UP FOR GRABS
DICKINSON — The Dickinson Gators honored 25 former players on the 40th anniversary of their 1977 Class 3A championship Friday at halftime.
Myles Lewis made sure they were still celebrating after the game.
The senior tailback supplied 257 total yards and three touchdowns in a 4821 win over Clear Brook at Sam Vitanza Stadium, clinching a playoff spot for Dickinson and ending the Wolverines’ season.
“We had to (clinch),” Lewis said. “We couldn’t disappoint the team that won state.”
Regulars in the playoffs
The Gators (7-2, 5-2) will open the 6A Division I playoffs against Hastings at 7 p.m. next Friday at Crump Stadium.
This is their sixth consecutive playoff appearance.
“There are a lot of talented teams out there, but when the Dickinson Gators are focused and trying as hard as they can, I’m betting on blue,” Dickinson coach John Snelson said.
Clear Brook ended its season in disappointing fashion, finishing 5-4, 3-4 and outside the postseason a year after going 8-5 and reaching the Division II regional semis, then returning its top three offensive players, including standout wide receiver Caleb Chapman, a Texas A&M pledge.
Chapman entered the game with 39 receptions for 592 yard and 16 touchdowns.
With Dickinson smothering him Friday, he managed only three receptions for 1 yard through three quarters.
He finally hauled in a 26-yard touchdown pass in the fourth, cutting the deficit to 34-14.
“We were going to bracket him, take him away and try to make them run the football, which is scary because their running back’s really good, too,” Snelson said. “But we weren’t going to let (Chapman) beat us.”
Fellow Texas A&M commit Montel Parker, the Gators’ quarterback the last three games after replacing Cameron Collins in an attempt to spark the offense, ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
He exited with 8:52 left in the third and didn’t return after landing awkwardly on his right throwing wrist. He watched the fourth in a sling.
“He’s going to be OK, but we have complete confidence in Cameron,” Snelson said.
Collins, who Snelson said injured his shoulder in the setback with Clear Springs — contributing to Parker’s move under center — showed why, coming in to throw two touchdown passes after Parker’s exit.
He finished 4 of 4 passing for 75 yards.
Parker’s 44-yard scoring run gave Dickinson a 6-0 lead. He pushed it to 27-7 with a 42-yard touchdown run early in the third.
“Montel’s such a dynamic athlete, (moving him to QB) really gave us something teams weren’t preparing for,” Snelson said.
They can prepare all they want for Lewis — it doesn’t matter.
He ran for scores of 1, 11 and 44 yards, with his last touchdown extending Dickinson’s edge to 41-14 with 9:03 to play, and finished with 170 yards on 20 carries and 87 yards on five receptions.
“Myles Lewis had been dinged up,” Snelson said. “He looked much, much better (Friday) — much quicker, much more of a burst.”
‘This is a big deal’
Dickinson finished with 507 yards and 19 first downs.
Clear Brook registered 285 yards and 14 first downs, with quarterback Jaizac Garcia going 13-of28 for 143 yards and two scores.
“This is a big deal,” Snelson said about making the playoffs. “We really set a precedent here that playoffs are expected.
“We had to do a little soul-searching, and I’m really proud of the coaching staff and our kids for battling through that adversity.”