Justin Northwest needed a win against the Forth Worth Brewer Bears in District 3-5A to clinch a playoff spot. Their offense showed up in a big way to power the Texans to the playoffs.
Northwest came into the game 3-1 in district play and 5-2 overall. Their lone district loss was to Abilene Cooper, 21-54. They were tied with the Brewer Bears at 3-1 in the district. A win guaranteed the Texans a playoff spot with two more games still on their schedule. The offense had been flying high, averaging 58 points per game over their last three games. Brewer, though coming off a 49-55 loss to Azle, has averaged over 53 points per game over their last 4 games. This game was destined to be an offensive shootout.
Northwest got the scoring started with an opening drive field goal. A few minutes later, Brewer took the lead with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Jaylen Spriggs to Will Intfen. Northwest stalled out on their next drive, but got the ball right back after a Bears fumble and quarterback Jake Strong scored on a 61-yard run to put the Texans up 10-7. On the kickoff, the Bears took the lead right back as Isaiah Crosby returned the kick for 82-yards and the score. The Bears were up 14-10, but it would be their last lead.
The Texans offense took over the game. Kyndel Sims scored on a 28-yard run to give them a 17-14 lead. Brewer fumbled on their next drive and the Texans capitalized with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Jak Poe. The Bears did connect on a field goal on their next drive, but they gave up another touchdown then as Sims scored again on a 38-yard touchdown run to put Northwest up 31-17 with 5 minutes to go in the first half. But Brewer fought back again.
The Bears scored on a Jaylen Spriggs touchdown run from 10-yards to close the lead to 24-31. But, less than a minute later, the Texans scored again on a trick play in which Sherrell took a reverse and threw it to an open strong for a 42-yard touchdown to go up 37-24. Both teams scored on their next drives to go to halftime at 45-31.
The Texans offense did not skip a beat coming out of half-time. A Strong 8-yard touchdown run, followed by a Kyle Cummings 2-yard touchdown run on the next possession pushed the lead out of reach, 59-31, halfway through the third quarter. Both teams would continue scoring through the third and fourth quarters.
FINAL SCORE: Justin Northwest Texans 73 / Brewer Bears 44
Jake Strong led the way for the Texans, accounting for 6 touchdowns. He had 167 yards rushing, 151 passing and 42 receiving yards. Kyndel Sims ran for 157 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Bears were led by Jaylen Spriggs, who had 175 yards passing and 57 yards rushing and 1 touchdown. Bears running back Tyrelle Davis added 105 yards rushing.
The Texans will finish off their regular season with a game at Azle next week then at home against Arlington Heights on December 5th. The Bears will finish their season hosting Arlington Heights and then at Abilene Cooper.
