Bovina leads district race

ROPESVILLE, Texas — Bovina got off to a quick start on Friday, then went a bit stagnant for a time.

The Mustangs relied on their defense to get them going again, with fumble recoveries resulting in two touchdowns in a span of 11 seconds of the third quarter, as they pulled away for a 34-7 victory over Ropes in a Class 2A Division II District 2 matchup.

The result leaves Bovina (3-4, 2-0 district) well in command of the district race. A win at home this week over Smyer (4-3, 1-0) would lock up the district title.

Senior quarterback Cole Emery scored a pair of touchdowns and running backs Andrew Guevara and Damian DeLaRosa each ran for more than 100 yards and a score.

“We ran the ball really well tonight,” Mustangs coach Coby Emery said. “Damian DeLaRosa and Andrew Guevara both ran the ball well, and our offensive line did a good job for us. They’ve really come along the last couple of weeks.

“(Ropes) played really well defensively, even though the score doesn’t look like it.”

But it was Bovina’s defense which eventually helped put the game out of reach.

Trailing 13-0, the Eagles (5-2, 1-1) had a chance to get close late in the half, but the Mustangs made a goalline stand.

“That was a big stand right there,” coach Emery said. “I think if they had scored, we could’ve been in a dogfight.”

Then sophomore linebacker Nathan Guevara forced a sack and fumble on a blitz of Eagles sophomore quarterback Garrett Gilliam midway through the third stanza, and defensive end Jose Mata returned it 13 yards to the Ropes 10. Four plays later, Andrew Guevara went in from a yard out.

On the ensuing kickoff, Mustangs senior Israel Heredia stripped the ball from the return man, scooped it up and returned it 20 yards to the end zone for a 27-0 cushion.

Cole Emery capped Bovina’s first possession with a 9-yard scoring run. DeLaRosa then tallied on the first play of the second segment, going in from 19 yards out.

Ropes, in its first year up from 6-man to 11-man football, got on the board late in the third quarter. Emery added his second TD run from 5 yards out with under 4 minutes to play.

Farwell 42, Sanford-Fritch 0 — At Fritch, the Steers opened a 30-0 halftime lead and cruised as they look ahead to key home Class 2A Division I District 1 matchups against West Texas High this Friday and Panhandle the following week.

Freshman Corey Stancell rushed for 225 yards and three touchdowns as the Steers (6-1, 2-0) proved to be way too much for the winless Eagles (0-7, 0-2). Despite that, Sanford-Fritch made Farwell work on defense, running 58 plays to 48 for the Steers.

“We did a good job defensively,” Farwell coach Darren Kelley said. “They were in a different offense than what they’d been in the last couple of weeks. We had a good goalline stand late in the game (to preserve the shutout).”

Both upcoming opponents figure to test Farwell’s stingy defensive unit. Panhandle (5-2, 1-0) opened district play on Friday by winning a 67-50 shootout at West Texas (3-4, 1-1).

“Next week, we’ve got to take care of the football,” Kelley said of the Comanches. “They’ve got a great quarterback, and the spread you out.”

Stancell also had a solid game on defense with 12 tackles, including five unassisted stops. Senior linebacker Carlitos Castillo had a team-high 14 tackles (four solos).