TEXANS HEADED TO STATE

For the first time in eight years, and just the third time in school history, the Wimberley Texans will be playing for a State Championship.

The Texans held off a furious Silsbee Tigers’ comeback that saw the Tigers score 27 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarter to trim a 49-16 lead down to a 49-43 game.

But the Wimberley defense came up with the biggest stops of the game forcing a fumble and a fourth down stop to give the Texans a 56-43 win.

“I’ve watched these guys (Silsbee) on video week after week be down 21-14 and come roaring back”, Head Football Coach Doug Warren said after the game. “You don’t get to this round of the playoffs without fighting, and they (Silsbee) kept fighting.”

The Texans struck the first blow of the game as Cooper McCollum found Josh Limely for the 38 yard touchdown pass to take an early lead at 7-0.

After a Silsbee field goal that cut the lead to 7-3, the Texans drove deep into the Tiger territory but couldn’t convert on 4th down and gave Silsbee the ball back.

Despite the turnover on downs, the Texan defense held firm and stopped the Tigers on fourth down to give the ball back to the offense.

Following another Texan drive going deep into Silsbee territory, Wimberley scored again as Moses Wray ran for the 20 yard score to extend the lead at 14-3.

After forcing Silsbee to punt, the Texans struck again as McCollum hit Jaxon Watts for the 64 yard touchdown pass to go up 21-3.

Following another stop by the Texan defense, McCollum hit Christian Marshall for the 44-yard pass for another Wimberley touchdown to extend their lead to 28-3.

The Tigers finally caught a break heading into the second half as Silsbee scored on the hook-and-lateral from K’Darian Carthwright to Chris Martin to cut the lead to just 28-9 following the miss two-point conversion.

The start of the second turned into a disastrous start for the Tigers. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball was fumbled into the endzone, which was recovered by Wimberley’s Brandon Martin for the touchdown to make the score 35-9.

Silsbee rebounded after the fumble with a quick score as Tiger quarterback Raymond Foster hit Chris Martin for the 46 yard pass to cut the lead to 35-16.

But the Wimberley offense didn’t let up and scored following a McCollum screen pass to Wray, which went 65 yards for the score to extend the lead at 42-16.

The Wimberley defense came up with one of their biggest stops of the game following the touchdown as Marshall picked off the Silsbee pass. He was injured on the return.

The turnover turned into seven points for the Texans as McCollum found Colby Goforth in the endzone making the score a 49-16 lead. But, the next five minutes of game time were the Texans worst nightmare.

On the ensuing kickoff, Silsbee began to makes its comeback like they have done for most of the season.

Dralyn Taylor returned the kickoff 95 yards for the score to cut the lead at 49-23.

The Tigers then intercepted a pass. The Silsbee offense made a long drive deep into Texan territory before scoring on a Taylor five-yard run. The Wimberley lead was now 49-29 following a miss extra point.

The Texan offense was snuffed out on 3rd and 10 following the Tiger touchdown and was forced to punt.

Silsbee scored once again following

Christian Marshall celebrates his touchdown catch.

another long drive into Texan territory. Foster crossed the goal line on a one-yard score to cut the lead down to 49-36.

Following another stop by the Silsbee defense, the Tigers struck again as Foster hit Carthwright for the 56 yard pass to cut the lead to just a 49-43 game.

Silsbee had scored 27 points in the last five minutes and 54 seconds of game time.

After the Texans couldn’t convert on fourth down following two Wimberley touchdown passes that were called back due to penalty, Silsbee had an opportunity to take their first lead of the entire game.

But, as has happened throughout the season, the Wimberley defense stepped up again. The Texans forced a fumble, which was recovered by Dalton Blackburn, giving them a chance to seal the game.

The Texans took advantage of the turnover. Wimberley drove into the redzone following a big fourth down conversion. The drive ended when Wray scored his second rushing touchdown of the game and third overall touchdown on a three-yard run to extend the lead at 56-43.

Silsbee made one more effort to score again, but the Texan defense stopped the Tiger offense to seal Wimberley’s trip to State.

Wimberley will now face Texarkana Pleasant Grove for the 4A Division II State Championship 3:30 on Friday inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington. This will be the Hawks third straight appearance in the State Championship beating West Orange Stark 2017 and losing to Cuero in 2018.