MonkeyJoe
12-06-2003, 11:10 AM
Leopards Win To Move To State Finals
The Gainesville Leopards scored 21 points in the third quarter to shake off a 17-13 halftime deficit and defeat the Abilene Wylie Bulldogs 37-24 Friday at the Birdville ISD Fine Arts/Athletics Complex in a Class 3A Division I state semifinal playoff game.
Gainesville (14-0) will play either Burnet or Jasper for a state championship next Saturday at a site and time to be determined.
Gainesville scored first on a 39-yard field goal by Steven Arenas, but Abilene Wylie (9-5) answered with a field goal of their own.
The Leopard defense then made a big play as Jeremy Franklin picked off a shovel pass and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown to put GHS ahead 10-3.
Again, the Bulldogs answered right back with a touchdown early in the second quarter to tie the score again.
Gainesville retook the lead on another Arenas field goal, this one from 27 yards to go ahead 13-10. But just before the half, Wylie used a long pass play to set up a 1-yard TD run to go up 17-13 at the half.
The Leopards came out fired up in the third quarter and scored on their first possession as Chris Brown ran in from 6 yards to retake the lead at 20-17.
The GHS defense forced a punt and Darcel McBath fielded it at his own 40 and weaved his way 60 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-17.
After another Bulldog punt, Chris Brown scored on a 20 yard run that increased the Leopard lead to 34-17.
The lead went to 20 as Arenas banged through a 20 yard field goal.
Wylie scored one more time on a 36-yard pass that made it 37-24. But with the Bulldogs driving with just under 4 minutes remaining, Brown picked off a pass in the endzone to seal the win.
Gainesville rushed for 268 yards including 109 by Terrius Purvey, who was limited by a hip injury. Brown became the workhouse, rushing 21 times for 101 yards. Brown also passed for 102 yards, 58 of which went to McBath.
Abilene Wylie did their damage through the air, completing 20 of 31 passes for 282 yards. The Leopards limited them to just 89 yard rushing.
Now, for the first time in 25 years, the Leopards will play for a state title.
courtesy of www.goredsports.com (http://www.goredsports.com)
The Gainesville Leopards scored 21 points in the third quarter to shake off a 17-13 halftime deficit and defeat the Abilene Wylie Bulldogs 37-24 Friday at the Birdville ISD Fine Arts/Athletics Complex in a Class 3A Division I state semifinal playoff game.
Gainesville (14-0) will play either Burnet or Jasper for a state championship next Saturday at a site and time to be determined.
Gainesville scored first on a 39-yard field goal by Steven Arenas, but Abilene Wylie (9-5) answered with a field goal of their own.
The Leopard defense then made a big play as Jeremy Franklin picked off a shovel pass and returned it 71 yards for a touchdown to put GHS ahead 10-3.
Again, the Bulldogs answered right back with a touchdown early in the second quarter to tie the score again.
Gainesville retook the lead on another Arenas field goal, this one from 27 yards to go ahead 13-10. But just before the half, Wylie used a long pass play to set up a 1-yard TD run to go up 17-13 at the half.
The Leopards came out fired up in the third quarter and scored on their first possession as Chris Brown ran in from 6 yards to retake the lead at 20-17.
The GHS defense forced a punt and Darcel McBath fielded it at his own 40 and weaved his way 60 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-17.
After another Bulldog punt, Chris Brown scored on a 20 yard run that increased the Leopard lead to 34-17.
The lead went to 20 as Arenas banged through a 20 yard field goal.
Wylie scored one more time on a 36-yard pass that made it 37-24. But with the Bulldogs driving with just under 4 minutes remaining, Brown picked off a pass in the endzone to seal the win.
Gainesville rushed for 268 yards including 109 by Terrius Purvey, who was limited by a hip injury. Brown became the workhouse, rushing 21 times for 101 yards. Brown also passed for 102 yards, 58 of which went to McBath.
Abilene Wylie did their damage through the air, completing 20 of 31 passes for 282 yards. The Leopards limited them to just 89 yard rushing.
Now, for the first time in 25 years, the Leopards will play for a state title.
courtesy of www.goredsports.com (http://www.goredsports.com)