Terriers host Pawnee Friday
THOMAS — For the second season in a row, the Thomas-Fay-Custer Terriers football team is going to the quarterfinals after defeating Tonkawa 44-8 Friday night at home.
“Our kids worked really hard in practice,” coach Bob Ward said. “They came out and executed really well. They knew exactly what it would take to win and we did it really well.”
It did not take long for the Terriers to score as running back Ethan Hamberlin scored on the first play from scrimmage on a 71-yard touchdown run.
“Everything just opened up and we practice that play every day,” Hamberlin said. “We have always done it from the beginning of practice and it opened up like it was supposed to.”
Ward said Hamberlin ran really well and made a cut, then was into the secondary and outran the defense.
“Our offensive line did a great job blocking,” Ward said. “Ethan is a really talented runner and has tremendous vision. On the first touchdown, he made a great cut and accelerated past the defense. Overall, it was great execution by the offense.”
Tonkawa moved the ball but their success ended on a fourth down stop by the Terriers with an interception by Jeremiah Fernandez gave Thomas good field position.
Each team exchanged possessions and when Thomas got a stop, John Tyler Jones blocked a punt and it was recovered by Davion Stewart at the Tonkawa 12. Two plays later, Hamberlin scored again, putting Thomas ahead 13-0 midway through the first quarter.
“The big boys up front make my job really easy,” Hamberlin said. “I just follow their blocks and ended up in the end zone.”
Thomas forced a 3-and-out and scored on their next possession as quarterback Jaxon Ward connected with wide receiver Jaxen Mannering for a touchdown pass making the score 20-0 with 30 seconds left in the first quarter.
Thomas recovered a fumble on the next possession late in the first quarter and the Terriers were ahead 20-0 after the first quarter.
“We were able to get some pressure on Tonkawa,” Ward said. “They let go of the football on a couple of those turnovers, but we swarmed the ball really well. We tackled well and were aggressive, which resulted in all the turnovers.”
Thomas kept their intensity up as Fernandez scored a short rushing touchdown. Thomas recovered a fumble deep in Tonkawa territory and scored a touchdown a play later, ward found Noah Rainwater open for a touchdown and the score was 34-0 early in the second quarter. Tonkawa was stopped again and Thomas moved the ball, but had to settle for a field goal. The field goal was made by Ryder Luper and the score was 37-0 at halftime. Ward said the message at halftime was to “finish.”
“Last season, we were down 38-14 in a game and came back and won,” Ward said. “It is never finished until it is finished and we told our guys at halftime we played really well, but had to finish.”
The third quarter was only two possessions as the Terriers forced a 3-and-out and had a 13-play drive, which resulted in no points and the score was 37-0 going into the fourth quarter.
Chance Simpson scored a 17-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to give Thomas a 44-0 lead. Tonkawa would not go down without a fight as they scored a touchdown and went for 2. They got it and the score was 44-8. The Terriers got the ball back, ran eight plays and the game was finished as the Terriers won 44-8.
Thomas forced five turnovers, and had 444 total yards of offense. They advance to the quarterfinals where they will host Pawnee, 7 p.m. Friday.
“We have to show up in practice with a great attitude and understand every game will be harder,” Ward said. “We have to keep getting better and better each week because each team we face will be better. Pawnee is a good football team and we are looking forward to Friday night.”
Hamberlin said they learned the hard way last season to play as a team when losing to Rejoice Christian in the quarterfinals.
“We have to stay focused and we must keep our eyes on the main goal,” Hamberlin said. “We learned from last year in the quarterfinals we must play more as a team. We were a little divided last season, but this season, it is different as we talk to each other more on the field and are more unified.”