Late kick propels Sandies

MIDLAND - The old saying about defense winning games was proven Friday night at Grande Communications Stadium, even though the Amarillo High Sandies needed their placekicker to decide it.

For almost three quarters, Amarillo High's defense, ranked No. 1 in District 2-5A, shut down Midland High's offense, also ranked No. 1 in the district. But even the Sandies couldn't keep the Bulldogs quiet for a full game, and they found themselves tied heading into the final two minutes of a game which they were losing control.

But Austin Sasser kicked a 42-yard field goal into a stiff wind with 38 seconds remaining to lift Amarillo High to a 23-20 victory and sole possession of second place in the district. This by no means puts AHS (6-1, 5-1 in district) into the playoffs yet, but the Sandies are in a tremendous position to clinch one of the four district playoff berths with three weeks remaining.

While the Sandies needed Sasser's third field goal of the game to escape, they did a number on Midland's offense for three quarters, getting a 20-3 lead in the third quarter.

"(The Bulldogs) are so unbelievably talented, but I can't say enough about what we did tonight defensively," AHS coach Brad Thiessen said. "They can score from anywhere."

Yet, the Sandies allowed only 289 total yards and didn't allow a play longer than 26 yards. Still, Midland rallied late in the third quarter, scoring 17 unswered points to tie the game 20-20 on a 25-yard field goal by Grant Sirgo with 2:47 left.

After the ensuing kickoff went into the end zone, the Sandies took over at their own 20. Instead of a measured drive to move the ball into field-goal range though, they started the possession with J.C. Casas completing a 41-yard pass to Dalton Koller to put the ball at the Midland 39-yard line.

"We talked about it and said we were going to win the game right now," AHS right tackle Conner Scott said. "I think (the Bulldogs) were really expecting a draw on that first play."

From there, the Sandies stuck mainly to the ground in moving to the MHS 25. That put the game on the right foot of Sasser, who had already made field goals from 32 and 39 yards.

"Of course I'd like to have it closer, but I just take what they gave me," Sasser said. "I was in my zone and not really nervous."

Sasser's kick might have been good from another 5-10 yards, and when it went through, it vanquished the ghosts of last year's game at Dick Bivins Stadium, which Midland won 53-49 in double overtime.

There wasn't a shootout of that magnitude this time, as Amarillo High's defensive line, led by James Castleman, kept the Bulldogs from establishing a running game all night. Castleman was one of several Sandies who remembered last year's game, making this win especially sweet.

"This game was so big," Castleman said. "I bet if you ask anybody here who was on the team last year they'd be able to tell you what yard line (the Bulldogs) were on for every play in that double overtime."

Amarillo 7 10 3 3 - 23

Midland 3 0 7 10 20

MHS _ Grant Sirgo FG 25

AHS _ Dalton Koller 100 kickoff return (Austin Sasser kick)

AHS _ Sasser FG 32

AHS _ Heath Herrington 26 pass from J.C. Casas (Sasser kick)

AHS _ Sasser FG 39

MHS _ Jack Bolger 28 run (Sirgo kick)

MHS _ Matt Reyes 4 pass from Bolger (Sirgo kick)

MHS _ Sirgo FG 25

AHS _ Sasser FG 42

Amarillo Midland

First Downs 14 14

Rushing 145 30

Passing 121 259

Total yards 266 289

C-A-I 7-20-1 23-37-1

Punts 5-34.8 5-32.8

Fumbles-lost 1-1 3-3

Penalties 9-77 4-25

Individual Statistics

Rushing - Amarillo: Herrington 23-144, Casas 6-(27), Trey Smith 10-28. Midland: Jerome Ellis 2-(-3), Corey Street 4-2, Bolger 9-18, Tyler Middleton 6-38, Blair Beck 1-(-25).

Passing - Amarillo: Casas 7-19-1-121, Koller 0-1-0-0. Midland: Bolger 23-37-0-259.

Receiving - Amarillo: Herrington 2-48, Will Bryant 2-21, Koller 3-52. Midland: Antwan Goodley 6-119, Street 4-45, Reyes 6-35, Middleton 2-18, Jake Malone 2-19, Chris Babcock 1-1, Kendahl Johnson 2-22.