Vengeance is Mine; Jackets beat West Plains in Rematch

(Photo credit to Kimmie McKinney Photography – more photos at Kimmie McKinney Photography on Facebook)

Lubbock, TX– The Oxford dictionary defines vengeance as retribution exacted for an injury or wrong. It certainly felt wrong a year ago when Stephenville’s season came to an end in the regional final at the goal line, losing 42-35 to West Plains. Righting that wrong this time around, there would be no controversial ending versus West Plains in the same round, winning 42-21.

The game certainly didn’t feel like it would go Stephenville’s way through the first quarter and a half. A tidal wave of momentum for the Wolves had them up 21-7 with just a couple of minutes remaining in the first half. However, a stop by the War Dog defense would get the ball back to Stephenville with less than two minutes remaining. Trot Jordan would find Adan Jergins for a 16 yard touchdown and momentum going into the half. Or so it would seem that the scoring was over for the first half. The Stephenville defense would force West Plains’ first turnover of the game near midfield. One play later, the Jackets would line up for a 48 yard field goal on the final play of the first half. Brighton Devivio would nail the long field goal and Stephenville’s deficit had been trimmed to 21-17 heading to the intermission.

The burst at the end of the first half would be the boost that would propel Stephenville to 34 unanswered points. The Jackets would clamp down on West Plains so much that the Wolves did not complete a pass in the second half until halfway through the fourth quarter. Additionally, the quick screens and stretch runs for West Plains that saw them on the edges of the Stephenville defense for great success early in the game had been eliminated by adjustments from the coaching staff.

Stephenville QB Trot Jordan was 13/24 for 221 yards with two interceptions and two TD’s passing. He would also run for 87 yards and two scores. Zyler McClendon would rush 14 for 66 yards and a score himself. Receiving, Caden Monk had 6 catches for 73 yards, Adan Jergins would haul in three for 67 yards and two touchdowns, Jhett Banuelos with one for eight yards, Devivo with a catch for 34 yards and Rhett Donham, one for 40 yards.

Defensively, Briar Floyd, Hudson Butchee, CJ Spellmeier and Caleb Taylor each had ten tackles. Nolan Griswold and Taylor would each have a sack. The War Dogs forced two fumbles with Taylor and Griswold credited with forcing the fumbles and Butchee and Spellmeier each recovered one.

Next up for Stephenville will be the defending state champs Celina. The state semi-final game will be held at Eagle Mountain Lake High School’s Knight Stadium. The kick will be 7pm on Friday, December 12th.