Steers, Mules ousted from Texas playoffs

SNYDER, Texas – Farwell and Muleshoe saw their seasons come to an end in the area round of the Texas football playoffs.

After the Mules were ousted in Class 3A Division I by Brock 76-13 on Thursday night at San Angelo, the Steers went out in Class 2A Division I on Friday with a 42-14 loss to Sonora.

Senior quarterback Jaime Buitron ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more, and the Broncos (11-1) added scores on a 65-yard return of the second-half kickoff by junior Julian Zaragoza and a 60-yard interception return in the final stanza by senior Edgar Deluna in knocking out the Steers (8-4) in the second round for the second year in a row.

Buitron connected on a 31-yard scoring toss to junior Kam Aguero midway through the first quarter, then ran for a 6-yard TD late in the period. With a pair of 2-point conversions, the Broncos led 16-0.

Senior Corey Stancell, who later left late in the second quarter with a leg injury, got Farwell on the board on the first play of the second frame on a 9-yard run. The Steers got their other touchdown late in the game on a 45-yard pass from junior Jonathan Armstrong to junior Ryder McElroy.

Armstrong completed 13-of-27 passes for 141 yards. There were five receivers, led by McElroy with six catches for 87 yards.

Despite his limited time on the field, Stancell led the Steers in rushing with six carries for 31 yards. For the season, he ran the ball 159 times for 1,295 yards (8.1 ypc) with 23 touchdowns.

Armstrong totaled 886 yards with 14 TDs on the ground, and threw for 1,886 yards and 18 scores.

Brock 76, Muleshoe 13 (Thursday) – At San Angelo, the defending Class 3A Division I runnerup Eagles jumped on Muleshoe for a 34-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.

Sophomore Colt Matlock scored on a 39-yard pass from junior quarterback Brody Woods and also returned a kickoff 81 yards and a punt 51 yards for touchdowns for the Eagles (9-3), who are ranked eighth in 3A-I and extended their winning streak to eight games.

Woods was 8-of-11 passing for 156 yards, also tossing a scoring pass each to seniors Jaxon Hart and Britton Burrow. Meantime, the Eagles compiled 224 yards rushing, with eight ballcarriers averaging 8.3 yards a tote.

On defense, Brock intercepted four passes, two by junior Jesse Rusinek and another returned 52 yards for a TD by senior Hyatt Dunaway. Senior Caiden Riddle was 10-for-10 on PAT kicks, with the Eagles failing on a 2-point conversion try after their other score.

It was the second consecutive year that Brock has eliminated the Mules (9-3) from the postseason in the area round.