Throckmorton defeats Borden County, wins state title

Photo by Tommy Metthe

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Throckmorton's Tucker Brown (7) leaps into the end zone over Borden County's Tanner Richey (20) during the second quarter of the Greyhounds' 48-36 win in the Six-Man Division I state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, at Shotwell Stadium.

Photo by Tommy Metthe

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Throckmorton players celebrate the Greyhounds' 48-36 win over Borden County in the Six-Man Division I state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, at Shotwell Stadium.

Photo by Tommy Metthe

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Throckmorton head coach Mike Reed talks to his team during a timeout in the fourth quarter of the Greyhounds' 48-36 win in the Six-Man Division I state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, at Shotwell Stadium.

Photo by Tommy Metthe

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Throckmorton's Gary Farquhar (33) sacks Borden County's Tanner Richey (20) during the second quarter of the Greyhounds' 48-36 win in the Six-Man Division I state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, at Shotwell Stadium.

Photo by Tommy Metthe

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Throckmorton's Gary Farquhar (33) and Blayton Oliver (3) tackle Borden County's Austin Fields (24) for a loss during the second quarter of the Greyhounds' 48-36 win in the Six-Man Division I state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, at Shotwell Stadium.

Photo by Tommy Metthe

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Throckmorton's Trinity Haggard (20) and Levi Taylor (top) tackle Borden County's Austin Fields (24) for a loss during the third quarter of the Greyhounds' 48-36 win in the Six-Man Division I state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, at Shotwell Stadium.

Photo by Tommy Metthe

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Throckmorton's CJ Hantz (1) tackles Borden County's Quinton Shafer (5) during the first quarter of the Greyhounds' 48-36 win in the Six-Man Division I state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, at Shotwell Stadium.

Photo by Tommy Metthe

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Throckmorton's Gary Farquhar (33) pulls in a pass while being defended by Borden County's Austin Fields (24) during the first quarter of the Greyhounds' 48-36 win in the Six-Man Division I state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, at Shotwell Stadium.

Photo by Tommy Metthe

Throckmorton players hold up the state championship trophy after the Greyhounds' 48-36 win over Borden County in the Six-Man Division I state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, at Shotwell Stadium. Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News

Photo by Tommy Metthe

Thomas Metthe/Reporter-News Throckmorton head coach Mike Reed celebrates with Rawlin Morrell (40) after Greyhounds' 48-36 win over Borden County in the Six-Man Division I state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, at Shotwell Stadium.

ABILENE – C.J. Hantz crouched on the turf Saturday at Shotwell Stadium, repeatedly pumping his right fist as he gazed into the distance.

After four years and one heartbreaking championship loss, Hantz finally understood what it felt like to be a champion.

When Hantz lofted a third-down pass to Blayton Oliver that resulted in a 41-yard touchdown with 1:19 remaining, the Greyhounds could finally celebrate a 48-36 victory over Borden County in the Six-Man Division II title game.

"We have the heart – that's what gets it done," said Hantz, who earned Offensive MVP honors after throwing three touchdown passes and rushing for 118 yards. "All the hard work and the doubters who said we couldn't get it done. It's all I've wanted since I was a little kid, and I've finally got it."

The Greyhounds' second state championship finished up much more dramatically than the school's first state title – a 68-22 win over Valley in 2005.

Throckmorton (14-0) led by as many as 24 points in the second quarter and looked to be in control when Gary Farquhar caught a 3-yard touchdown, boosting the Greyhounds' lead to 40-16 midway through the third quarter.

But the Coyotes (13-2) came up with two interceptions and forced a punt on Throckmorton's next three possessions, pulling to within 40-36 on TJ Basquez's 8-yard touchdown catch with 1:42 remaining.

Hantz recovered the onside kick, but Borden County had all three of its timeouts. Throckmorton needed one more third-down conversion to seal the win, and Hantz stared down a six-man Borden County pass rush to find an open Oliver.

"There's a reason why they were undefeated. Their explosiveness – you can't prepare for it," Borden County coach Trey Richey said. "It's one of the toughest things I've had to do as a defensive coach. For three quarters, I thought we pretty much held them in check."

The win gave Throckmorton coach Mike Reed his first state title in four attempts. It also validated what he wanted to accomplish when he became the Greyhounds' coach four years ago.

"This group has really been special because they really buy into the word family and are very selfless," Reed said. "They were 5-3 in junior high and aspirations of a state championship weren't something that was talked about.

"It's nice to come in and raise those expectations and put that platform really high up. It's a great win for our program and for our younger kids, and hopefully there's more to follow."

Throckmorton's offense was at its finest in the first half, scoring on its first four possessions in building a 32-8 lead.

Levi Taylor had a 34-yard touchdown run and caught a 19-yard score from Tucker Brown. Farquhar added a 34-yard touchdown late in the first quarter, while Hantz found Brown on an 11-yard touchdown.

Borden County's Austin Fields scored from 76 yards out on the game's first play from scrimmage, but the Coyotes didn't find any rhythm until they were in a hole.

That didn't surprise Reed, whose Greyhounds got off to a bumpy start against Garden City in last year's 82-68 title game loss.

"I just kind of knew they were going to be a little starstruck and start out a little bit slow," Reed said. "I felt like once the game settled in for them, they really showed their talent."

The Greyhounds' defense also came through with three turnovers as Brown earned Defensive MVP honors by making 11 tackles with one sack and one interception. Brown, who only started at safety because of Rawlin Morrell's injury, stuffed Fields (210 yards, three TDs) on fourth-and-one in the first quarter, a play that helped set the tone early.

Taylor (11 tackles), Farquhar (six tackles, 2 for losses) and Nathan Riley — who recovered a fumbled onside kick and partially blocked a punt — were other defensive standouts.

For seniors Hantz, Brown, Oliver, Ridge Rankin and Jordan White, Saturday's victory and accompanying trophy presentation was the perfect way to wrap up their high school football careers.

"Being here a second time and being so close each of my four years of high school, I can't even explain the feeling I have right now," Brown said. "I've got tears of joy. We've worked so hard for this."

Throckmorton 48,

Borden County 36

Borden County 8 8 6 14 — 36

Throckmorton 24 8 8 8 — 48

FIRST QUARTER

BC — Austin Fields 76 run (Helio Rosales kick), 9:43

T — Levi Taylor 34 run (Jordan White kick), 8:23

T — Taylor 19 pass from Tucker Brown (White kick), 5:12

T — Gary Farquhar 34 pass from Brown (White kick), 2:35

SECOND QUARTER

T — Brown 11 pass from C.J. Hantz (White kick), 8:30

BC — Fields 5 run (Rosales kick), 5:18

THIRD QUARTER

T — Farquhar 3 pass from Hantz (White kick), 4:46

BC — Basquez 18 pass from Tanner Richey (kick failed), 0:00

FOURTH QUARTER

BC — Fields 1 run (kick failed), 6:13

BC — Basquez 8 pass from Richey (Rosales kick), 1:42

T — Blayton Oliver 41 pass from Hantz (White kick), 1:19

BC Throck

First downs 11 11

Rushes-Yards 30-261 31-182

Passing 56 171

Comp-Att-Int 6-12-1 11-19-2

Punts 1-8 1-23

Fumbles-Lost 4-2 2-0

Penalties-Yards 5-35 11-71

Individual statistics

Rushing: (BC) Austin Fields 20-210; Quinton Shafer 2-8; Collin Telchik 2-16; T.J. Basquez 1-4; Tanner Richey 5-23; (T) C.J. Hantz 17-118; Levi Taylor 7-67; Gary Farquhar 3-6; Tucker Brown 1-(-7); Trinity Haggard 1-2; Team 2-(-2).

Passing: (BC) Richey 4-10-1, 41, 2 TDs; Fields 2-2-0, 15; (T) Brown 4-8-0, 77, 2 TDs; Hantz 7-11-1, 94, 3 TDs

Receiving: (BC) Shafer 1-8; Helio Rosales 2-15; Basquez 3-33; (T) Farquhar 3-59; Taylor 4-55; Blayton Oliver 2-44; Brown 1-11; Hantz 1-2.

Fumble recoveries: (T) Nathan Riley, Oliver.

Interceptions: (T) Brown; (BC) Fields, Richey.