Flash staff report
October 1, 2022
The winning streak continues at Stephenville High School (22, if we include last season). The #1 Yellow Jackets (6-0) burned the ‘Wood on Friday and are headed into district on a high after defeating the Brownwood Lions (4-2) at Tarleton’s Memorial Stadium.
It was all tied up 14-14 after two quarters and the Yellow Jackets came out of the half fired up, scoring 21 and holding the Lions out of the end zone for the entire third quarter. The final score was 42-21, in Stephenville’s favor.
The Yellow Jackets’ sophomore QB, #20 Ryan Gafford, completed 11 of 19 for 270 yards and 4 TDs on Friday night. He hit senior #10 Payton Poston 5 times for 81 yards and a TD, junior #14 Wyatt Kreutz 4 times for 59 yards and a TD, junior Tate Maruska once for 75 yards and a TD and sophomore Tristian Gentry once for 55 yards and a TD.
Starting running back, Maruska carried the ball 16 times for 108 yards and another touchdown, while senior #19 Caden Henderson carried the ball 14 times for 35 yards and a TD and Gafford carried the ball himself 5 times for 24 yards.
And junior #30 Diego Chavarria was 6 of 6 on PATs and Poston punted the ball 5 times for a total of 180 yards, with the longest of the night being 48 yards.
On the other side of the ball, the defense put the breaks on the Lions in the second half, allowing only a single touchdown after the break. Senior #11 Bradley Beaty got an interception that really changed the momentum of the game at that time. While juniors #44 Wesley Griffin and #6 Camden McKinney both got tackles for loss.
Leading the War Dogs on defense were #3 senior Kyler Eudy who had 4 tackles and 5 assists, Beaty who had 3 solo tackles (including two for Brownwood loss) and five assists, senior #13 Hayden Keith who had 4 tackles and 2 assists and Griffin who had 2 solo tackles (one for a Lion loss of yards) and four assists.
This was the Stephenville HS Heart of Gold Game which is a fundraising event for a selected student each year. This year’s recipient was Eliana Jones, who was born August 25, 2013, with Autism and Down Syndrome. According to her family, Eliana has always faced whatever life has thrown her way with a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. But this summer, she was sent to Cooks Children’s Hospital where she was diagnosed with Childhood Leukemia. Through it all, Eliana has remained the sweet, vibrant, lovable child she has always been. And now, the Stephenville community has come together to help Eliana and her family with some of the mounting medical expenses. Feel better, Eliana. We’re all praying for you!!!
The Jackets, who are ranked #1 in class 4A, Division I, held onto their spot in the polls, while Brownwood fell several spots after the loss. China Spring, who is in Stephenville’s district, are ranked #2 in 4A.
Stephenville will be idle next week as the team and coaching staff look to start District 5, 4A play in two weeks at home against Waxahachie Life on October 14. Then the Jackets will travel to China Spring in what looks to be a huge game for Stephenville.
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