2A-A roundup: Seymour savors OT win over Jacksboro

Torin Halsey/Times Record News Henrietta' Jake Laster (7) was the team's quarterback Friday night against Pottsboro as Kolten Booher returned to tailback.

Photo by Jeff Goolsbey / Times Record News

Seymour defensive back Cody Taylor intercepts a pass near the Jacksboro goal line Friday night. While they allowed some big pass plays, the Panthers’ secondary came through with three interceptions in the 42-41 overtime win.

Photo by Torin Halsey, Torin Halsey/Times Record News

Henrietta’s Jake Laster (7) was the team’s quarterback Friday night against Pottsboro as Kolten Booher returned to tailback.

Seymour coach Rocky Smart had a good feeling when the Panthers won the coin toss before overtime Friday night against Jacksboro.

He couldn’t remember the last time he had won a flip. In Seymour’s playoff game against Haskell, Smart had lost three separate flips that determined the game’s logistics.

But the Panthers couldn’t breathe a sigh of relief until Aaron Barton’s PAT split the upright in overtime, capping off an exhilarating 42-41 victory over the Tigers.

The offenses combined for 44 first downs and 988 total yards of offense. Even though 83 points were scored, the game’s biggest lead was seven.

“There were a lot of lead changes and momentum swings. We both deserved to win,” Smart said. “It was a fun high school football game.”

It was quite a duel between quarterbacks, too.

Barton rushed for a career-high five touchdowns, the last of which was a 25-yard scamper on Seymour’s first play of overtime. He finished with 127 yards on the ground, and his 191 passing yards would have been increased if not for some drops.

Meanwhile, Jacksboro quarterback Carson Earp threw for 328 yards and five touchdowns. Taylor Spear was the sophomore’s favorite target, catching 11 passes for 175 yards.

Seymour’s secondary is its rawest position on defense, and it did surrender long scoring strikes of 48 and 58 yards. But sophomore cornerback Tanner Gillispie came through with two of his team’s three interceptions.

“Jacksboro has some great skill kids. They have a lot of weapons,” Smart said. “We did give up some big plays, but we made stops when we needed to.”

Smart knows how first-year Jacksboro coach Tommy Allison and the Tigers feel. As Nazareth’s coach, he was on the other end of a 42-41 decision against Sunray in the 2008 opener.

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With all-state receiver Reed Mankins sidelined indefinitely, Olney needs to find alternative ways to produce points.

Two special teams touchdowns did the trick in the Cubs’ 33-22 victory over Tolar.

Cord Barrientes returned the season’s opening kickoff for a touchdown and added another one in the second quarter. Both returns came right up the middle.

“It was more the blocking scheme and how the kids executed it,” Olney coach Gunter Rodriguez said. “He was darn near untouched both times. It was an outstanding team effort.”

Mankins, who caught 57 passes for 1,187 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, had a torn meniscus in his knee repaired a couple weeks ago. Although Rodriguez said Mankins is determined to rejoin the team this season, no timetable has been set.

It’s a tough blow for the Cubs, considering this makes three years in a row their best player has missed significant time with a knee injury. Quarterback Callen Pittman tore his ACL in 2008 and 2009.

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Kolten Booher was the heir apparent to Seth Crumpton at quarterback for Henrietta, but in the Bearcats’ 14-13 loss to Pottsboro, senior Jake Laster ran the offense.

Booher remained at tailback where he gained a team-high 94 yards, and Henrietta coach Byron West said while they could switch places at any time, he sees no reason to do so now.

“He can play either spot, and play either spot well,” West said of Booher. “Our offense is real simple we think. We came out of it knowing that Laster can throw the ball a little bit.”

Laster completed 12 of 18 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. West said having him at quarterback maximizes the Bearcats’ backfield.

Henrietta won all 10 regular season games last year, but a late missed field goal kept that streak from reaching 11.

West said the Bearcats played well on defense. The unit forced six turnovers, including the fumble recovery that Josh Ferguson returned 67 yards for a touchdown.

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Archer City’s Steve Smith became the winningest football coach in school history after the Wildcats’ 30-19 victory over Haskell.

Smith is 37-29 in his seventh year at the helm. He passed Tommy Sloan, who recorded a record of 36-27-1 from 1992-97.

Quanah’s Jason Sims won his coaching debut with a 42-6 decision over former district mate Memphis. Roderick Woodard picked up where he left off last season with 216 rushing yards and five total touchdowns.

Allison and Petrolia’s Billy Cook lost their first games in different fashions. While the Tigers’ outcome could have gone either way, the Pirates fell to Muenster Sacred Heart by 34 points.