SUNNYVALE — Sunnyvale High School, behind the arm of quarterback Tripp Mcada and the hands and legs of wide receiver Chance Work, shut out the Maypearl High School 31-0 Friday at Raider Stadium.
While the (6-3, 4-2) Panthers had already clinched a playoff spot, they needed to win to fight for better seeding in the postseason. Sunnyvale had everything to lose in this match-up, given that the Raiders are currently ranked fourth in the district and its season finale against a 6-3A leading team from Kemp.
“I told them that after we got beat by Grandview in week five if I told you that you would go into week 10 with a chance to get a piece of the gold football we would take that,” Sunnyvale Head Coach John Settle said. “I feel good. All you can ask for is a chance.”
On the opening kickoff, Maypearl’s Robert Pinter would kick a ball that would bounce off of a Raider and be recovered by Maypearl’s Cam Chapman. The Panthers would take over near midfield, but would not be able to capitalize on the Raiders mistake.
The (6-3, 5-1) Raiders would get the ball back and Mcada would run it in to put Sunnyvale on the board first.
Sherry Milliken/TexasHSFootball
Maypearl struggled to put anything together on offense the entire night. The Raider defense, specifically defensive backs Austin Wilkerson and Josh Jacobs would shut down and form of momentum the Panthers could pick up.
The Raiders would seemingly control the clock and the possession the rest of the game. In the second quarter, there would only be one score, thanks to Work, who punched it in for Sunnyvale.
Entering halftime, Sunnyvale would lead 14-0.
After the half, the Raiders would continue to run power the ball down the field and find ways to score. With 6:42 left in the third quarter Trip Mcada would pass to Trevor Tutle to lead to the Raiders third score of the night.
The same would be the story of the fourth quarter. Braydon Yates would run it in for Sunnyvale and put the Raiders ahead 28-0, with 7:57 left in the game. The Panthers still had no answer.
The Panthers would again get the ball back but would be shut down by that Raider defense. After a three and out, Sunnyvale would march down the field to give Austin Wilkerson a chance to avenge two previously missed field goal tried with a 42-yarder. The kick would be good, and the final in Sunnyvale would be 31-0.
With one final try for seven, quarterback Gunner Petty would be intercepted by Keaton Maness, which would eventually lead to the victory formation for the Raiders.
“You want to be that team that gets better, and the team that nobody wants to play in the playoffs,” Settle said. “I just hope we’re only getting better.”
Following Friday’s shout shutout, Sunnyvale travels to Kemp next Friday to take on the Yellow Jackets, for another chance to knock off a District 6 top dog. Maypearl will face Madison at home next week with hopes of building momentum moving into the playoffs.
Darhyl Raye Eubank covers UIL and TAPPS prep football for TexasHSFootball. Follow her on Twitter, @DarhylEubank, and read more of her content here.
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