Hirschi opens football playoffs with convincing victory against Benbrook
Benbrook executed an impressive drive in Friday’s Region I-4A Division II bi-district football game against Hirschi.
The 14-play drive that started in the first quarter and sapped another 2:25 off the clock in the second quarter ended in a 41-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Andy Garcia.
But Hirschi was more than content to trade field goals for touchdowns.
Benbrook wouldn’t score again until the fourth quarter, allowing Hirschi to pull away for a 38-10 victory at Memorial Stadium. Hirschi (6-4) advances to the area round to play Seminole at 7 p.m. Friday in Colorado City.
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“We were just trying to put a complete game together after we let some things fall off the table last week,” Hirschi coach Lawrence Johnson said, referencing the Huskies' 29-28 loss to Midland Greenwood to finish the regular season. “Last week, our offense scored enough points to win, but our defense – we didn’t take care of business the way that we’re accustomed to.”
Hirschi’s defense rebounded to hold Benbrook (6-5) to 233 yards, with 165 coming on the ground. The Bobcats featured an impressive crop of underclassmen, including freshman running back Carlos Harris who rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.
But the advantage – as it often does in the playoffs – went to the team with more experience.
“We’ve got good leaders on this team,” Johnson said. “And we have to rely on those guys. But also, we as coaches had to take a step back and do a better job of reestablishing our culture the way we want it to be. We had to do a better job of getting our guys prepared.”
Benbrook’s field goal came with 9:35 remaining in the second quarter, cutting Hirschi’s lead to 7-3. The Huskies responded by going 60 yards in six plays, scoring on a 1-yard dive by junior tailback KD Worthy.
Hirschi senior Juaquin Sanchez intercepted a pass on the second play of Benbrook’s ensuing drive, setting the Huskies up at the Bobcat 24.
Five plays later, Worthy was back in the end zone, scoring on a 5-yard run. Quarterback Jimmell McFalls ran in the two-point conversion, and the rout was on.
The Huskies led 38-3 until Benbrook scored its lone touchdown on a 5-yard run by Harris with 8:54 remaining in the game.
Hirschi finished with 331 yards, including 187 rushing. Worthy led the way with 89 rushing and three TDs while adding a 20-yard receiving score.
It was a nice way to open the postseason, but Johnson says his team knows it only gets harder from here.
“It’s the playoffs, and every possession counts. We can’t take anything for granted,” Johnson said. “We’re just trying to be the best version of ourselves.”
Hirschi 38, Benbrook 10
Benbrook 0 3 0 7 -10
Hirschi 7 22 9 0 -38
FIRST QUARTER
H – KD Worthy 20 pass from Jimmell McFalls (Elias Barron kick), 8:24
SECOND QUARTER
B – FG, Andy Garcia 41, 9:35
H – Worthy 1 run (Barron kick), 8:10
H – Worthy 5 run (McFalls run), 5:05
H – Preston Pitts 27 pass from McFalls (Barron kick), 1:05
THIRD QUARTER
H – FG, Barron 30, 7:21
H – Worthy 5 run (kick blocked), 1:27
FOURTH QUARTER
B – Carlos Harris 5 run (Garcia kick), 8:54
TEAM STATS
First downs: (B) 16; (H) 14
Rushing: (B) 35-165; (H) 28-187
Passing: (B) 6-19-1—68; (H) 9-17-0—144
Punts: (B) 3-30.7; (H) 2-46.5
Fumbles: (B) 0-0; (H) 1-0
Penalties: (B) 1-15; (H) 4-27
INDIVIDUAL STATS
RUSHING: (B) Carlos Harris 24-131, Chris Harris 8-28, Brennan Barton 2-3, David Washington 1-3; (H) KD Worthy 17-89, Jimmell McFalls 4-70, Javian Frazier 5-48, Reginald Demps 1-0, Team 1-(-20).
PASSING: (B) Barton 6-19-1—68; (H) McFalls 9-17-0—144.
RECEIVING: (B) Ca. Harris 1-20, Kade Cross 1-19, Lucas Jackson 2-17, Eli Guzman 2-12; (H) Preston Pitts 2-56, Corby Wingfield 3-31, Hayden Greensweight 2-30, Worthy 1-20, Terry McGowan 1-7.
RECORDS: Benbrook 6-5, Hirschi 6-4.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Texas football playoffs: Hirschi beats Benbrook in 4A bi-district game
