Coyotes get playoff berth despite blowout loss to Springtown
SPRINGTOWN — They needed a little help, but the Wichita Falls High Coyotes are headed to the playoffs.
Despite a 64-21 loss to Springtown, the Coyotes still earned the fourth seed out of District 4-4A Division I. Old High (2-8, 1-3) meets Canyon High (8-2) in the bi-district round at 7 p.m. Thursday in Childress.
Old High had an advantage in the district’s three-way tiebreaker rules after finishing tied for third with Burkburnett (3-7, 1-3) and Mineral Wells (4-6, 1-3). Mineral Wells needed to beat Burkburnett by at least 15 points Friday to force a coin toss to decide the two teams who advanced to the playoffs.
The Rams managed a 36-28 win over Burkburnett, giving the Bulldogs the No. 3 seed and leaving the Coyotes in fourth. Burkburnett is meeting Canyon Randall in the bi-district round at 7 p.m. Friday in Childress.
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“This is the first time the Coyotes have been in the playoffs for three straight years since 2000, so I think it is still a big deal no matter the circumstance,” WFHS coach Grant Freeman said. “It’s a product of the work these coaches and players have invested into this program. Half of the state of Texas is sitting at home next week, and the Coyotes are still playing.”
Old High scored first against Springtown on Friday with sophomore running back Eric Powell finding the end zone on a 20-yard run. But the next 42 points were put on the board by the Porcupines with Old High struggling to slow their power-run game.
A 25-yard TD pass from Zage Gravitt to Cameron Jones made it 42-14. Gravitt connected with Ke’Ondrae Fleeks for a TD pass late in the third quarter, rounding out the Coyote scoring.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: WFHS Coyotes at Springtown Porcupines 2023 high school football score
