BREATHING PLAYOFF FIRE

Class 1A, DII’s 14th-ranked Iredell Dragons soar past Calvert in Bi-District playoff matchup to become Bosque County’s only remaining six-man team in the postseason; Kopperl, Walnut Springs eliminated

And then there was one. After three of Bosque County’s five six-man football teams advanced to the Class 1A, Division II state tournament, only the 14th-ranked Iredell Dragons came off the field following a round of Bi-District Playoff games under the Friday night lights victorious.

With Iredell’s dominating 64-14 win over the Calvert Trojans, the Dragons (10-1) advance to the Class 1A, DII Area Playoffs to face the District 10-1A, DII champion Bynum Bulldogs (8-3) at 7 p.m. Friday in Meridian’s Jacket Stadium. The 19th-ranked Bulldogs advanced with an equally convincing 61-12 victory over the Apple Springs Eagles.

“Bynum will bring completely different challenges than what we faced versus Calvert,” Iredell head coach Luis Guereca said. “The Bulldogs are fundamental and disciplined with a solid running game. We will have to be ready for the physicality they will bring this week. I know our guys will be up for the challenge.”

IREDELL 64, CALVERT 14

Sophomore Jordan Gutierrez ran for four touchdowns while sophomore Cole Heutzenroeder rushed for three scores and tossed a touchdown pass as the 14th-ranked Iredell Dragons soared to a convincing 64-14 victory over the Calvert Trojans in a Class 1A, DII Bi-District Playoff matchup last Friday night at Jonesboro’s Pruitt Field.

Scoring 32 unanswered points to open the contest, the Dragons piled up 527 yards of total offense before ending the game early in the fourth quarter by virtue of the 45-point mercy rule. With 483 yards coming on the ground, Gutierrez ran wild for 342 yards on only 18 carries, while Heutzenroeder added another 132 yards rushing while tossing a 29-yard scoring strike to sophomore Caleb Garland.

“It was a great way to start the playoffs – big win for us,” Iredell head coach Luis Guereca said. “We were able to get a good start, and the momentum carried throughout the rest of the game.”

While the Dragon defense came up with three turnovers, Heutzenroeder and Garland led Iredell with 17 tackles each, followed by sophomore Caden Sweat with 10 takedowns and a fumble recovery, freshman Gavin Vara with nine tackles and a fumble recovery, as well as Gutierrez with eight and a fumble recovery.

“Our defense was on point, the kids flew around and attacked from the beginning,” Guereca said. “The offensive line had a big night. They opened up some big lanes for our backs, and the backs hit the hole hard. Just an overall clean game, and that’s what we needed for a team like this.”

OGLESBY 60, WALNUT SPRINGS 14

After earning a trip to the Class 1A, DII playoffs for the first time in three seasons, the Walnut SpringS Hornets proved to be no match for sixth-ranked Oglesby as the Tigers ran away with a 60-14 victory last Friday night in Valley Mills.

The Hornets scored on the game’s opening possession, but the lead proved to be short lived. Breaking loose for long touchdown runs, Oglesby junior Kyler Fossett scored five times while piling up 252 rushing yards and threw a scoring strike to lead the Tiger (10-0) offensive assault on Walnut Springs (4-7).

“We came out and scored on our first possession, and then the flood gates opened,” Walnut Springs head coach Lonnie Flippen said. “We did not have an answer for the Tigers speed. They have everything they need to make a run at the state title. They have the speed, size, athleticism, physicality and coaching. It will take a very talented team to beat them. Oglesby may very well be in Jerry’s World in a few weeks.”

For the Hornets, senior Bryan Chavez completed 16 of 26 passes for 168 yards, connecting sophomore Cameron Mitchell for a score. Senior Diego Muniz led the Hornet receiving corps with six catches for 68 yards, while junior Jesse Lamb rushed for 47 yards and touchdown.

“I am so proud of these Hornets,” Flippen said. “By mid-season, everyone had written us off. But when we got semi-healthy, we made a run and made the playoffs. They never let down. They played hard all year, and in the end, they made the playoffs.

“Senior leadership deserves a lot of credit. The five seniors wanted to go out winners and in my opinion, they accomplished just that. These guys have played together since the 7th grade and have made me and the community proud for the last several years. We’ll now see what the future holds in store for this group and the rest of the Hornets.”

OAKWOOD 51, KOPPERL 6

After clinching their first trip to the postseason since 2018, the short-handed Kopperl Eagles fell short of their dreams for a playoff win as the Oakwood Panthers left no doubt with a 51-6 Bi-District Playoff victory on their home field last Friday night.

Losing four players before the game, the Eagles (7-4) suited up eight to take on Oakwood. Junior Christian Falk connected with freshman Kaden Watts on a scoring strike just before halftime, but it only delayed the inevitable.

“I felt that one of our strengths was my ability to shuffle players in and out and keep fresh folks in the game,” Kopperl first-year head coach Ken Davis said. “With all the losses, it left me with only eight players in total. Oakwood is a very well- balanced team who keeps coming at you.”

Despite trailing by only 16 points at halftime, the Panthers (6-5) pounced on the depleted Eagles in the second half to run away with the contest.

“We kind of wore down in the second half, and the Panthers took advantage,” Davis said. “We could never get our spread game going. And every time we seemed poised to score, Oakwood came up with a big stop, or we made a costly mistake.

“Defensively, we held them in the first half except for a couple of big plays. Oakwood caught a few breaks and held the lead at half. As the second half, we ended up with only one person on the sideline, and Oakwood just pressured us the rest of the way.

“I tell the guys to look at the overall accomplishments this season and not just dwell on the last two games. We have no seniors this year, so everyone should be back. With the success during the year and the playoff experience, it should set us up for another good year next year, and maybe win a round or two in the postseason.”