Forsan Buffaloes are Bi-district champs
BROWNWOOD - The Forsan Buffaloes looked adversity in the eye - several times, and never blinked. It accumulated into a hard earned 22-15 win over the Goldthwaite Eagles Friday night in bidistrict play at Gordan Wood Stadium.
The No.12 ranked Buffaloes, now 10-1 for the season, had their hands full with the Eagles, who finished the season with a 5-6 mark . Just like they have all year, the Buffs came up with the big plays when they needed them.
The game ended in dramatic fashion. Trailing 22-15, Goldthwaite marched from its own 33-yard line to a first and goal situation at the Forsan sevenyard line. The Forsan defense hung tough . On third and goal from the two, Forsan's Caden Morgan and another teammate dropped Goldthwaite quarterback Jackson Patrick for a two yard loss. On fourth down Patrick tried to run it again but host of Buffaloes hit him hard, made him fumble and the ball was recovered by linebacker Ernesto Rivera at the Forsan one with 1:42 left in the game. The outcome was sill in jeopardy however as Forsan was flagged for illegal celebration and the ball was moved half the distance to the goal, leaving Forsan with the ball at the one foot line.
On the first play Forsan signal caller Major Stockton barley got out of the end zone to avoid a safety. On second down running back Nate Hernandez ran for eight yards and all was good in Buffalotown as Forsan ran out the clock.
Forsan had other standout plays also. On the opening possession of the game, Forsan stopped Goldthwaite. But the Goldthwaite got off a 45 yard punt and the ball rolled dead at the Forsan one-yard line. Forsan couldn't move the ball and punted Nolan Park got his team out of a hole by booming a 68-yard punt, getting his team out of troubled waters.
Park, a junior, who also doubles at lineman and kicker, showed his leg strength all night. Constantly kicking the ball into the end zone on kickoffs and barley missing a 44-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. The ball hit the right goal post, it would've e been good from 54 yards.
Forsan trailed 9-7 at the half. It could've been worse if not from a strong effort from linebacker Josh Cervantes who chased down Goldthwaite running back Lane Evans on a 32-yard run. It made the E agles settle for a 29-yard field goal by Saul Vaquera.
Forsan's first half touchdown came on a nine yard scramble run by Stockton.
Goldthwaite's other touchdown came in the third quarter when Evans caught a seven-yard pass at the Forsan two. He was jarred from the ball by a hard hit in which his teammate Aaron Anzua got in mid air and strolled into the end zone for the score.
Forsan's other two touchdowns came on a 60yard pass from Stockton to Cervantes in the third period and a Hernandez five yard scoring run in the fourth period. Morgan also killed a Goldthwaite scoring threat in the third quarter by picking off a pass. The Buffaloes helped its own cause by not turning the ball over, compared to two turnovers by Goldthwaite.
Forsan's next opponent in the area round, will be New Deal, a 63-21 winner over Olton.
2nd
G - Saul Vaquera 29-yd FG, 8:48.
F- Major Stockton 9 yd. run, Nolan Park kick, 2:20. G- Aaron Anzua, 2-yd. fumble recovery, try for two fail, :30.
3rd
F - Stockton, 60-yd. pass to Josh Cervantes, Park kick, 10:40.
JG - Jackson Patrick, 9-yd. run, try for two fail, 3:14.
4th
F - Nate Hernandez, 5-yd. run, Hernandez run for two, 11:56.
Individuals
FORSAN - Rushing Stockton 11-91, Mike Mendez 7-44, Hernandez 12-53; Passing - Stockton 6-6-106 yds.; Receiving - Caden Morgan 3-38; Cervantes 2-74; Mendez 1-3.
GOLDTHWAITE -Rushing - Patrick 19-65; Seth Gardner 12-66; Luke Sanderson 3-9; Carsyn Campbell 7-28; Lane Evans 7-65; Passing - Patrick 4-6-77 yds., 1 int.; Receiving - Sanderson 2-71; Evans 1 -7; Cason Guthrie 1-minus 1.