Panthers keep it simple in 2A state title clash

TEXICO - Jal kept it simple in Friday's Class 2A state football championship game.

It was Alexavier Carreon right, Carreon left and Carreon up the middle - to the tune of 48 carries for four touchdowns and 226 yards - as the top-ranked Panthers used a quick start and ball control to notch a 41-21 victory over third-seeded Texico, completing a 13-0 campaign.

Carreon, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior quarterback/linebacker, simply wore down the game-but-young Wolverines with punishing runs which chipped away at Texico's defense. Six of Jal's nine full possessions lasted six or more plays, and the Panthers finished with nearly 34 minutes in time of possession to just over 14 for the Wolverines.

Except for a 31-yard touchdown pass from Carreon to a wide-open Ethan Sandoval midway through the second quarter, the remainder of the Panthers' 328 total yards came from rushes by Carreon and senior running back Jacob Lujan (nine totes for 77 yards and a score).

"We kind of lived with our spread option (attack during the season)," third-year Panthers coach Dusty Giles said. "When we played Texico the first time (a 41-35 Jal win at Texico in District 4-2A on Oct. 14), they were very aggressive. We felt like if we could get through those defensive linemen and to the second level, good things could happen."

The Wolverines (9-4), whose only senior, Jadyn Gonser, was lost to injury early in the season, made just enough mistakes to help the senior-laden Panthers keep them at bay. Two interceptions by Lujan led to touchdowns, and another scoring drive was kept alive by a roughing-the-punter penalty.

"The (first) two playoff games we started really slow," Giles said. "We wanted to come out with fire and take the game to them."

Jal was in the finals for the second year in a row, having lost to district rival Eunice last season. It was the Panthers' first state title since 1999.

"When you have a young team like we have, and you get to the championship game ... Those guys played for a state championship last year and got beat," Texico coach Bob Gilbreath said. "Experience plays a big roll in the success of your team."

Jal tallied on its first four possessions. Trailing 19-0, the Wolverines got on the board late in the opening canto on junior quarterback Cade Figg's 76-yard run, but the Panthers took advantage of the roughing-the-punter penalty to restore a 27-7 cushion on the Carreon-to-Sandoval pass midway through the second stanza.

The Wolverines, seeking the school's first state football title since 2008, got back in it on a 15-yard TD pass from Figg to junior Kyle Gonser in the final minute of the half, then was to receive the second-half kickoff. But the Panthers surprised them with an onside kick which they recovered, and Carreon capped a 10-play, six-minute drive with a 1-yard plunge to make it 34-13.

Carreon added his final TD run early in the final period. The Wolverines scored late on an 8-yard pass from Figg to sophomore wide receiver Bryce Cooper.

"There are some things you can't simulate, like playing in a championship game," Gilbreath said. "What matters is what you do each play, and focusing on your assignment.

"I thought we had a really good game plan coming in, and it just kind of unraveled on us. Sometimes it's your day, and sometimes it's not."

Figg finished with 90 rushing yards and went 10-of-19 through the air for 115 yards. Gonser and junior Daltyn Cain each caught three passes for the Wolverines.

Texico, which won at No. 2 seed Santa Rosa in the semifinals, scored more than half the points allowed by both the Lions (9-3) and Jal in two games against each - 64 of 104 against Santa Rosa, 56 of 99 given up by the Panthers.

Farwell, Muleshoe bow out in playoffs - The season came to an end for two teams playing in the area round of the Texas playoffs.

In Class 2A Division I on Friday night at Big Spring, senior quarterback Alec Actkinson's short touchdown run and junior Jackson Wilbourn's PAT kick gave Farwell a 7-6 lead over Sonora late in the first quarter, but the Bulldogs scored twice more before halftime and held on for an 18-7 victory over the Steers (9-3). Sonora (10-2) will take on unbeaten Hawley, a 72-26 winner over Panhandle, in the regional round this week.

At Sweetwater, Muleshoe lost to defending Class 3A Division I state runnerup Brock 57-20 on Thursday night to finish its season at 8-4. The Eagles (8-4), who have won eight in a row since an 0-4 start, move into the regional round this week to face the Mules' District 2-3A rival, Bushland, which ousted Jim Ned 28-10.