"Turn out the lights the party is over. They say that all good things must end".
Just a few hours ago at "my house" known to far more people by its real name as P.E. Shotwell Stadium in Abilene, Texas, the curtain fell on the 2011 Six-Man football season. There have been many seasons in the past and for some of us there will be many more in the future. Just speaking for me, I don't think I will ever forget this one. I saw some things that I believe will stay with me for as long as my feeble brain remembers anything. I saw some things that I want to remember and one or two things that even though I have tried to push from my mind it would appear at this time are indelible impressions.
Where should I begin as I recount the now finished "season"? The D2 State Championship between Richland Springs and Motley County is the freshest. I picked RS to win this game by 21 points. The Coyotes of Richland Springs took slightly more than a half of a regulation game to defeat the Matadors of Motley County by the score of 76-28. For the unschooled, Six-Man games are divided into four quarters lasting 10 minutes each. Over the course of the season almost as many games are over at half time as those that go all four quarters. That is because of the "mercy rule" that states when a team is leading by at least 45 points at the half or thereafter, the ball game is over. That sometimes prevents some scores from being "bad to nothing". This game took 21 minutes and 29 seconds of playing time and ended with the Coyotes winning by 48 points. The outcome of this contest was never really in doubt.
MC won the toss, received the opening kickoff. They began an 11 play drive at their own 21 and marched to the RS 10 yard line before being stopped. The drive was fueled by the running of #3 Aaron Rogers. The Matadors actually had a 1st and goal on the RS 10 yard line that quickly turned into a 4th and goal from the 17. Rogers picked up 7 yards to the ten and that produced a turn over on downs (TOD) with 4:11 left in the first. RS,s first drive consisted of one play, a 70 yard TD by #8 Denim Reeves. Just like that the Shar... no make that the Coyotes with a successful PAT were up 8-0 with 4:41 showing on the clock. Maybe there was some doubt to this contest but it did not linger long.
MC had the ball four plays and netted 4 yards. 4th down was a punt that netted 5 yards and RS set up shop on MC's 24. Two passes by Reeves covered the necessary yardage to put the Coyotes up 16-0 with 2:02 left in the 1st.
MC would respond with an electrifying run by #4 Augy Chavez that covered 50 yards and a TD. The PAT was unsuccessful and with 1:51 left in the 1st MC trailed by the score of 16 to 6. RS facing a 2nd and 20 from their own 38 countered with a 42 yard run by who else other than Denim Reeves. The PAT was true and the Coyotes led 24-6 with with 1:37 remaining in the 1 st quarter of play.
MC would have the ball back with 1:33 left on their own 21. 1st and 15 Rogers ran off 17 yards with a nice run. Four more plays ran out the first quarter and gave the ball back to RS with 9:08 in the second and the ball on MC's 28. On first down #11 Ben Vancleave ran for 20 yards to the 8. The next play Reeves was in the end zone again and with 8:28 left in the half RS was up 32-6.
MC would start a new drive on the 40 yard line but a fumble recovered by #13 Chance Bush gave RS back the ball on the 34 yard line. Lo and behold, MC holds RS to 4 plays without a first down. When you get a defensive stop, then is the time to make the other team pay. MC did just that with #14 Braden Mason passing 41 yards to Austin Taylor for a score. The PAT was no good and the score stood 32-12 RS with 5:42 in the half. With a good break MC could position themselves to get back into the game.
That break did not come... What ensued was another RS TD coming from yet another Reeves run. This time it was for 41 yards and with the PAT kick by Cory Bessent RS was now up 40-12 with 5:31 left in the half. Lots of teams would have quit at that point but MC answers with a 75 yard kickoff return for a TD. This time Augy Chavez converts on the PAT and RS's lead was cut to 20 points as they led 40-20 with 5:18 in the half.
RS would start a new "drive" at their on 35. On 1st and 15 Chance Bush made a terrific run covering 45 yards and another RS TD. The PAT failed and RS led 46 to 20 with 5:07 left in the half. Moments later it would be Denim Reeves going in from 37 yards out and the good PAT RS is up 54-20 with 4:12 left in the half. Folks, there is blood in the water and the sharks that hide as Coyotes are making the move. At the 2:17 mark left in the half some kid named Reeves rips off another TD run, this one covering 26 yards and again the PAT is true and RS is up 62-20 with 2:17 in the half.
With the season in peril, and showing the heart of a true Matador, Arron Rogers would dig deep enough to score on a 33 yard run with just 7 ticks on the clock until half. Chavez converts on the PAT and the score becomes 62-28 RS. The half should be over right? With 7 seconds left MC kickoffs. RS has enough time for one more play. You guessed it. Reeves goes 41 yards to the house as time expires in the half, Bessent converts PAT and it is 70 to 28. Don't wander far away during half time because RS receives the kick off to start the second half. One minute and 29 seconds into the third quarter, Mr. Denim Reeves does the honors scoring from 25 yards out and this one is mercifully over. Richland Springs 76 Motley County 28.
Worth mentioning, with this win, RS now has 5 State Championship tying them with Fort Hancock for the most State Titles. RS won their first one in 2004. They won again in 2006 and 2007. They entered today's contest as defending Champions from 2010 and now have added the 2011 title. Congratulations to Athletic Director/Head Coach Jerry Burkhart and Offensive Coordinator Shawn Rogers and their Assistants Michael Brand who serves as Special Teams Coordinator and Assistant John Greenwood, as well as all the players, Administrators, and their GREAT FANS many of whom I consider friends.
I almost forgot to mention that the media types of which I am one vote for the Offensive and Defensive MVP of the State game.
The Defensive MVP went to Chance Bush of Richland Springs
The Offensive MVP went to......Denim Reeves of Richland Springs
Close to the real stats as I could get:
Rushing:
RS Reeves 12-290 Bush 2-53
MC Rogers 19-128 Chavez 6-69 Osborne 2-5 Brooks 1 (-1)
Passing:
RS Reeves 3-5-0 44 VanCleave 1-1-0 14
MC Mason 1-2-0 41 Rogers 0-5-0 0
Receiving:
RS Vancleave 1-20 Phillips 1-18 Bush 1-14 Tillery 1-6
MC Taylor 1-41
Scores by Quarter
RS 24 46 6 x
MC 6 22 0 x
Earlier this same day the D1 State Championship was played, also at "my
house" again better known as P.E. Shotwell Stadium in Abilene, Texas USA. The two teams involved were the Throckmorton Greyhounds coming from the East side of the bracket. You can take that up with the U.I.L. about the East thing. The other team was the Borden County Coyotes coming from the West Bracket. I picked BC to win this game by 21 points. They were battled tested coming out of the West and Throckmorton wasn't so battle tested.
Borden County won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. Throckmorton kicked deep and BC was pinned on their 4 yard line. Not the way the BC Coyotes wanted to start the game. On 1st and 15 #4 Austin Fields races for 76 yards and a TD. The PAT by Helio Rosales was good and BC led 8-0 with 9:43 left in the first. I am thinking to myself 21 points wasn't enough for BC in my prediction.
Throckmorton would begin their first drive in much better field position starting on their 30 yard line. 1st and 15 and #1 CJ Hantz goes 15 yards on a run. It is 1st and 15 again and again the ball carrier is CJ Hantz but this time only picks up one yard. 2 and 14 from the BC 34 the ball goes to Levi Taylor who follows his blocker as far as he can then pushes the blocker out of the way cuts to the outside and goes the distance for the score. Initially on the PAT the kick was no good but a flag on the defense allowed a second chance and a successful PAT and we are knotted up at 8 to 8 with 8:23 left in the first. Looks like it will be a better ball game than I thought.
BC gets the ball back for a five play drive that has a holding on BC and ends in a turn over on downs (TOD). Throckmorton takes over on the BC 36. Six plays later and a couple of Greyhound penalties, #7 Tucker Brown finds Levi Taylor for a 19yard TD pass with 5:12 left in the 1st quarter. Throckmorton's Jordon White once again converts the PAT and it is Throckmorton leading 16 to 8.
BC gets the ball back running three plays for little yardage. I note on my play by play sheet that the Greyhounds have come to play this day. On 4th and 18 BC decides to punt the ball. The punt is partially blocked. Throckmorton has great field position and in three plays, one of which is an offensive holding penalty, Brown finds his big target #33 Gary Farquhar for a 34 yard TD pass. White converts and Throckmorton now leads 24 to 8 with 2:35 left in the first. I let out my first "HOLY COW" that draws the attention of everyone in the press box levels 1 and 2.
BC begins another drive this one starting at their own 15 yard line. The drive consist of 6 plays with flags on both the offense and defense. It comes up 4th and 1 for BC and Tucker Brown makes a fantastic defensive play that gives the Throckmorton Greyhounds the ball with time running out in the 1st quarter. CJ Hantz eventually completes an 11 yard pass to Tucker Brownand with the PAT by White Throckmorton now leads 32-8 and out rolls my second HOLY COW of the day. Only a few glance my way this time. I am counting on my fingers and toes and finally figure out that if BC is to win by 21 they will have to put some serious points on the board and need to get started asap. Checking the clock I see there is 8:30 left in the half and I have seen BC scorre quickly and I think to myself BC is going to win this game but not by 21,
BC causes a turn over on downs that ended with a long 4th down pass by the Greyhounds going incomplete. I write down on my play by play sheet MISTAKE and circle it so I can look back later and say that was the turning point in the game. Four plays later Austin Fields for BC finds the end zone on a 5 yard run and the PAT is true and BC has cut the Throckmorton lead to 32 to 16 with 5:18 in the half. The teams swap possessions and the half ends at 32-16 Throckmorton. I am stunned at the score as I set in a cold press box that got colder before the day was over. The Guru came over to see what condition my condition was in. I put on my best face but he could see through me. We both knew that BC probably missed their opportunity to get a win when they had the ball 1st and goal on the 8 right before the half and couldn't cash in. Still I claimed BC wins this game.
Throckmorton got the ball opening the second half and went on an 11 play drive that was capped with a Hantz to Farquhar TD pass for three yards and another White PAT to take a lead of 40 to 16. That was the drive that sealed it as it also ate up 5 minutes and 14 seconds off the clock. With that, I starting thinking hey my friend Mike Reed is going to get his first State Title as a Head Coach. Still the sting of picking BC by 21 was there.
The final play of the third quarter saw BC score on a 13 yard pass from Tanner Richey to TJ Basquez. Again the PAT failed. New score 40=22 Throckmorton as we went to the 4th.
BC would get an interception by Tanner Richey that would lead to another Austin Fields TD of 1 yard. BC was inching closer 40 to 28. They would force a Throckmorton punt and Basquez would snag another 8 yard pass from Richey and convert on the PAT. It is now a 40 to 36 Throckmorton lead with just a minute and 42 seconds left. I had now totally forgotten about my BC 21 point favorite pick and I was thinking BC is going to steal the ring from Mike Reed.
That led to a fateful play no matter what side of the fence you came down on in this game. It is a big play and very uncharacteristically Coach Trey Richey decides to blitz. Mike Reed and the Greyhounds are ready for that and the center Blayton Oliver gets free and Hantx gets the ball to him for a 41 yard TD pass with 1:19 left in the game. White converts the PAT and your final is Throckmorton 48 Borden County 36. It was a classic Championship game.
Congratulations to Coach Mike Reed and His Greyhounds. What a season? The teams goes 14-0, the HC gets is 100th victory along the way and finally after three defeats in the big one, Mike Reed gets his first ring as a Head Coach. It just doesn't get much better than that.
Your MVP on Offense : CJ Hantz
Your MPV on Defense : Tucker Brown
Stats
Rushing:
Throckmorton Hantz 17-115 Taylor 5-67 Farquhar 3-6 Haggard 1-2 Brown 1 (-7)
Borden County Fields 21-196 Richey 4-35 Telchik 22-166 Shafer 2-8 Basquez 1-4
Passing:
Throckmorton Hantz 7-10-1 94 Brown 4-8-0 77
Borden CountyRichet 4-10-1 41 Fields 2-2-0 15
Receiving:
Throckmorton Farquhar 3-59 Taylor 4-55 Oliver 2-44 Brown 1-11 Hantz 1-2
Borden County Basquez 2-26 Shafer 2-15 Rosales 2--15
Thank you to those who follow me on Twitter @sixmancentral and to those that read my blog where ever it shows up. Thanks to www.lonestarfootball.net for the privilege to post there and to all who take time to read it.
Don Hardin
Abilene, TX
Six-Man Central
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