HS playoff football: Idalou 26, Brady 18

Idalou defenders swarm and strip the ball from Brady's Seth Bozeman (2) during the second half Saturday during the class 2A regional championship at Midland. Idalou defeated Brady 26-18. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
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MIDLAND - Simply put, Idalou finished drives. Brady did not.

That was all the difference there was in the Wildcats' 26-18 victory over the Bulldogs in a Class 2A Division II Region I semifinal Saturday afternoon at Grande Communications Stadium. The win puts the Wildcats (12-1) into the fourth round for the second straight year where they await the winner of Saturday's late game between Cisco and District 3-2A rival Roosevelt.

Brady (11-2) outgained Idalou in total yardage 309-254, but the Bulldogs could not find the end zone until they scored twice in the last 40 seconds of the game to make the score closer than the game actually was.

Up to that point, the Wildcats had stuffed Brady at almost every turn, including a goalline stand to end the first half in which Brady ran eight plays inside the Idalou 12 and was inside the 1 before being turned away. Brady had two separate drives that totaled 43 plays and covered 135 total yards, but no points... (Continue reading the related article: Wildcats' drive through playoffs continues with win over Bulldogs)

Idalou rolls past Alpine 56-7

Idalou's Tanner Cook (24) leaps over Alpine's Saul Ordonez (27) Saturday afternoon in Andrews. Idalou defeated Alpine 56-7 in this class 2-A championship.
(Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Idalou's Rynn Smith (10) scores a 60-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Sean Reagan against Alpine Saturday afternoon in Andrews. Idalou defeated Alpine 56-7 in this class 2-A championship.
(Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Idalou quarterback Sean Reagan (12) runs for one of his two rushing touchdowns against Alpine Saturday afternoon in Andrews. Reagan also threw four touchdowns and 308 yards. Idalou defeated Alpine 56-7 in this class 2-A championship.
(Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

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ANDREWS - When Idalou football coach Johnny Taylor said earlier in the week that quarterback Sean Reagan has been throwing the ball better lately, it wasn't just lip service.

Reagan showed the Wildcats will be more than just a running team in the 2008 playoffs, throwing for 308 yards and four touchdowns. Oh, yeah, he also ran for 58 yards and two scores and had three sacks on defense as the Wildcats ripped Alpine 56-7 in a Class 2A Division II Bi-District playoff Saturday afternoon at the Mustang Bowl.

"It was nice to throw it a little more than we have been," said Reagan, who had just 1,014 yards and 11 TDs going into the game. "But we've got to get it done when we do, though. We always think we can go deep and we have enough speed." (Continue reading the related article: Reagan tosses four TDs)