Although more than 25,000 purple-and-white Indians supporters left the Astrodome disappointed with the outcome, it is hard to imagine any complaints as to whether they got their money’s worth from the Class 4A Division II championship game.
Stephenville, following the scintillating performance of quarterback Kendal Briles, claimed its fourth championship of the decade, topping Port Neches-Groves 28-18 in a heart-pounding contest before a raucous crowd that provided an atmosphere more akin to Mardis Gras than a high school football game.
The Yellowjackets (16-0), champions in 1998, 1993 and 1994, cemented their status as Class 4A “Team of the ’90s.”
“I guess that we can be thrown in the category, but there are a lot of other fine programs that have done a great job in the ’90s,” said Stephenville coach Art Briles. “We just happen to be one that fulfilled our expectations as well as we could. We’re just grateful to be in that same class with those other people.”
Briles finished with 224 total yards and three rushing touchdowns. He also intercepted two passes on defense. The junior led the Yellowjackets on two second-half scoring drives, utilizing what seemed like an endless array of fakes and jukes to elude the Indians’ defense.
“The offensive line did a great job blocking for me,” he said. “They opened up lanes, and with everybody keying on (tailback) Zac (Hunter), that opened up more lanes.”
The Indians (14-2) pulled within 14-12 when tailback Bo Wortham avoided the tackle of Stephenville’s Caleb Reeves, cut back across the field and outran the Yellowjackets’ defense for a 41-yard touchdown with 7:27 left in the third quarter. Wortham’s thrilling dash ignited an already boisterous PN-G crowd, and the Indians seemed on the cusp of taking control.
“We gave it our hardest tonight,” Wortham said. “We thought that we could hang with them, and we got kind of close. But we just gave it up a little bit.”
It was more a case of Briles and the Yellowjackets taking the momentum rather than an Indians relinquishment. Stephenville marched 79 yards on 14 plays to answer the PN-G score, with Briles responsible for three drive-extending, third-down conversions.
After turning a 20-yard run and a 21-yard pass into first downs, Briles raced 15 yards into the end zone, giving the Yellowjackets a 21-12 lead. Briles accounted for all 79 yards on the drive, and his third score of the game quickly shifted the momentum back to Stephenville.
“Every time we put them in a situation where we could handle them, the quarterback would bust out of there,” PN-G coach Matt Burnett said. “He was the difference on their offense.”
After a PN-G punt, both teams traded turnovers before the Yellowjackets took possession with 5:35 remaining. Briles led Stephenville on a game-clinching, seven-play, 61-yard drive, the final snap resulting in a one-yard scoring run by fullback Derek Haney. The Yellowjackets pulled ahead 28-12, and despite a late PN-G score, the Indians were never able to catch Stephenville.
“They have a great football team,” Burnett said. “(But) I was real proud of my kids. It just wasn’t meant to be. We had a good year, but this is just a tough situation.”
It didn’t take long for the Yellowjackets’ offense to get rolling. After forcing a PN-G punt, Stephenville moved briskly downfield, covering 66 yards in 13 plays with an assortment of quick passes and short runs. After converting a fourth-and-one at the PN-G nine, Haney fumbled on first-and-goal, and Indians linebacker Cody Clark recovered at the one.
However, PN-G was unable to convert, and after a 32-yard punt from Dustin Long, the Yellowjackets did not waste their second opportunity on offense. Stephenville drove 33 yards in three plays, scoring when Briles turned a sure sack into a spectacular 15-yard touchdown run. Briles completely reversed field on the carry, breaking three tackles before tiptoeing down the sideline and into the end zone. Eben Nelson’s extra point put the Yellowjackets ahead 7-0 with 4:06 remaining in the first quarter.
The Indians answered with a scoring drive of their own. Long completed consecutive first down passes, one for 16 yards to Jonathan Lumbley, and another for 18 yards to Joey Price. The PN-G drive stalled at the 27, but Price gave the Indians their first points with a 43-yard field goal at the 1:45 mark, cutting the Stephenville advantage to 7-3.
That score did not deter the Yellowjackets’ offense. Behind Briles and Hunter, Stephenville marched 69 yards in 5:59. On the 15th play of the drive, Briles scored after faking a handoff inside, then scurrying three yards for the TD. Nelson’s conversion gave Stephenville a 14-3 lead with 7:37 left in the half.
The Indians would catch a break just before halftime. After Briles intercepted Long on PN-G’s first-and-10 from the Yellowjackets’ 29, Stephenville turned the ball back over to the Indians three plays later.
Briles fumbled trying to stretch for a first down, and PN-G defensive back Jeremy Neeb made the recovery at the 43. That set up another long field goal by Price – 48 yards to end the half. Despite allowing 200 yards of offense in the first half, the Indians only trailed 14-6.
Article From NFLHS.COM
