WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Not many high school football games have a story to tell from quarter to quarter, but Friday afternoon’s area round contest between the Cisco Loboes and Childress Bobcats did, with the latter eventually pulling away in the fourth for a 42-20 win at Wichita Falls Memorial Stadium.
The first quarter didn’t play out as Childress would have liked, with Cisco jumping out to a quick 13-0 lead on a 4-yard scamper by Leslie Edgar, followed by a 53-yard pass from Cooper Witt to Israel Adame. The Bobcats responded in the second, however, to take a 14-13 lead at the half.
Both touchdowns came via junior signal-caller Luke Latimer’s ground attack.
“They do a good job keeping the football away from teams like us,” Childress Head Coach Jason Sims said. “We just regrouped and started to battle back, and I thought from there on out the kids played the kind of football we expected of them.”
“We didn’t come out really prepared,” recalled Latimer. “We thought we would get going, and once we eventually did, we got going. They couldn’t stop us after that.”
Cisco regained the lead to begin the third quarter, with sophomore rusher Stanley Callahan punching it in from two yards out. However, it would be short lived as the Bobcats responded with a 12-yard passing touchdown from Latimer to Haggan Lott to get back on top by one. Childress would remain in the lead until the final whistle, with Lott rushing from 20 yards out with 44 seconds remaining to seal the deal.
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The Loboes looked to make things interesting in the final quarter, though, on a promising drive to begin after Callahan was stripped of the ball — with the Bobcats recovering while the offense was caught off guard — in what may have been the nail in the coffin for Cisco.
“That’s what playing with tempo is supposed to do, it’s supposed to wear the other team down,” Sims remarked. “I thought we did. Our kids work hard in the offseason to be in shape to win those kinds of football games; I think that’s a testament to their work ethic.”
Latimer turned in a strong performance in the win, completing 18 passes for 251 yards and a pair of scores, also while adding 55 yards on the ground with three touchdowns.
“My teammates put me in the best position possible,” Latimer beamed. “The line did well all night, and the receivers caught every pass. It was just great overall for the team.”
“He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the state no one’s talking about,” his coach proclaimed, shooting a wry smile at his field general. “I think you saw that tonight, and hopefully we keep playing so people see it again.”
Joe Dan Gambol finished as the top receiver for the Bobcats, hauling in eight passes for 135 yards and a touchdown. Cooper Witt tallied 69 yards passing to go along with his passing score for Cisco, as well as 91 yards on the ground. Callahan finished with 52 yards on the ground to go along with his rushing touchdown.
Childress’ record improves to 11-1. They will match up against the winner of the Sonora and Spearman contest. Cisco’s season ends in the area round against the same opponent in back-to-back seasons; their record finishing at 9-3.
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