Missed opportunities hurt Henrietta in playoff loss to Comanche
SPRINGTOWN — A dominant third quarter Friday night put Henrietta back into its first-round playoff game against Comanche.
After narrow losses against multiple state-ranked opponents, the Bearcats were on the cusp of taking down a quality program, avenging last year’s postseason setback in the process.
But a failed fourth-down conversion in the red zone and an ensuing defensive lapse allowed the Indians to escape with a 26-21 victory at Porcupine Stadium.
Henrietta closes the season at 6-4, while Comanche (7-4) advances to face unbeaten Scurry-Rosser in the Region II-3A Division II area round next Friday in Burleson.
“We just couldn’t finish,” Henrietta coach Michael Johnson said. “I’ve been proud of our kids all year. They’ve fought their tails off. I failed them as a coach and that’s just the reality of it.”
The reality is the Bearcats played with everyone on their schedule, but just missed signature wins against now-ranked Windthorst, Jacksboro and Holliday. Comanche joined that list after Kyler Beaty’s 89-yard touchdown catch from Layden Welch resulted in the final points with 5:34 remaining.
After Garrett Blevins broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run on the first offensive snap, Comanche’s defense controlled the first half as the Indians led 20-7 at the break.
But the third quarter was all Bearcats as they forced a three-and-out and then Cody McMillion caught a 26-yard touchdown pass from Blevins to make it 20-14.
Cannon Cody stripped Welch at midfield and returned the fumble inside the 5-yard line. Blevins scored two plays later, and Henrietta held a 21-20 lead.
“Hats off to them because they could have come out in the second half and laid down,” Comanche coach Jake Escobar said. “I thought if we score to start the second half, we had a chance to take over.”
Henrietta killed half of the fourth quarter on a drive that got down to the Indian 12-yard line. Facing fourth and two, Blevins — who rushed for 177 yards in his final game — was stopped about half a yard short.
At that point, the Indians hadn’t even picked up a first down since halftime, but Welch found a streaking Beaty over the middle on second down, and 6-foot-2 senior wideout did the rest.
“We called a post to one of our best players and let them make plays,” Escobar said. “Layden threw a great ball. I guess it was meant to be.”
Henrietta drove to the Comanche 37-yard line but turned the ball over on downs, ending a Bearcat season that’s filled with “what ifs.” It also ended the season of more than a dozen Henrietta seniors who were incoming freshmen when Johnson took over the program.
“They mean everything to me. They’ve done everything we’ve asked, they fought their tails off and I’m so very proud of them,” Johnson said. “I couldn’t ask for a better group of kids to fight with every week. I’m just very sad it’s over.”
REGION II-3A DIVISION II BI-DISTRICT
Comanche 26, Henrietta 21
Comanche 13 7 0 6 –26
Henrietta 7 0 14 0 –21
FIRST QUARTER
H – Garrett Blevins 75 run (Brysen Washington kick), 11:42
C – Sawyer Wilkerson 38 run (kick failed), 9:26
C – Kazdon Thedford 1 run (Alex Terrell kick), 0:16
SECOND QUARTER
C – Layton Welch 1 run (Terrell kick), 2:42
THIRD QUARTER
H – Cody McMillion 26 pass from Blevins (Washington kick), 4:24
H – Blevins 2 run (Washington kick), 2:20
FOURTH QUARTER
C – Kyler Beaty 89 pass from Welch (run failed), 5:34
TEAM STATISTICS
First downs: (Co) 16; (H) 17
Rushing: (Co) 33-225; (H) 39-257
Passing: (Co) 6-8-0–154; (H) 7-21-0–117
Punts: (Co) 4-39.2; (H) 4-31.8
Fumbles: (Co) 1-1; (H) 0-0
Penalties: (Co) 9-69; (H) 7-70
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Rushing: (Co) Sawyer Wilkerson 18-118, Layden Welch 10-100, Easton Gonzalez 1-11, Colt Schwertner 1-5, Carter Kerley 1-2, Kazdon Thedford 1-1, team 1-(-2); (H) Garrett Blevins 22-177, Blaze Deaton 17-80.
Passing: (Co) Welch 6-8-0–154; (H) Blevins 7-21-0–117.
Receiving: (Co) Kyler Beaty 4-120, Cayden Davis 1-34, Wilkerson 1-0; (H) Cody McMillion 2-66, Brysen Washington 4-43, Klein Essler 1-8.
Records: Comanche 7-4; Henrietta 6-4.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Henrietta Bearcats vs. Comanche Indians bi-district football score
