By BRAD KEITH
TheFlashToday.com
GRANBURY (June 4, 2016) — Stephenville built a 20-0 halftime lead and appeared set to cruise on to a state tournament berth.
Abilene Wylie had other plans.
The District 3-4A Division I rivals met in a rare 7-on-7 showdown Saturday in the semifinals of the Glen Rose State Qualifier, and Wylie wiped out a 20-0 halftime deficit to upend Stephenville, 26-20, in overtime.
Three interceptions in the second half, one in overtime and one back in the first half were the key for Wylie after Stephenville opened the scoring with an interception return for a touchdown by Rett Dittfurth. Easton Jones then tossed touchdowns Holden Haile and Blake Aragon as the Stephenville defense kept getting stops until halftime.
Mason Holstein also had a first-half interception for Stephenville.
Wylie began to gather momentum by scoring on the second play of the second half, then the interceptions and stops began for the Bulldog defense.
Wylie had one long touchdown pass waved off for taking longer than four seconds to deliver the ball, and Stephenville had a first down and promising drive taken away when officials declared – retroactively – that a muffed snap meant a dead ball. Jones gathered the loose snap quickly and delivered a first down pass, but Wylie protested and officials disagreed at first then sided with the Bulldog defense.
The Yellow Jackets won their pool by defeating Eastland 27-25, Tolar 49-24 and Waco Connally 24-14. Two pools and one semifinal were played at Pirate Stadium in Granbury to take advantage of synthetic turf as opposed to rain-soaked grass practice fields outside Tiger Stadium in Glen Rose.
Dublin participated in Glen Rose, beating Hillsboro but falling to Godley and Snyder in pool play. Godley went on to defeat Glen Rose, 32-21, in the other semifinal to claim the second state berth.
Stephenville also reached the semifinals in McGregor two weeks ago, but lost to Waco Reicher.
STEPHENVILLE VS. WYLIE
Dublin vs. Snyder
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