’s pass went incomplete and Ware made Happy pay two plays later with a 58-yard sprint for a score and a Wildcat 38-20 lead that Happy was unable to come back from.
The Cowboys found the Wildcat defense tough to score against failing to capitalize on three first and goal situations during the game. The vaunted Cowboy rushing attack was held to 102 yards rushing led by Pace Bressler’s 71 yards on 18 carries. Happy found some success through the air with Camden Sperry going 10-of-19 for 177 yards and a score. Kyton Johnson hauled in five of those balls for 104 yards.
Westbrook (10-4) will now face the winner between May and Abbott on Dec. 15, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the Class 1A Division I crown.