Pampa strengthens playoff chances

In a game with playoff implications, the Pampa Harvesters got down to basics against the Caprock Longhorns on Saturday afternoon at Dick Bivins Stadium, which means the Harvesters are likely going to the playoffs.

After their poorest offensive performance of the season a week earlier against Dumas, the Harvesters needed to respond to have any chance of grabbing one of the three remaining playoff spots out of District 3-4A. Pampa did so with an overpowering ground game, racking up 295 yards en route to a 42-26 win against Caprock that clarified the playoff picture a little more.

The Harvesters (2-7, 2-2 in district) will make the playoffs if they beat Palo Duro at home or if Dumas beats Randall this week. If they lose to PD, they could be denied a berth via tiebreakers, but only if Randall beats Dumas.

Pampa coach Heath Parker said he felt "about 90-percent certain" his team is going to the playoffs, and if the Harvesters do return, Parker gives credit to the guys up front for getting the ball rolling.

"I thought our offensive line did a magnificent job," Parker said. "We were down because we didn't run the ball well against Dumas (a 21-7 loss), so we took that as a challenge."

Pampa gained only 124 yards against Dumas but surpassed that total in its first two possessions against Caprock (4-5, 1-3), opening with a pair of 80-yard touchdown drives to go up 14-0. Quarterback Alex Clendening was involved in both scores, running in from 1 yard out in the first quarter, then throwing a 14-yard scoring pass to Garrett Ericson (who caught two touchdowns from Clendening) in the second quarter.

"We just had to establish our running game, and we did a real good job of that," said Clendening, who completed 12-of-18 for 162 yards and ran for 52 yards and two scores. "As long as we're putting points on the board, I'm happy. The line just really took over the game."

Tailback Kendrick Alexander had a game-high 208 yards on 28 carries. He concluded the scoring with an 18-yard run in the fourth quarter, giving the Harvesters a 42-20 lead.

"We were just trying to work both the run and the pass more often," Alexander said. "I think we'll do pretty good at that next week."

Although Pampa outgained Caprock 227-81 in the first half, the Harvesters led only 14-6. The Longhorns performed respectably on offense in the second half as quarterback Gerardo Ruiz finished 18-of-29 for 203 yards and three touchdowns.

However, Pampa's Latigo Collins and Zach Organ had interceptions of Ruiz in the second half that killed drives and set up Pampa scores.

Caprock can make the playoffs only if it beats Canyon and Pampa beats PD this week. Then tiebreakers would apply.

Pampa 7 6 14 14 - 42

Caprock 0 6 0 20 - 26

Pampa - Alex Clendening 1 run (Colten Adams kick)

Pampa - Garrett Ericson 14 pass from Clendening (Adams kick)

Caprock - Darrian Sommers 2 pass from Gerardo Ruiz (kick failed)

Pampa - Clendening 2 run (Adams kick)

Pampa - Braden Hunt 5 run (Adams kick)

Caprock - Jamar Johnson 5 run (Bryant Payan kick)

Pampa - Ericson 17 pass from Clenedning (Adams kick)

Caprock - Gerardo Arevalo 22 pass from Ruiz (Payan kick)

Pampa - Kendrick Alexander 18 run (Adams kick)

Caprock - Jimmy Maldonado 57 pass from Ruiz (pass failed)

Pampa Caprock

First Downs 26 17

Rushing Yards 295 104

Passing Yards 162 231

Total Yards 457 335

Comp-Att-INT 12-18-0 19-30-3

Punts-Avg. 0-00.0 2-43.5

Fumbles-Lost 2-0 1-0

Penalties-Yards 4-45 8-84

Rushing - Pampa: Alexander 28-208, Clendening 17-52, Hunt 4-41, Jonathan Polasek 3-(-6). Caprock: Johnson 16-89, Ruiz 3-9, Kaleen Jones 1-6.

Passing - Pampa: Clendening 12-18-0-162. Caprock: Ruiz 18-29-3-208, Johnson 1-1-0-23.

Receiving - Pampa: Hunt 6-57, Corbin Clifton 2-51, Ericson 3-49, Trent Carter 1-5. Caprock: Maldonado 5-103, Sommers 5-41, Johnson 5-28, Oscar Najera 3-37, Arevalo 1-22.