Sherman deals Tigers’ playoff hopes a blow
SHERMAN, Texas—Texas High’s playoff hopes took a big hit on the muddy turf at Bearcat Stadium Friday.
The Tigers were unable to convert late to find the tying—and possible winning—points in a tooth-and-nail battle with Sherman, which survived for a 27-21 win.
Statistically, the Bearcats held a huge advantage, but Texas High was in the game until Sherman’s final possession covered the final 4:10 of the clock on eight plays.
“The kids fought hard, they battled hard,” THS coach Gerry Stanford said. “We had the turnover early on and were still leading at the half.
“It was a game of opportunities, and we just missed some opportunities that could’ve made a difference,” Stanford said. “The kids battled, and that’s what you ask them to do.”
Chris Lyles’ interception on Sherman’s previous drive gave Texas High the ball back, and the Tigers drove to Bearcat side of the field before turning the ball over on downs at the 40.
Sherman (3-4, 2-1) finished with 446 yards of total
offense—390 rushing on 58 carries. Mike Brown led the ground attack with 33 totes for 235 yards and three scores.
Texas High (2-6, 0-4) managed 211 yards of offense. Coltin Clack threw for 130 on 11-of-24 passing with an interception and a touchdown to Myles Washington, who had six grabs for 81 yards.
Chris Sutton added 19 rushes for 96 yards, Clack ran for a TD and Seth Willis scored on special teams after making two huge plays on Sherman punts.
The Bearcats held a 260-73 advantage in first-half yardage, but it was the Tigers who took a 14-13 lead into the locker room at intermission—aided in part to two blocked punts by Willis.
Willis came around the left end and blocked a punt on Sherman’s third possession, giving Texas High the ball at the Bearcat 14. Two plays later, the only turnover of the half came on a lost fumble at the 2.
Sherman drove to its 40 on 10 plays, but the Tiger defense forced another punt. Willis again raced around the left end, untouched, blocked the kick and scooped-andscored from the 18 to give THS a 13-7 lead.
Diego Mata-Chavez’s PAT made it 14-7.
Sherman chewed up 5:25 off the clock on its ensuing possession, marching 84 yards on 14 plays. Bentsen needed two attempts to score on a keeper from the 1 with 2:24 left before halftime, but the extra point was missed, preserving the 1-point lead by the Tigers.
Brown raced 17 yards for the Bearcats on their initial drive for the game’s first score.
On Texas High’s third possession, after the defense forced a three-and-out and punt from the Sherman 15, Washington adjusted his route and undercut the cornerback to snag a 29-yard TD catch from Clack with 2:21 left in the first quarter.
“You’ve got to fight hard through mistakes and fight hard through adversities, and these kids did that,” Stanford said. “It’s no different than life: you don’t have what you want, but that doesn’t mean you quit.
“There will be tough times in life sometimes; you just keep fighting and find ways to get better.”