Stepp's Thoughts: Brooks Bros, Redemption Time, Thrilling Overtime Win

By Thomas Hays

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Despite the reduced capacity requirements in place at AT&T Stadium for the 2020 state title games, the first full day of games absolutely delivered in Day 2 after an incredible opening night upset in 2A-Division II with Windthorst taking down heavily favored Mart, 22-21.

In the opening game of the day that featured a battle of 2A-Division I unbeaten teams, it was Shiner junior RB/DT Doug Brooks who stole the spotlight as the Comanches completed an unbeaten season with a 42-20 win over Post to win their second state title in school history.

Shiner, who was a wire to wire No. 1 team in the DCTF rankings, finished their mission of winning the state title after a heartbreaking loss to Refugio in the regional finals. Leading 21-0 at the half, Shiner dominated in the second half as Post was without QB Slayden Pittman, who left the game in the second quarter with an injury. Brooks, who ran for 66 yards and a touchdown on offense, also contributed with a blocked punt, which he recovered for a touchdown and a sack and strip of Pittman in the first quarter, where caught the fumble in mid-air and rumbled 19 yards before handing it off to fellow defensive lineman Max Machacek, who finished the job with a touchdown. The selflessness and team spirit of Brooks gesture has already gone viral.

In the afternoon tilt, heavy underdog Franklin didn’t play like it as the Lions pushed Canadian to the brink in a 35-34 instant classic for the 3A-Division II state title. The game featured three touchdowns in the final 3:42, with Canadian having the final say when, with 28 seconds left, QB Joshua Culwell threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Reagan Cochran and the subsequent PAT kick from Edgar Salazar lifted the Wildcats to the thrilling win and the state title.

Canadian, who fell just a yard short in their seven-point loss to eventual state champion Gunter in the state semifinals in 2019, completed a 15-1 run in 2020 with their only loss coming to Class 4A Iowa Park. It’s Canadian’s first state title since 2015, when they were a Class 2A school.

The nightcap may have topped it all as Jim Ned rallied from a 21-0 second quarter deficit to take down Hallettsville for the second time this year, 29-28. This time it came in overtime.

After Texas commit Jonathon Brooks scored his third touchdown of the game to put the Brahmas up 28-21 to begin OT, Jim Ned’s star Xavier Wishert rumbled in from 17-yards out to make it 28-27; Jim Ned head coach Matt Fanning never hesitated and decided to go for two and the win.

His confidence in his kids paid off in a big way as QB Tate Yardley found Zach Henderson on a perfect pass to give Jim Ned the win and their first state title in school history.

The game was a total tale of two halves as the Indians defense limited Brooks and the Hallettsville offense in the second half. Behind Wishert and Yardley, the Indians were able to churn out first downs, along with clock and wear Hallettsville down.

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