Jacksboro provides worthy challenge but falls to state-power Gunter
DENTON — The records were the same, the pedigrees weren’t.
But that didn’t mean Jacksboro was backing down Friday night.
With the entire state anticipating a Gunter blowout in the Region II-3A Division II finals, the underdog Tigers delivered a performance the Wichita Falls area should be proud of.
Jacksboro stayed within a touchdown at halftime before the defending champions pulled away for a 55-33 victory at Collins Stadium.
Gunter has now captured 29 straight games and will face No. 2 Canadian next week in a semifinal matchup that masquerades as the 3A Division II title game.
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But not many times during Gunter’s winning streak has the powerhouse been pushed like it was against Jacksboro.
They scored more points in the first possession than Gunter had allowed in the past seven games combined. They scored more points in the first half than Gunter had allowed in any game since 2021.
It wasn’t a victory, but it was a fitting final performance for Lando Belcher and the record-setting Jacksboro offense, which was a catalyst for the Tigers’ most successful season in more than 50 years.
“I was proud of our kids the way we fought, but we didn’t come to try and make a showing. We wanted to win,” Jacksboro coach Casey Hubble said. “It wasn’t good enough tonight. Hats off to those guys over there — that’s where we want to be. We’ve got a little ways to go still, but we know we can get there.”
Belcher threw three first-half touchdowns, including a 22-yard bullet to Kaleem Howard with 15 seconds remaining in the half to pull Jacksboro within 34-27. The four-year starter finished with 331 passing yards as Luke Sams, Cannon Valenzuela and Howard all went over 100 yards receiving.
“Even though we came up short, I’m proud of these guys around me and I’m proud to be a part of this team this year,” Howard said. “We accomplished some things that haven’t been done in Jacksboro, Texas in a while.”
Every time Belcher’s Tigers found the end zone, senior quarterback Walker Overman and his Tigers responded. Gunter averaged almost 10 yards per carry as Overman rushed for 216 yards and two scores while throwing three second-half touchdowns.
Gunter scored on all five of its first-half possessions, and when it had to punt to start the third quarter, Jacksboro had a chance to tie things up.
But Jacksboro punted on its next two drives, and Overman responded by firing touchdown passes to Dylan Tokarz (63 yards) and Cannon Lemberg (27 yards).
After scoring four times in the first half, Jacksboro’s only second-half touchdown came on Sams’ 5-yard pass to Valenzuela. Jacksboro had two chances to put up 40 in the closing minutes but couldn’t score in the red zone.
“You have to be perfect to beat them. They’re going to prove that later,” said Belcher, who finished with 100 career touchdown passes. “It was an amazing season. Couldn’t have asked for much better for my last year — obviously besides winning it all.”
Although Gunter has won three state titles since 2016, a lot of people say this is the best team the Grayson County school has ever had. Canadian will put that to the test next week in a highly anticipated semifinal at Abilene Christian.
If Gunter proves that statement true by earning its fourth ring, Jacksboro will know Friday night’s accomplishments were impressive. It just wasn’t what they came to Collins Stadium for.
“I’m definitely real proud of where we’re at, but we’re never going to be satisfied until we win the whole thing,” Hubble said. “Looking back at some point, we’ll know we had a great run.”
REGION II-3A DIVISION II FINAL
Gunter 55, Jacksboro 33
Gunter 20 14 14 7 — 55
Jacksboro 14 13 0 6 — 33
FIRST QUARTER
J – Luke Sams 1 run (Josh Salazar kick), 9:55
G – Walker Overman 46 run (Preston Tarpley kick), 7:58
G – Brock Boddie 5 run (Tarpley kick), 6:14
J – Tyler Mitchell 8 pass from Lando Belcher (Salazar kick), 3:51
G – Preston Tarpley 57 run (kick failed), 2:34
SECOND QUARTER
J – Kaleem Howard 13 pass from Belcher (kick failed), 10:06
G – Overman 39 run (Tarpley kick), 7:52
G – Benji Rodriguez 54 interception return (Tarpley kick), 4:24
J – Howard 22 pass from Belcher (Salazar kick), 0:15
THIRD QUARTER
G – Dylan Tokarz 63 pass from Overman (Tarpley kick), 7:39
G – Cannon Lemberg 27 pass from Overman (Tarpley kick), 6:21
FOURTH QUARTER
J – Cannon Valenzuela 5 pass from Luke Sams (kick blocked), 11:56
G – Jace Martin 18 pass from Overman (Tarpley kick), 7:04
TEAM STATISTICS
First downs: (G) 19; (J) 25
Rushing: (G) 38-359, (J) 34-169
Passing: (G) 6-10-0—118; (J) 26-45-1—336
Punts: (G) 1-43; (J) 4-22
Fumbles: (G) 2-2; (J) 2-0
Penalties: (G) 10-50; (J) 5-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: (G) Walker Overman 17-216, Preston Tarpley 1-57, Brock Boddie 11-44, Jace Martin 2-17, Brayden Hinton 3-17, Easton Overman 1-13, Dylan Tokarz 1-5, Cade Dodson 1-(-5), team 1-(-5); (J) Luke Sams 17-76, Lando Belcher 14-68, Cannon Valenzuela 1-13, Luis Balderrama 2-12.
Passing: (G) Walker Overman 6-10-0—118; (J) Lando Belcher 26-45-1—331; Luke Sams 1-1-0—5.
Receiving: (G) Dylan Tokarz 1-63, Cannon Lemberg 2-35, Jace Martin 2-16, Colson Wood 1-15; (J) Luke Sams 10-108, Kaleem Howard 6-108, Cannon Valenzuela 9-107, Tyler Mitchell 1-8, Kasey Swan 1-5.
Records: Gunter 14-0; Jacksboro 13-1.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Jacksboro vs. Gunter 2023 high school football playoff final score
