SIX-MAN REWIND: Nine area teams stay alive with strong second-round playoff efforts

Nine teams from the Big Country Preps coverage area survived the second round of the playoffs, setting up a huge slate of games this week in the region championship round.

But before we discuss state quarterfinal matchups later this week, it’s time to take a look at how we got here in this week’s “Six-Man Lookahead” column.

As you might expect the cream rose to the top, with Water Valley, Robert Lee, Gordon, May, Jayton, Benjamin, Strawn, Three Way and Richland Springs all earning games after Thanksgiving with a shot at the state semifinals on the line. We hope you enjoy this look back at the performances that helped them lock down those opportunities.

LAST WEEK’S TOP RESULTS

• Water Valley 64, Newcastle 29 — The trio of Landon Lacy, Branson Lacy and Boston Wiese were too much for the Bobcats to contend with as the Wildcats pulled ahead early and never let up on their way to a comfortable win. Water Valley raced out to a 16-0 lead, before Newcastle cut that lead in half with a long touchdown pass from Keyton Newland to Keegen Voyles. But the Wildcats answered with consecutive touchdowns to take a 32-8 lead into halftime and cruised from there into the third round, where they’ll play District 8-1A DI mate Robert Lee for the second time Friday in San Angelo.
• Gordon 61, Menard 14 — Noah Kostiha passed for 127 yards and three touchdowns and Stryker Reed ran for 110 yards and two scores while adding a 30-yard touchdown reception to fuel the top-ranked Longhorns to a blowout win over the previously unbeaten Yellow Jackets. Ry Reed also had a productive day for Gordon (11-0),  rushing for two scores, receiving for a TD and returning a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown. Behind that trio, the Longhorns increased a 38-14 first-quarter lead to 61-14 by the second quarter to end the game at half due to the 45-point rule. Up next for the Longhorns is a state quarterfinals matchup against May on Friday in Clyde.
• May 72, Medina 24 — Lane Goodson ran for 320 yards and five touchdowns and passed for 137 yards and another score to help the Tigers pull away from the Bobcats and punch their ticket to the Region IV-1A Division I championship game. May also got a solid game from Kobey Morris, who accounted for one touchdown rushing and another receiving in improving to 11-1 on the year. The Tigers built a 36-16 lead by halftime and pushed it to 58-16 in the third quarter, before closing out Medina in the fourth.
• Benjamin 68, Balmorhea 16 — Keegan Hayes ran for 177 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 154 yards and four more scores to lead the Mustangs to a lopsided win over the Bears. Heston Harney added scores rushing and receiving, while Will Pierce caught a pair of touchdown passes to help Benjamin remain unbeaten at 10-0 and earn a Region III-1A DII finals date with Jayton on Friday in Hermleigh. 
• Strawn 74, Bluff Dale 26 — The Greyhounds dominated the Bobcats to waltz into the Region IV-1A DII championship game, where they’ll face off with Three Way on Friday in Dublin. Led by Kaison Nunez, Strawn (11-1) led just 24-20 after a quarter but outscored Bluff Dale (10-2) by a 36-6 margin in the second quarter to take a 60-26 lead into halftime. The Greyhounds then needed less than six minutes in the third quarter to tack on two more touchdowns and close out the game via 45-point rule. 
• Three Way 58, Fannindel 36 — The Braves earned their second playoff win in school history, pulling away for a three-touchdown victory over the previously unbeaten Falcons. Three Way (11-1) pushed out to a 12-0 lead after one quarter and outscored Fannindel 24-21 in the second to take a 36-21 lead into halftime. It remained a 15-point game into the fourth quarter, where the Braves pushed their lead to 58-29 to put the Falcons away.
• Richland Springs 59, Zephyr 12 — Cohen Ethridge ran for 146 yards and four touchdowns, passed for another score and added yet another TD on a punt return to lead the Coyotes to a mercy-rule win over the Bulldogs. Ethan Deeds added five touchdowns for Richland Springs (3 rushing; 2 passing), while Billy Perry received for 52 yards and a TD and ran for 50 yards to earn the Coyotes (11-1) a state quarterfinals matchup with Oglesby Saturday in Dublin. The loss ended Zephyr’s season at 10-2.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

• Lane Goodson, RB, Sr., May — Ran for 320 yards and five touchdowns and passed for 137 yards and an additional score in the Tigers’ win over Medina.
• Keegan Hayes, QB, Jr., Benjamin — Ran for 177 yards and four TDs and threw for 154 yards and four scores on 7-of-9 passing in the Mustangs’ win over Balmorhea.
• Brenner Sherwood, SB, Sr., Robert Lee — Went 6-of-8 passing for 134 yards and three touchdowns, ran for 93 yards and two TDs and had 10 tackles and an interception defensively in the Steers’ 63-6 win over Turkey Valley.
• Cohen Ethridge, RB, Jr., Richland Springs — Ran for 146 yards and four touchdowns, passed for 66 yards and a TD and had a 42-yard punt return touchdown in the Coyotes’ win over Zephyr.
• Sean Stanaland, QB, Sr., Jayton — Hit five of seven passes for 167 yards and four touchdowns while adding 14 tackles defensively in the Jaybirds’ 68-18 win over Grandfalls-Royalty.
• Stryker Reed, RB, Sr., Gordon — Ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns and had a 30-yard TD reception in the Longhorns’ win over Menard.
• Bode Ham, RB, Sr., Jayton — Ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns, had a 32-yard TD reception and added nine tackles defensively vs. Grandfalls-Royalty.
• Ethan Deeds, QB, Sr., Richland Springs — Passed for 72 yards and two touchdowns and ran for three TDs vs. Zephyr.
• Noah Kostiha, QB, Sr., Gordon — Threw for 127 yards and three touchdowns on 5-of-7 passing vs. Menard.
• Colt Gentry, TE, Sr., Jayton — Had three catches for 105 yards and three touchdowns vs. Grandfalls-Royalty.

PLAYOFF PAIRINGS/RESULTS

REGION II-1A DIV. I (Full bracket)

BI-DISTRICT

Robert Lee 60, Ira 14

Water Valley 62, Hermleigh 14

Newcastle 73, Petersburg 0

REGION SEMIFINALS

Robert Lee 63, Valley 6

Water Valley 64, Newcastle 29

REGION FINAL

Robert Lee (11-1) vs. Water Valley (12-0): 6:30 p.m. Friday, San Angelo Stadium

REGION IV-1A DIV. I (Full bracket)

BI-DISTRICT

Gordon 52, Jonesboro 6

May 70, Gorman 22

REGION SEMIFINALS

Gordon 61, Menard 14

May 72, Medina 24

REGION FINAL

Gordon (11-0) vs. May (11-1): 6 p.m. Friday, Clyde’s Bulldog Stadium

REGION II-1A DIV. II (Full bracket)

BI-DISTRICT

Balmorhea 56, Blackwell 8

Benjamin 53, Aspermont 8

Jayton 54, Guthrie 6

Grandfalls-Royalty 79, Bronte 34

REGION SEMIFINALS

Benjamin 68, Balmorhea 16

Jayton 68, Grandfalls-Royalty 18

REGION FINAL

Jayton (12-0) vs. Benjamin (10-0): 6:30 p.m. Friday, Hermleigh’s Cardinal Stadium

REGION III-1A DIV. II (Full bracket)

BI-DISTRICT

Strawn 78, Bowie Gold-burg 12

Bluff Dale 70, Mount Calm 30

Fannindel 54, Woodson 6

Three Way 40, Oakwood 28

REGION SEMIFINALS

Strawn 74, Bluff Dale 26

Three Way 58, Fannindel 36

REGION FINAL

Strawn (11-1) vs. Three Way (11-1): 7 p.m. Friday, Dublin’s Bob and Norma Cervetto Stadium

REGION IV-1A DIV. II (Full bracket)

BI-DISTRICT

Zephyr 53, Evant 8

Richland Springs 62, Calvert 0

Cherokee 70, Rochelle 24

Oglesby 54, Blanket 12

REGION SEMIFINALS

Richland Springs 59, Zephyr 12

REGION FINAL

Richland Springs (10-1) vs. Oglesby (11-1): 3 p.m. Saturday, Dublin’s Bob and Norma Cervetto Stadium

TAPPS SIX-MAN DIV. II

BI-DISTRICT

Rockwall Heritage 68, Abilene Christian 22