Mustangs pull out close win to advance
With Cypress Ranch lining up for a game-winning field-goal attempt with four seconds left, Westfield running back Rayshawn James could only hope he would have another opportunity.
When he did, he knew what to do — score.
The kick sailed wide left, and then the senior supplied a 17-yard rushing touchdown in overtime, helping Westfield outlast Cy Ranch 24-17 on Saturday at Thorne Stadium in the Class 6A playoffs.
“The feeling is tremendous,” said James, who finished with 96 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. “Everybody’s happy, all smiles, and it’s a real big burden off our shoulders.”
By handing Cy Ranch (11-1) its first loss of the season, Westfield (11-1) is moving on to the regional semifinals for the 11th time in the last 15 years. It will face Mesquite Horn (5-7) in the 6A Division II Region II semifinals at 7 p.m. Friday at Sam Houston State’s Bowers Stadium in Huntsville.
“That’s a complete team victory,” Westfield coach Matt Meekins said. “That was two really good high school football teams on the field — two really wellprepared teams with good players and good coaches.”
Westfield and Cy Ranch traded scores in a furious finish to their first meeting. Cy Ranch took its first lead 14-10 on a 1-yard run by Willie Eldridge, but Westfield answered with its best drive of the game — a seven-play, 69-yard march capped by James’ 27-yard scoring reception.
Then Ranch tied it at 17 with 5:36 remaining on Austin Rychlik’s 20-yard field goal.
But after Westfield punted on its ensuing possession, Rychlik couldn’t reproduce the effort on a 37yard attempt as time ran out — after Meekins and his staff successfully iced the typically automatic senior.
“That’s the first time I’ve ever iced a kicker, and I don’t think I technically iced him,” Meekins said. “But there’s a technique and there’s a process, and I know their kicker’s a really good kicker. “So who knows.” After James scored in OT, Ian Massey’s interception on Cy Ranch’s offensive possession sealed the win.
Westfield forced three turnovers and held Cy Ranch to 265 total yards.
“I’m hurt for our kids, because they tried, they worked hard and they did their best, but that’s playoff football,” Cy Ranch coach Gene Johnson said. “They were a little bit better than we were (Saturday).”
Defense dominated the first half of he game. Westfield managed 158 yards but also committed eight penalties for 67 yards, and defensive back Rance McInnis’ interception of an ill-advised throw on the run by Westfield QB Ra’Quon Washington led to Cy Ranch’s only points before halftime on a 1-yard keeper by quarterback Logan McDougald.
His touchdown capped an eight-play, 53-yard drive after the takeaway, but that’s all Ranch accomplished before halftime.
It had 95 yards and one lost fumble at the break. Jaylen Stanford recovered the loose ball for Westfield, which kept Ranch outside its 40 on four of five firsthalf drives.
Westfield finished with 269 yards and 17 first downs.
Washington threw for 152 yards and two touchdowns with one interception on 11of-20 passing.