Written by Leland Acker – The 68-26 final score in Comanche’s favor fails to tell the full story of what transpired at Longhorn Stadium during Friday night’s football finale for the 2017 season. The Comanche Indians went into the game as the 58-point favorites over the Early Longhorns. While the Horns struggled early in the 1st quarter, Early wound up putting on a pretty exciting show.
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The Longhorns completed four touchdown passes, and quarterback Ryan Trompler completed 22 of 44 attempts for 310 yards with two interceptions. The senior wide receiver corps enjoyed a trio of touchdown passes. Trompler completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Devyn Burns, a 46-yard touchdown pass to Jim Fowler and a 25-yard touchdown pass to Rowdy Elkins.
Junior wide receiver Ty Schafer nabbed the fourth touchdown pass, catching the 10-yard throw from Ryan Trompler in the end zone.
Jesson Tarrant came out of the backfield to catch six passes for 24 yards.
The Longhorns struggled offensively early. They went 4-and-out on their first four possessions before moving the chains for the first time in the 2nd quarter. Finding an offensive rhythm, the Horns went on to drive 62-yards for a touchdown on that 10-yard pass to Burns with 10:07 left in the 2nd. The two-point conversion failed, but the Longhorns found their groove in the air.
The Longhorns went on to score on three of their next six possessions, one of which was cut short by the clock running out in the 2nd quarter, the other cut short by an interception.
Despite Early’s success offensively in the last three quarters of the game, Comanche had already built a cushion, scoring on each of their first five possessions. In fact, the one time the Longhorn defense stopped the Indians was in the 2nd quarter, when Comanche failed to convert on a 4th and short situation.
After the game, Early Head Coach and Athletic Director Blake Sandford had high praise for his seniors, who played hard until the end of the season and helped the continued building effort of the Longhorn football program.
The Longhorns lose star wide receivers Elkins, Burns, Chase Keilers and Jim Fowler to graduation. Mason Flippin and Asa Welker also graduate this year, as do Ethan Rhodes and Teddy Ozuna, who contributed greatly to the defense. Running back Hayden Barker graduates, as does star line backer Miguel Elizondo, and linemen Jaiden Cochran and Connor King.
Returning next year will be quarterback Ryan Trompler, Jadyn Lehde, Jonathan Clubb, Jose Pessina, Brandon Lombrano, Jesson Tarrant, Ethen Portillo, John Griffin, Patrick Valencia, Chase Cochran and Schafer, Jonathan Morales, among others. Those players will receive additional help from players who will be brought up from the JV, which went 7-3 this season.
Coach Sandford told KXYL radio that the program continues to improve.
“I spoke to (Comanche Coach Stephen) Hermesmeyer this week,” Coach Sandford said. “It took him six years to bring the Comanche football program to where it is today. Things don’t happen as quickly as we want, but the program will come together.”
The Early Longhorns finished the season 3-7, 1-4 in district play. The Longhorns face district realignment in February, then will kickoff the next football season in August.