Wildcats’ unbeaten season comes to end
Wheatley will have to wait at least one more year.
The Wildcats opened the Class 4A Division I bi-district playoffs with a perfect 6-0 record and soaring expectations, but Brazosport was an obstacle they couldn’t overcome. Running back Paul Woodard rushed for five touchdowns, and the Exporters sent the Wildcats away with a 44-16 win Saturday at Barnett Stadium.
“We made quite a few mistakes early in the first half that put us in a hole,” Wheatley coach Cornelius McFarland said. “When you’re playing anybody in the playoffs, and you make those kinds of mistakes, it’s hard to make up ground.”
Wheatley’s last playoff win was in 2011, 37-22 over Waltrip.
The loss leaves the Wildcats, who won the District 11-4A-I championship, with a 6-1 record on the COVID-19-shortened season.
The last time they finishedwith only one loss was in 1980 (9-1).
“It’s been quite a while,” McFarland said. “But we would have loved to have had a loss early, and then get to the second round, but this is theway it ended.
“It’s tough, but we’ll be back.”
Brazosport (4-6) picked up its first playoff victory since ousting Worthing 66-0 in 2017. It advances to face Huffman Hargrave, a 19-10 winner over Palestine, in the area round at 7 p.m. Friday in Splendora.
An inauspicious start was a sign of things to come for Wheatley.
The team’s kick returner decided to bring the opening kickoff out of the end zone, but he couldn’t get out and was tackled for a safety nine seconds in. Brazosport took the ensuing kickoff 54 yards on nine plays, scoring on Woodard’s 2-yard run for a 9-0 advantage with 9:02 left in the first quarter.
Brazosport, the 12-4A-I fourth seed, pushed its lead to 16-0 late in the first quarter.
Wheatley mounted a response in the second quarter, but two promising drives ended in consecutive 37- and 21-yard field goals by Jose Galarcza, temporarily trimming Brazosport’s lead to 16-6.
The Exporters responded with a 23-second scoring drive.
Wide receiver Jamerian Knoxon hauled in a 53-yard pass from quarterback Kariyen Goins, and then Woodard broke free for a 27-yard score, giving Brazosport a 23-6 halftime lead. Woodard scored twice more in the third quarter, on runs of 49 and 15 yards, to put the game out of reach.
Galarcza added a 24-yard field goal in the third.
Trailing 44-9, Kevin Harris supplied Wheatley’s first touchdown while at quarterback on a 30-yard run with 3:44 left in the game.
Wheatley running back Jaquell Bonner had 122 yards on19 carries, and17 yards on three catches
Woodard led the Exporters’ attack with 179 yards on 26 carriers before taking a seat for the fourth quarter.
“He had a wonderful game,” McFarland said. “He’s an outstanding kid, and coach (Mark) Kanipes did a real good job with his kids. My hat goes off to them. I just hate that our season came to an end.
“But we’re happy that we did get a football season in, so I’ve got to tell my guys to keep their heads up, and hopefully we can put it back together next year.”