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Despite Cody Stoever's heroics, Wimberley's bid to reach 4A state final falls 1 inch short

rick cantu, austin american-statesman
·4 min read

PFLUGERVILLE — Wimberley quarterback Cody Stoever apologized to his teammates after Friday night's 35-33 loss to Bellville because he felt he could have done more to win the game.

Conventional wisdom suggests that would have been humanly impossible. The Texans junior was responsible for 470 of his team's 477 total yards from scrimmage and scored all five touchdowns. He had a short touchdown run with 43 seconds left, but he fell short on the 2-point conversion by an inch.

One controversial inch, according to the players wearing blue jerseys. It was a play Wimberley coach Doug Warren wished could have been reviewed. But contested reviews in high school football are allowed only in state championship games.

Quarterback Cody Stoever was a one-man offensive show for Wimberley with 470 total yards and five touchdowns in a 35-33 loss to Bellville in a Class 4A Division II state semifinal Friday night at the Pfield.
Quarterback Cody Stoever was a one-man offensive show for Wimberley with 470 total yards and five touchdowns in a 35-33 loss to Bellville in a Class 4A Division II state semifinal Friday night at the Pfield.

Wimberley (14-1) kept fighting from behind in the Class 4A Division II state semifinal against a rough and determined team from Bellville (15-0) at the Pfield. The Brahmas advanced to the state championship game to play Gilmer (12-3) next Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

The loss also leaves Westlake as the lone Austin-area team still alive in the state playoffs. Liberty Hill fell to Port Neches-Groves 42-35 in their Class 5A Division II state semifinal Friday night, too. Westlake and Galena Park North Shore play their Class 6A Division I semifinal Saturday, also at the Pfield.

'Everyone fought to the bitter end'

Stoever's eyes were red and misty as he patiently answered questions after the game. He said he felt bad for the seniors because it was their last chance for state glory. He sounded genuine when he said he could have played just a little bit better.

"I couldn't care less if I had zero yards or 470. It's not about that for me," Stoever said. "Just to know I was a couple inches short just kills me. Man, everyone fought to the bitter end. I always tell everyone, win or lose, come up to me and tell me you gave everything you've got, and there's not a single soul out here that didn't give everything they had."

The Texans trailed 35-27 when Stoever took control of the football with 5:17 to play, backed up at Wimberley's own 19-yard line. He began to pepper his receivers with short passes while mixing in some timely runs.

Bellville running back DD Murray had a big hand in his team's victory, rushing for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Bellville advances to play Gilmer in the Class 4A DII state championship Friday in Arlington.
Bellville running back DD Murray had a big hand in his team's victory, rushing for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Bellville advances to play Gilmer in the Class 4A DII state championship Friday in Arlington.

Stoever willed his team down the field. When he scored on a short run in the final minute, the Texans appeared destined to send the game into overtime.

Stoever took the direct snap and ran behind the left side of his offensive line. He collided with a pair of Bellville players about a yard short of the goal line but pushed forward in an attempt to cross into the end zone. The head linesman sprinted from the sideline, picked up the ball and marked it one inch short.

There was agony on Wimberley's side of the field, exhilaration on Bellville's.

Wimberley's ensuing onside kick trickled out of bounds, and the Brahmas ran out the clock.

Wimberley's Cody Stoever sprawls on the ground after scoring his fifth touchdown in the final minute of Friday's loss to Bellville. His try for a 2-point conversion fell an inch short, though, and the Brahmas ran out the clock.
Wimberley's Cody Stoever sprawls on the ground after scoring his fifth touchdown in the final minute of Friday's loss to Bellville. His try for a 2-point conversion fell an inch short, though, and the Brahmas ran out the clock.

A matchup of two opposite strengths: run vs. pass

For the record, Stoever completed 26 of 31 passes for 274 yards. Despite taking physical hits every time he carried the ball, he rushed 39 times for 196 yards.

Bellville, meanwhile, spread the ball around. The Brahmas were led by running backs Corrian Hood (115 yards, one touchdown), DD Murray (99 yards, two touchdowns) and Sam Hranicky (54 yards, one touchdown). Bellville also got a touchdown when defensive end DJ Sanders stripped a Wimberley running back of the football and ran it back 27 yards for the game's first score.

Bellville, which has thrown a total of 20 passes in 15 games, did not attempt a pass Friday.

Wimberley, which did not have much of a ground game outside of Stoever, received hearty contributions from receivers Noah Birdsong (nine catches, 94 yards), Nolan Waida (five, 88) and Kyler Lai (six, 51).

Stoever will have another crack at winning state when he returns for his senior season next fall.

"All I want to do is win a ring for this town," Stoever said before hugging his teammates for the final time this year.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Wimberley football falls in state semifinals in dramatic 35-33 loss