Wimberley scores 24-17 win over Brownwood to advance to Class 3A, Division II regional final

By Randy Stevens

COPPERAS COVE — The Wimberley Texans trek towards a state title continued Friday, as the Texans handed Brownwood a 24-17 loss in a Class 3A, Division II battle at Copperas Cove’s Bulldawg Stadium.

With the win, the Texans advance to meet Graham In Waco Friday night at a time and site to be determined for the Region I title and spot in the state semifinals. As expected, it was a close game against the Lions, who brought a 10-2 record and capacity crowd on their side of the field. The tradition-rich program entered the game with a coach that had produced a state champion as a coach and fathered two great football players, one a blue-chip receiver for the Lions.

At the end of it all, however, it was Wimberley head coach Weldon Nelms leading the postgame celebration, as Brownwood’s Bob Shipley and his youngest son, Jaxson, left with the deflated feeling of defeat.

It was also Nelm’s 200th career win, one day before his 53rd birthday.

After a first-half defensive slugfest that saw the team battle to a 10-10 deadlock at intermission, momentum swung the Texans’ way in the on the first play of the second half when Chase Brown came through with an 80-yard kickoff return. The senior caught the ball on the right side of the field, followed a number of good blocks from his teammates, then bolted untouched down the sideline to give the Texans a 17-10 lead.

The Texans dodged a bullet on their next possession, as a fumble allowed Brownwood to recover and take over at Wimberley’s 37-yard line. Brownwood quarterback Vance McShan zipped a throw into the hands of Cade Johnson for a 25-yard gain, as the Lions moved the ball to the WHS’ 24-yard line.

But the WHS defense came through and forced a 42-yard field-attempt that fell short, allowing the Texans to hold on to the lead.

Brownwood returned the favor early in the fourth quarter, as McShan fumbled the snap, allowing Wimberley’s Rolando Mendoza to recover.

Seven plays later — thanks in part to runs of 23 and 32 yards from

sophomore running back Dennis Smith — WHS reached pay-dirt again. Smith took the honors with a 5-yard gain on a right-side sweep, giving the Texans a somewhat commanding, 24-10 lead with 6:54 left in the game.

However, a pair of untimely pass interference calls against the Texans rejuvenated the Lions. The penalties put Brownwood at the Texans’ 10, setting up a 10-yard scoring run from Stehl Ratliff that trimmed Wimberley’s lead to 27-14 with 5:33 remaining.

Momentum continued to side with Brownwood when Wimberley’s Smith was caught for a loss of 13 yards on the Texans’ first play after the kickoff, and Wimberley eventually found itself deep in its own territory at the 9-yard line. After a short punt, Brownwood looked to be back in business with the ball at the Texans’ 45.

But the Lions only drove the ball 15 yards before coughing it up again, this time on a fumbled handoff to Ratliff. Josh Bush recovered for the Texans with 2:30 left on the clock.

Wimberley was unable to run off the remaining time and punted, giving the Lions one last shot starting at their own 9-yard line. But a fumble after a catch fell into the hands of Wimberley’s Brennen Blakemore, allowing the Texans to secure the win.

The Lions dropped the ball five times, losing four.

A defensive tone was set early in the game, as the Texans held the Lions to a 31-yard field goal on their first drive despite moving the ball to the Wimberley’s 14-yard line.

The Texans came out and drove the ball to the Lions’ 25-yard line on their first possession, but elected to go for it on fourth down instead of attempting a game-tying kick. The decision backfired, as Blakemore’s pass attempt fell incomplete.

The choice didn’t prove to be fatal, as the Lions fumbled on their next drive, allowing the Texans to recover at Brownwood’s 39-yard line, setting up Jared Kutz’ 33-yard field goal to even the score at 3-all with 12:12 left in the second quarter.

After both teams exchanged punts, Brownwood was first to post a touchdown when Levi Perez scored after an 11-yard run with 2:50 left in the half.

The drive started with good field position when the Lions’ Tyler Harth blocked a punt to give BHS the ball at their own 45-yard line. Four snaps later, Brownwood quarterback Vance McShan connected with Luke Chastain for a 29-yard gain that set up Perez’ touchdown run.

Still, it was plenty of time the Texans offense to strike, as Blakemore completed 7-of-9 passes — including a 33-yard strike to Kutz — to set the stage for Dennis Smith’s 3-yard touchdown run that evened the score at 10-all with 42 seconds left in the half.

The Lions looked like they might post more points in the closing seconds of the half when McShan connected with Shipley for a 26-yard gain, but the Wimberley pass defense clamped down and forced the Lions to turn the ball over on downs, and sending the game into halftime squared up at 10-all.

For photos, quotes and statistics from Friday’s game, pick up Sunday’s print edition of the San Marcos Daily Record.