No Upset on This Night
Ethridge, champs end Hornets' season
Richland Springs 54, Lometa 6
By JEREMY HEATH Staff Writer

Above: Lometa coach Wendell Bradley addresses his team after Friday night's loss to defending state champion Richland Springs. Right: Lometa's Bubba Salinas is in select company after intercepting All-State quarterback Tyler Ethridge.

Richland Springs didn't win two of the last three state titles by beating itself.

On Friday night at Rogan Field in San Saba, the Coyotes proved that to Lometa for the second straight season with a 54-6 bidistrict win that was called because of the 45- point mercy rule with 7:21 remaining in the third period.

The defending Six-Man Division I state champion Coyotes (10-0) made their biggest plays and series of plays when they needed them most, using a stingy defense to overcome the mistakes they did make and a dynamic offense to light up the scoreboard.

The Coyotes handed the Hornets (6-5) three gifts on Friday, but did not allow them to produce points after any of the turnovers.

Twice Coyote runners fumbled through the back of the end zone for touchbacks while trying to score, but Lometa was not able to produce points on either ensuing drive. With 9:03 remaining in the second period and the Coyotes leading 24-6, Bubba Salinas became one of just three players this year to intercept a Tyler Ethridge pass, returning it 50 yards to the Richland Springs 10. Again, the Coyotes' defense held.

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"When you get breaks, you've got to take advantage of them," Lometa Coach Wendell Bradley said. "I think the kids were nervous because they wanted to do well, so they were pressing early and made some mistakes. If you miss a block or a tackle against any other team, you can overcome it. If you miss one against the defending state champs, they make you pay."

The Coyotes will play May (9-1) in an area-round game Friday night at Comanche. May is coming off a bye. On the other side of the bracket, Calvert knocked off Rochelle 64-35 and will play Blanket Friday at Moody. Blanket also received a bye last week.

Ethridge, who entered the season as the most prolific passer in Texas six-man history, started slowly before exploding in the second and third quarters.

Ethridge completed 7 of 9 passes for 170 yards and four touchdowns. He rushed eight times for 93 yards and another score and was going in for a another when he fumbled out of the back of the end zone. The 5'8" senior, who proved as good a defensive back as he is a quarterback, ran his all-classes career touchdown passes record to 215.

The Coyotes opened the scoring with 7:26 left in the first quarter when Andrew Fowler scored from a yard out, and Richie Daniels converted the two-point kick for an 8- 0 lead.

They ran the lead to 16-0 with 4:06 remaining in the first quarter when Mark Williams snared a partially blocked punt and weaved his way 36 yards into the end zone. Daniels' kick made it 16-0.

The Hornets answered at the 2:37 mark after two big plays from quarterback Joe Michael Rivera and Salinas. Rivera connected with Salinas on a 35-yard gain to the Richland Springs 20, and on the following play he found Salinas in the corner of the end zone for a score. Justin Dixon's kick was blocked, and the Coyotes led 16-6.

The Coyotes scored again before the frame ended when Ethridge placed a perfect throw in the arms of Nigel Bates in the left corner for a 24-6 advantage after one quarter.

Salinas' interception gave the Hornets a first and goal at the 10, but three incompletions and a Mitchell Jacobson sack of Rivera forced a turnover on downs.

Richland Springs ran the score to 32-6 with 5:20 left in the half when Ethridge scored from 5 yards out, and the Coyotes made it 40-6 on a 6-yard strike from Ethridge to Williams with 2:56 left in the half.

After another Lometa turnover on downs, Richland Springs increased the margin to 48-6 at the half when Williams turned an intermediate Ethridge pass into a 61- yard touchdown with some athletic moves in the open field.

The Coyotes wasted little time in the second half achieving the mercy rule, scoring on the opening drive. Ethridge capped the drive with a 12-yard pass to Haustin Burkhart.