Gunter 42, Wall 32

December 13, 2024

Wildcat Stadium

Abilene, TX

Gunter seeking their third straight state championship was expected to be pushed by a speedy Wall squad in a state semifinal showdown, but the large crowd at Abilene Christian University got their money’s worth and then some in an absolute classic shootout.

Wall would strike the first blow with a huge play on the game’s first play as QB Landon York connected with WR Hagyn Barbee for a 75-yard catch and run to put the Hawks up 6-0 just a dozen seconds into the game as the PAT was no good.

Gunter would have a response on the ensuing drive as the Tigers would march down quickly themselves and take a 7-6 lead with 9:04 left in the first quarter as Dylan Tokarz would haul in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Preston Tarpley.

The first quarter fireworks continued on the ensuing drive as on 4th and 4 from the Gunter 37-yard line, Wall would grab the lead back as York hooked up with Briggs Jones for a 37-yard touchdown and after a failed two-point conversion Wall led 12-7 with just over four minutes left in a first quarter filled with big plays. Wall would go onside kick after the score and after the Hawks were called for fair catch interference, Gunter would start this drive on the Wall 35. The Tigers weren’t able to get much going and would settle for a 36-yard field goal from Tarpley to cut the Wall lead to 12-10 with just over three minutes left in the first.

The teams would trade three and outs early into the second quarter before Gunter would grab the lead back at 17-12 as Brock Boddie would score on a ten-yard touchdown run. Wall this time would respond after two straight drives that ended in a three and out as the Hawks would get tricky near the Gunter goal line as short yardage QB Brylan White would throw a two-yard jump pass touchdown to Bryson McFarden to put the Hawks up 18-17 with just over six minutes left in the second quarter as again the two point try failed.

Disaster would strike Gunter on the ensuing kickoff as the Tigers would muff the pooch kick and Wall fell on top of the loose ball. The Hawks took full advantage of the mistake, scoring a short time later on a two-yard run from Landon York and Wall had a 25-17 lead, which they would end up taking into the locker room at halftime.

Gunter would take the opening kickoff of the second half and the Tigers after picking up a couple of first downs would see their drive end with a turnover as Wall DB Ethan Quinney picked off Tarpley. One play later the Hawks would put Gunter on full upset alert as York connected with WR Reid Robertson for a juggling 58-yard touchdown and the Hawks led Gunter 32-17 with just over nine minutes left in the third quarter.

Gunter would show plenty of championship DNA from this point forward as the Tigers would march inside the Wall ten-yard line. After a holding penalty pushed the Tigers to 3rd and goal from the 18-yard line, QB Tarpley made the throw of the game with a dart to Mitchell Gage for the touchdown, cutting the lead 32-24 with just over five minutes left in the third quarter. After forcing a Wall punt, Gunter would be pinned on their own seven, but the Tigers made quick work of the 93-yards scoring in under two minutes as Tarpley and Gage connected again, this time from 51-yards out and after Tokarz hauled in the two-point PAT the game was tied 32-32 with 1:41 left in the third quarter.

Wall would punt to open the fourth quarter and Gunter had all the momentum, it appeared the Hawks had seized the initiative back after Brylan White recovered a Gunter fumble but the Tigers defense bowed up and forced a Wall punt after the fumble.

Gunter would on the ensuing drive get the ground game going as junior RB Jay Campti would score on a sixteen-yard run and with 6:35 left in the game Gunter led 39-32. The Gunter wave would carry over to the defensive side of the ball forcing back-to-back turnovers on downs for Wall and the Tigers would seal the game with another Tarpley field goal with 2:59 left for the final margin of 42-32 and a trip back to the state championship game.