The historical season of the Woodville Eagles continues for one final game as they have defeated the Tidehaven Tigers 28-21 in a thrilling come from behind victory to advance to their first ever State Championship.
Woodville won the toss and went with the norm to defer to the 2nd half to receive the ball which went Tidehaven would get the first crack at getting opening up the scoring. They took advantage to say the least. Starting from their own 17, they marched 83 yards in 11 plays on the opening drive which was capped off with a 11 yard rushing TD by Tidehaven’s Jachen Duran. Tidehaven 7 Woodville 0 7:10 in the 1st Quarter.
Woodville's opening drive showed promise, nickeling and diming their way down the field. However 3 false starts on a drive is a tall task for an NFL team let alone a high school team. Punt
Tidehaden’s next drive was a continuation of their 1st. Run, run, run with a few passes that got big yards due to the defense selling out for the run. Their drive continued into the 2nd Quarter
Tidehaven 7 Woodville 0 End of 1st
Woodville’s defense stiffened and forced a long 4th down to which the Tigers remained agressive and went for it. The QB was under heavy duress and lost control of the ball... FUMBLE... Enter Tayvion Hunter who picked up the loose ball to run the other way 68 yards to tie the game up. Tidehaven 7 Woodville 7 11:39 2nd Q
The teams traded punts until Tidehaven went on a 4 minute drive to capped off by a 3 yard TD run by Duran. Tidehaven 14 Woodville 7 3:10 2nd Quarter
Woodville would get the ball back but couldn’t find any mojo so they quickly punted. With only a minute on the clock, the Tigers took a knee and went on in at the half leading 14-7. The Tigers were feeling great whilst Woodville who had been on the field for a little over 6 minutes in the entire first half found themselves lucky to be only down 1 score.... They needed a hero..... Tidehaven 14 Woodville 7 Halftime
Woodville would get the ball to start the 2nd half and added a defensive star to their offense.... and did it pay dividends. They would go 63 yards on 4 plays with the big play being a 43 dot from Luke Babin to Gage Tolar. The Touchdown scorer? Tayvion Hunter who scampered 10 yards to quickly tie the game. Tidehaven 14 Woodville 14 10:47 3rd Quarter
Both teams once again trading 3 and outs before the Tigers would go on a long drive that would eventually stall on a incomplete pass on 4th down. Woodville would once again 3 and out and punt it away to Tidehaven towards the end of the 3rd Quarter...... Tidehaven 14 Woodville 14 End of 3rd
Tidehaven would move quickly and go 65 yards in 6 plays capped off by a 1 yard rushing TD by Duran, his 3rd TD of the night. Tidehaven 21 Woodville 14 10:01 4th Quarter
Woodville took that personally..... and one upped them by being even more efficient as they went 47 yards in 3 plays headlined by a familiar face.... Tayvion Hunter who took the rock 44 yards on a 3rd and 7. Woodville refused to go away. Tidehaven 21 Woodville 21 9:06 4th Quarter.
The Tigers would get the ball but were unable to do anything so they gave it back to Woodville.... What followed is still processing in my brain. A drive of grit and determination.... A Woodville Wonder.
With 7:17 to go all square at 21, Woodville got the ball.... 1st and 10 at the 49.... 2 yards, 2 yards.... 5...... 4th and 1. Season on the line..... 3 yards. 1st down. 1 yard, 6 yards, 5yards.... 1st down. 1st and 10 at the 27. 3 yards, 4 yards..... 2...... 4th and 1 at the 18. Timeout. Gotta calm the players. Remind them that they could get a yard and to just do what they know how to do...... Players get set...... False Start. The Tidehaven crowd cheers and blows their horns like its a FIFA World Cup match. Woodville is discouraged but not defeated. They Stand Tall. It’s the biggest play in Woodville’s history, 4th and 6. Babin rolls to his right.... throws... and finds the RB Dustin Barlow who makes guys miss and tumbles and rumbles over the Tigers defenders to score 6. Touchdown Eagles. Tidehaven 21 Woodville 28 1:59 4th Quarter
Its not over for Tidehaven, they get a chance and do indeed move the ball. On a 3rd and 6 the Tiger QB fires and hits not 1 not 2 but 3 Eagles who seemingly played hot potato for an hour before Caleb Johnson finally gets control and picks it off. That sealed it. Woodville 28 Tidehaven 21 Final
Congratulations to Woodville on an amazing season as they hope to cap it off with a win @ AT & T Stadium in Dallas next Thursday where they will play either the defending State Champion Gunter Tigers or the Wall Hawks who play on Friday Dec. 13th at 7 pm.
For those that want the team stats on Thursday's gamer, here they are:
Total Yards 236 Total Yards 368
Passing 121 Passing 222
Rushing 115 Rushing 146
1st Downs 6 1st Downs 17
Time of Possession 16:56 TOP 31:04
Penalties 8-40 yards Penalties 4-20
Turnovers 0 Turnovers 2
Woodville Player Stats
Luke Babin 9 Completions 14 Attempts 121 passing yards 1 TD
Tayvion Hunter 9 carries 80 yards 2 TDs
Dustin Barlow 8 carries 30 yards
Zayon Williams 7 carries 22 yards
Luke Babin 5 carries –11 yards ( Had 3 kneels for –15 yards)
Gage Taylor 5 catches 78 yards
Dustin Barlow 1 catch 23 yards 1 TD
Kenneth Rigsby 1 catch 15 yards
Zayon Williams 1 catch 6 yards
KD McDaniel 1 catch –2 yards
Tayvion Hunter 1 Def TD 1 Fumble Recovery
Caleb Johnson 1 INT
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