Momentum shifts against Steers

FARWELL - Momentum shifted big-time twice on Friday night - and quickly.

In a battle for the Class 2A Division II District 2 title, Panhandle dominated early and built a 14-0 advantage. Then Farwell scored twice in a span of 10 seconds and rallied back to lead at halftime.

But it was all Panthers after that. Panhandle put together a stunning 35-point third quarter, including three touchdowns by senior Jayse Edwards, and cruised to a 56-21 victory over the Steers.

Panthers coach Dane Ashley said that, in a way, it was a typical high school football game with relatively high stakes on the line.

"When it was 14-14, you could just feel the momentum shift," he said. "In a district title game like this, it's all about momentum.

"The second half we came out and settled down, and got the momentum again."

A 76-yard pass from quarterback Leefe Actkinson to junior Kolter Henderson set up Actkinson's fourth-down, 4-yard TD run early in the second quarter for the Steers (7-2, 3-1 district). Then on Panhandle's first play following the kickoff, senior Guerrero Olmos returned an interception 25 yards for a tying touchdown.

Farwell moved in front on Carlos Castillo's 7-yard TD run later in the period, but Panhandle regrouped during the intermission.

Facing a Steers defense which came in allowing about nine points per game, the high-scoring Panthers (7-2, 4-0) rushed for 176 yards in the second half after compiling just 39 in the opening two cantos.

"We challenged our (offensive) line," Ashley said. "We told them we wanted to run the ball at (Farwell's defense)."

The Panthers marched 66 yards in just six plays following the second-half kickoff to pull even, then forced a three-and-out and quickly grabbed the lead as Edwards, who rushed for 53 second-half yards after not carrying the ball in the first half, scored from a yard out with 7:15 left in the period.

On Farwell's next possession, a fumble on an attempted handoff ended up in Edwards' hands, and he raced 45 yards for a score. After another three-and-out for the Steers, Panhandle drove 72 yards in eight plays with Edwards going over from the 2.

Sophomore Landyn Hack, who rushed for 85 yards and three TDs, converted another Steers turnover into a 4-yard scoring run in the final minute of the period. He got his third TD of the night from 33 yards out early in the final segment.

Panthers senior quarterback Wesley Jones completed 16-of-27 passes for 267 yards and two TDs. Seniors Zach Wood and Zion Mercer were the recipients, and each caught five passes.

Farwell coach Darren Kelley said mistakes, notably penalties, hurt his team's cause. The Steers suffered more than 100 yards in walkoffs.

"We've got to be able to flip (the switch) back on and not let things keep snowballing," Kelley said. "You have to beat good teams. To do that you have to make plays and be disciplined, and we definitely weren't that today."

Meantime, a Panthers defense which has struggled much of the season limited the Steers to 71 yards and four first downs after halftime.

"We've done a great job of playing defense all year, but we've got to help our defense out by being able to run the ball," Kelley said.

Meantime, Ashley couldn't have been more pleased with his team's play on that side of the ball.

"Defensively, we played great tonight," he said. "We're learning a new defense, and we're getting better. Hopefully, we're playing our best defense at the right time."

New Home 50, Bovina 31 - The host Leopards erupted for 36 second-half points for their first win in Class 2A Division II District 2 play. The teams combined for more than 800 total yards, including more than 700 on the ground.

"They played out of their minds," Mustangs coach Coby Emery said of the Leopards. "If they played like that every week, they'd probably win the district."

Bovina is still in second place behind district champion Smyer. The Mustangs, open this week, will finish second if Sudan (4-5, 1-2) wins at home over New Home on Friday, or probably third if the Leopards win.

Emery said a second-quarter knee injury to sophomore running back-linebacker Darian DeLaRosa hurt the cause.

"Darian is just so key for us on defense," Emery said. "That just hurt us so much."

He's hopeful DeLaRosa can be back for the playoffs. Meantime, junior wide receiver-defensive back-kicker Angel Lara left in the third quarter with a dislocated shoulder, but should be back for the playoffs.

Senior Jose Mata picked up the slack at running back, rushing 17 times for 220 yards with TD runs of 82 and 20 yards.

Senior quarterback Bode Stewart threw a pair of first-quarter TD passes to senior wide receiver Tristian Trulicka, but the Mustangs (3-6, 2-2 district) pulled to 14-8 at halftime on a 1-yard sneak by senior QB Cole Emery.

Stewart and senior Kash Starkey each ran for two second-half scores as the Leopards (5-4, 1-2) piled up 460 total yards.

Coach Emery said the Mustangs should face Plains if they finish second in the district, or Wink if they're third.

Dalhart 41, Muleshoe 21 - The Mules (2-6, 0-3 Class 3A Division I District 1) played competitively again most of the way before the Wolves (6-3, 2-1) opened some breathing room in the final quarter.

Muleshoe should still make the postseason if it can beat rival Littlefield (2-6, 1-2) in Friday's regular-season finale at home.

Dalhart broke a 21-21 tie with a score late in the third stanza. The Wolves piled up 517 total yards, including 279 on the ground.

Mules junior quarterback Zach Hasley ran for a touchdown and threw for 210 yards, including a 40-yard TD toss to Eliasar Cisneros for a 14-7 lead early in the third period.