Both Motley County and Follett took care of business to set up a big Region I showdown next week.  Motley, behind another 300+ yard rushing performance from Kyler Degan (29-371, 6 TDs), defeated Anton 82-68.  Follett took advantage of turnovers and came up with big red zone defensive stops and walked away with a convincing 62-22 win over Whitharral.

The biggest upset from the second round of the 1A playoffs has to be Jayton’s drumming of highly ranked Blackwell.  The game was tight at the end of the first half with Jayton up 22-12, but the second half was all Jaybirds as they outscored the Hornets 44-6 to win via the mercy rule 68-18 late in the fourth quarter.  Pecos Smith had an outstanding night for Jayton as he scored six touchdowns on seven offensive touches, five of those in the second half including an amazing 40-yard touchdown run in invoke the mercy rule.  Pecos galloped for three scores with 80 yards on four carries, lassoed in three passes all for touchdowns totaling 48 yards, and defensively he corralled 16 Hornets.

Grandfalls-Royalty scored the game winning touchdown with 9 second left in the game to defeat Lueders-Avoca 65-60.  Grandfalls scored the first points of the game, but Lueders quickly responded and took a lead shortly after that and held that lead up until the very end.  Up 60-55 with under two minutes to play the Raiders, backed up against their own end zone ran a play that took them back into the end zone that had two forward passes, the result of which was a penalty resulting in a safety and a free kick giving the Cowboys one last possession to try to win it.  Lead by Spread back Oscar Olivas Grandfalls marched down field and with 9 seconds left facing a fourth and goal from the nine, Olivas, with two defenders hanging on him stretched out into the end zone for what proved to be the game winner.  Olivas finished with 275 yards, six touchdowns rushing and 196 yards with three touchdowns passing.

In the only TXHSFB game on Turkey Day top ranked Strawn had no problems with Walnut Springs winning 62-8 and moving to 10-2 on the season.  JW Montgomery had two pick sixes in the contest for the Greyhounds.  Similarly, in the other game in Region III Iredell who defeated Fannindel 58-13 to set up a much anticipated regional championship game with Strawn this Friday night in Hico, Texas.  Hunter Sheffield had a big night for the Dragons rushing for 165 yards and four touchdowns on just eight carries and going 1-2 passing for 40 yards and a TD.

In Region IV Richland Springs edged Calvert 60-47 to advance to the quarter-finals yet again (16th time in 20 seasons) and Oakwood dealt Blanket the first loss of the season, 51-6, knocking the Tigers out of the playoffs.  Key Davis rushed for 159 yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries of Oakwood.  Garret Bean led the Panther defense with 14 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery returned for a TD.  This regional final should be a good one!

McLean keeps rolling as they pour on the points to defeat Aspermont 86-38 and advance to the Region I championship game against district foe White Deer.  RB Ben Crockett rushed for 295 yards and eight touchdowns on just 15 carries for the Tigers and hauled in two passes for 42 yards and one touchdown receiving for good measure in the victory.  White Deer was able to get and maintain a comfortable lead on Ira to win 68-42 in a hard fought game.  The Bucks running game was on point as Kason Vigil logged 265 yards and six TDs on the ground on 17 carries and Gage Freeman added 191 yards and two TDs on 18 carries the pair accounting for 456 or their teams 504 yards on the ground.

In Regin II action:  Garden City beat Borden County in dominate fashion 60-14 knocking the two time defending champions out of the playoffs. Offensively for the Bearkats Amando Alegria recorded over 200 yards of total offense (147 rushing, 62 passing) rushing for three scores and passing for another.  Defensively Cesar Chavez notched 14 tackles to lead the team.  Garden City will now face Balmorhea, who defeated Ropes 58-8, in a rematch of a week three contest which GC won 53-32.

Milford and Union Hill both won the respective games in Region III; Milford beat Aquilla 56-18 behind a solid performance by Taron Smith who rushed for 200 yards and three touchdowns on just seven carries and was 5/6 passing for 67 yards with three TDs.  Corbin Schrotke led the Bulldog defense with 15 tackles.  Union Hill defeated Blum 62-16 behind the rushing attack of Keelon Caffey who rushed for 294 yards and seven touchdowns on 22 carries, accounting for all of his teams rushing stats.  The regional championship game Battle of the Bulldogs will be a great one in Kaufman Friday night!

Leakey and Gorman went home victors in Region IV action.  Leakey edged out May 40-30 behind another solid performance by Hunter Williams (18-141 yards, 2 TDs rushing; 107 yards passing; 20 tackles).  One of the biggest plays of the game was a 80 yard INT returned for a touchdown by the Eagles Abel Montoya.  Gorman squeaked past Nueces Canyon 48-44.  Nueces Canyon led 38-36 at the half, but in a defensive battle Gorman outscored NC 12-6 in the second half to claim the victory.  Bryce Petree scored four touchdowns for Gorman (3 rushing, 1 receiving) and Justice Fischer scored three rushing touchdowns as well.  Junior Madera accounted for the bulk of the running game with 30 carries for 155 yards.