Frenship heartbreak 37-35 vs Denton Guyer

(First photo in above slideshow) Frenship senior Buddy Mull (55) yells in frustration as Denton Guyer celebrates their last second victory Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock. (Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

- - -
All season, Frenship had found a way to win by gaining that one extra yard, getting that all-important touchdown or making that extra big play on defense.

In the Class 4A Division I Region I Final at Jones AT&T Stadium Saturday afternoon, it was Denton Guyer that took that ability and put an end to the sixth-ranked Tigers’ perfect season. Sam Alspach’s 24-yard field goal as time expired brought the Wildcats all the way back from a 21-point first-quarter deficit for a 37-35 victory.

“I think the thing that happened mostly from the second quarter on and into the second half was we were having a hard time blocking their defensive front,” Frenship coach Brad Davis said. “Big plays kept us in the game, but we never got consistent where I get into a rhythm calling plays and getting a drive going, at least after the first quarter we didn’t. The first quarter was all ours and then we had to hang on, and we hung on until about two seconds to go in the game.”... (Continue reading End of the Line)
View more game photos HERE.
- - -
Here is my Missed Photo of the Game:

Down 21-7 with 7:14 left in the third quarter, Denton Guyer's Antonio Burton blocked a Frenship punt and recovered it for a touchdown. To me, this was the turning point of the game... and I missed it. Granted, I got some nice frames of Burton scooping up the football, crossing the endline, and celebrating his touchdown, but I wanted this blocked punt. To me, this punt was unique because most blocked punts are made when the player dives on the punter's foot - this one was made high in the air. Also, this play scared Frenship into giving up a safety instead of punting with 3:06 remaining in the 4th quarter. (A decision that likely cost Frenship the game). Missed moments and mistakes are life's best lessons.

What could I have done differently? I've been thinking about that off and on for the past couple days. I suppose the easiest thing would have been to let go of the focus button when I initially knew I had the punter in focus (I use the thumb focus button on my Nikon D2HS so I can leave the focus alone and keep firing off frames if needs be). In this instance I must have kept my thumb on the focus button which is why as the play continued and my framing adjusted the camera focused on the brick background. A second option could have been to change my focus metering from the center point to the diamond. Third, I could have shot with a wider lens (70-200). This is the second 'missed' blocked punt this football season and both were when I was debating between using my 300mm or switching to the 70-200mm.

Below is the uncropped series of photos on the play.

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)
- - -
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)

HS playoff football video: Muleshoe 42, Clyde 7

Click ABOVE to watch video game highlights of Muleshoe and Clyde.
- - -
WOLFFORTH - Muleshoe decided to have a second Thanksgiving dinner on Friday night.

A host of Muleshoe defenders tackle Clyde's Colby Smith (21) during the Mules' 42-7 playoff victory on Friday in Wolfforth.

The Muleshoe defense provided the meat, and quarterback Wes Wood did the carving as the No. 4 Mules beat Clyde, 42-7, at Tiger Stadium to advance to the Class 2A state semifinals for the first time since 2000.

“It means everything to these kids,” Muleshoe head coach David Wood said. “They all made the trip and watched that game eight years ago and said, We want to be that team.’ And now they have the same chance to try and get to the state finals.

Muleshoe (13-0) forced seven turnovers against Clyde - four in the first half - to knock the Bulldogs off their rushing attack... (Continue reading the related article: Mules kick aside Clyde to reach state semis)

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)

---
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)

Roosevelt gets historic playoff win over Crane

Roosevelt's Coby Torres (21) and Cory Sherrill (63) celebrate after tackling Crane running back Jordan Mendoza (12) Friday night during a Region I-Division II game in Andrews.

(Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
Roosevelt's Kevin Fowler (10) doesn't complete a pass as Crane's Teague Esparza (3) defends him closely, Friday night during a Region I-Division II game in Andrews.

(Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
---
ANDREWS - As a history teacher, Roosevelt football coach Greg Poynor has a special appreciation for when the past meets the present.

But maybe not as much as the Acuff community appreciates what Poynor and his first-year coaching staff have done in 2008. And Friday night was a historic step. Coby Torres ran for one touchdown and caught another as the Eagles defense shut down the high-powered Crane passing attack to capture a 21-14 victory in a Class 2A Division II bi-district playoff at the Mustang Bowl.

It is the first playoff victory - according to Poynor - for a Roosevelt football team since 1971. Making just its second playoff appearance since 1986, Roosevelt advances to face either Childress or Sanford-Fritch in the area round... (Continue reading the related article: Roosevelt gets historic playoff win over Crane)