The Wimberley Texans (14-0) took on the Bellville Brahmas (14-0) in round 5 of the UIL Texas State championship playoffs in Pflugerville Friday night. It was a highly anticipated matchup as both teams came into the game undefeated. However, the Texans run came to an end less than a yard short of making the State Championship game, losing to Bellville 35-33.
Each team was able to move the ball early on, as both teams went back and forth on offensive drives, but scoring was a challenge. Both teams were known for their quality defenses. A five-yard rushing touchdown by Texan quarterback Cody Stoever tied up the game at 7-7 in the first quarter. That is when the game heated up. The two teams traded touchdowns once again with another rushing touchdown for Stoever to tie it up at 14-14. Right before half, Bellville was able to score one more time to give them a one score lead 21-14.
The second half is where Bellville was able to pull away and build a little bit of a lead as they had a 69-yard run for a touchdown to go up 28-14 early in the third. The Texans needed a score to stay in the game. They drove down the field, and with just under a minute left in the third quarter, scored to keep them in the game at 28-21 going into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, Bellville tacked on another touchdown giving them a little bit of a cushion at 35-21. Needing a score, the Texans answered again, refusing to let their season end as quarterback Stoever scored his fourth touchdown of the night. Shortly after the touchdown, the extra point clanked off the upright and was no good leaving the score at 35-27. It was still a onescore game, but the Texans would need a touchdown and a two point conversion to tie it up.
With six minutes left, the Texans needed a quick stop to give the ball back to the offense. Three minutes later, in Bellville territory, the Texans got just that, coming up with a massive stop on third and 13.
With three minutes left in the game, the Texans started marching down the field. Bellville got a sack at the 50 yard line to make it third and 13. It looked like the Texans would be up against what could be the last two plays of their season. Wimberley threw a short dump off route picking up seven yards to make 4th down more manageable. On what could be the last play of the season for the Texans, Stoever rolled out and decided to pick up the first down with his legs. Stoever was taken down right at the first down marker. With the season on the line, the refs signaled for a first down giving the Texans hope. With this new shot of life, the Texans continued to go down the field as Stoever ran the ball in for his fifth touchdown of the night with just under a minute left on the clock.
Now, needing the two-point conversion, the Texans called their final timeout to draw up a play. Lining up at the two yard line with the stadium noise at its peak, the Texans took the snap and tried to run it in but were stopped short of the endzone. The refs ran and they signaled that Bellville made the stop inside the one yard line.
Bellville was able to kneel out the clock and advance to state with a final score of 35-33.
Stoever led the Texans with five rushing touchdowns on 203 rushing yards and threw for 275 yards on 31 attempts with 24 completions. Noah Birdsong racked up nine receptions with 89 yards as Nolan Waida picked up 80 yards with four receptions Wimberley finishes their season with a 14-1 record marking the fourth straight season the Texans have won 10 or games.
