CLYDE – The Brownwood Lions saved their best – at least in terms of qualifying tournament performances – for last, as on Friday a 21st straight trip to the 7-on-7 state tournament was secured thanks to a perfect 3-0 record at the Jim Ned qualifier.
Facing their final opportunity to earn a berth among the 32-team Division II state tournament field at Veterans Park and Athletic Complex in College Station June 24-25, the Lions – playing their games in Clyde – put forth their most crisp and intense effort of the summer, defeating Sanger, 32-13, and Clyde, 28-14, in pool play.
Then, facing archrival and District 5-4A Division I foe Stephenville in the semifinals with a state berth at stake, the Lions emerged with a 26-24 victory in a contest that came down to the final snap – and a massive celebration ensued.
“Everything’s right in the world when Brownwood and Stephenville are playing for a spot, and I couldn’t be any more proud of our guys,” said Lions assistant head coach David Jones, who was on hand watching the action. Brownwood head coach Sammy Burnett missed the tournament as he was preparing to coach the Blue Team in Saturday night’s FCA All-Star Football Game in Abilene. “The difference today was that there was a lot of energy, there was a bunch of excitement and there was a lot of I care, and it showed in that last game.”
In the finale against Stephenville, the Lions trailed 24-20 with less than two minutes left. Facing a third-and-15 from the 45, quarterback Chance Jones floated a pass over double coverage into the arms of Elias Huerta-Doud for the go-ahead touchdown.
Stephenville then was able to get three snaps off before time expired, with the final toss being ripped away from a Yellow Jackets’ grasp at the goal line to end the contest.
“We get the ball with three minutes left and have to make a big play and we do, then we come up with a stop defensively,” Jones said. “Our kids, when that final whistle blew, they were jumping up and down. They have a lot of passion in them and it came out today and we’re excited about that.”
The Lions fell behind 6-0 after the first Stephenville possession, but quickly grabbed a 7-6 lead as Jones connected with Konlyn Anderson on a 45-yard wheel route, then Huerta-Doud made a diving grab in the end zone to convert the extra point.
Stephenville’s next drive ended short of the goal line as Case Markham – playing with a cast on his left arm – picked off a pass to keep the Lions in front. Brownwood, however, was unable to convert the turnover into points, and the Yellow Jackets eventually took a 12-7 lead prior to halftime.
After the break, Brownwood began the second half with the ball and regained a 14-12 edge on a scoring toss from Jones to Huerta-Doud and Jordan Leach’s extra point reception.
Stephenville jumped back in front, 18-14, but the Lions again answered with a touchdown pass from Jones to Anderson to reclaim a 20-18 lead.
The Yellow Jackets added a fourth touchdown, but were unable to prevent the Lions from doing the same.
In Friday’s three games combined, Jones competed 59 of 93 passes – 63 percent – for Brownwood with 13 touchdowns and no interceptions and was whistled for just two four-second calls after committing 19 the past two tournaments.
Huerta-Doud led all Brownwood receivers with 17 receptions including four for touchdowns followed by Anderson with 13 and three scores, Jason Jackson with 11 and two touchdowns, Markham with five and one touchdown, Leach with five, Thad Hinds with four grabs and three scores, Jaylon Brown with two catches and Quentin Thompson and Brayden Daub each hauled in a pass.
Defensively, interceptions were made by Markham and Leach against Stephenville and Hinds and Thompson versus Sanger.
In the opening win over Sanger, the Lions led 24-0 at halftime and scored on their first five possessions overall. Jackson caught two touchdowns while Markham, Anderson and Huerta-Doud each hauled in one scoring reception.
Against Clyde, the Lions led just 14-7 at halftime but scored the first two touchdowns of the second half to pull away. Hinds led the charge with three touchdowns catches while Huerta-Doud also got into the scoring act.
“We knew early in the day it was probably going to come down to us and Stephenville, and with that being a district opponent there’s going to be a lot more energy,” Jones said. “Then we don’t have to talk to our guys about getting excited when we play Stephenville. We had great energy from our kids.”
Through their first four state qualifying tournaments, the Lions had posted a mere 4-8 record, making Friday’s state-clinching 3-0 run that much sweeter.
“This matters a ton,” Jones said of the Lions qualifying for state in their final attempt. “I think when it’s easy sometimes you take things for granted and this has been a process for us. Our guys have worked and improved and listened to coaches and they believe in each other. To see their hard work come to fruition here at the end is extremely satisfying.”
In other Jim Ned qualifier action Friday, the Early Longhorns dropped their three games in Tuscola to Fort Stockton (25-14), Bridgeport (34-26) and Big Spring (35-16).
Jim Ned claimed the second state tournament berth from the qualifier, knocking off Bridgeport (20-18).
