EARLY- For the Irion County Hornets, the 2022 UIL 6-Man 1A D1 state playoff season ended after losing to the Abbott Panthers in trilling fashion, 88-60. The winner, Abbott, will face Westbrook in the 6-Man State Championship game at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 14 at 2 p.m.
The Hornets fought valiantly, and it was really a tale of two halves as Irion County was down by a lot, 48-24, after the first half. The Hornets fought back, getting within 12 points only to fall behind again 72-52 by the start of the 4th quarter. Then, after a couple interceptions, the Hornets couldn’t overcome Abbott.
After winning the coin toss, the Hornets elected to defer until the second half. On the first offensive play for the Panthers, Sophomore Mason Hejl broke free for a quick touchdown and after a kick, the Hornets were in an 8-0 hole with 9:46 left in the first.
Irion County took offense and with 8:24 in the first, Senior Trevin Coffell ran in a score to tie the game. Abbott’s Hejl found the end zone again and made the score 16-8 with 6:49 left. Abbott started to pull away after the Hornets turned the ball over on downs when Senior Karsyn Johnson extended the Panthers lead 24-8 with 4:05 left in the opening quarter.
The Hornets couldn’t convert again but after forcing Abbott to punt also, the Hornet's Coffell threw a pass to Sophomore Colton Lawdermilk for a touchdown to make the score 24-16 with 8:53 left in the half. But with 6:05 before the break, Panther playmaker Hejl ran in another touchdown to put Abbott up 32-16.
With halftime closing in, Irion County senior Bo Marrow caught a long touchdown catch from Coffell to keep the game within striking distance. It was 32-24 with 4:56 left before the half. The Hornets nearly made the gap with another touchdown. Yet, on 4th and 5 with 2:36 left, the Panther’s Karsyn Johnson threw a touchdown pass to Sophomore Joey Pavelka to go up 40-24.
Needing to keep it close, disaster struck when Coffell had to chase down the snap on the punt. He did get the pass off only to have the receiver drop the ball and the Hornets gave Abbott a short field and Hejl took advantage of this by putting up another touchdown to make the score 48-24 at halftime.
The Hornets were energized after the half as Hornet playmaker Jordan Harrison returned to the field. Against Jonesboro, Harrison was ejected and was forced to sit out not only three-and-a-half quarters of the game last week, was forced to sit one half on this game as well.
The Hornets were going to get the second half kickoff, and Harrison was a difference maker and it showed.
Here are highlights from the game. Irion County is in the white uniforms:
Within the first 30 seconds of the third quarter, Harrison was hit at the five-yard line and dragged half of Abbott’s team into the end zone to bring the score 48-30. On the next drive, Abbott threw a pass to Irion County’s Coffell with 4:51 left. After the interception, the Hornets cut Abbott's lead again with another Harrison touchdown. The score was 48-36 and Abbott fans were suddenly leaning forward in their seats.
Abbott was over the shell shock shortly after that and this time it was Senior Will Kazda who crossed the goal line for Abbott, extending the Panthers' lead to 56-36 with 2:49 left in the third
The next drive saw Irion County score. Coffell found Harrison in the end zone with 2:32 left but the Hornets still trailed 56-44. Then, Abbott’s Hejl made himself comfortable in the end zone as he once again scored to extend Abbott’s lead 62-44 with 1:07 left in the third.
Inside the last 22 seconds of the third quarter, Irion County’s Harrison found the end zone to make the score 64-52. But this is six-man and Hejl would answer quickly, finding the end zone again with eight seconds left to put Abbott up 72-52.
Early in the final quarter, Coffell found Marrow for a touchdown to bring the Hornets within two scores. With 8:28 remaining, the Hornets were down 72-60.
Abbott’s Hejl scored again with 4:28 left to put Irion County down 80-60.
Irion County’s Coffell then threw an interception after Marrow had a big time catch which led to another Abbott touchdown to bring the score to 88-60. Coffell threw another pick with less than two minutes to play and the Abbott Panther knelt out the game victorious.
It would be difficult to find someone who isn’t a fan of the Hornets if they had met Head Coach Don Coffell. Regardless of the score, Irion County is one of a top four 6-man team in Texas.
Stay tuned to COVER1 live stream show as the Texas Football Championship closes in as the crew will over overtime to bring as much playoff coverage as possible. COVER1 will have exclusive coaches’ interviews, score updates, highlights, and more each Friday and during the State Championships at AT&T Stadium in Arlington the week of Dec. 14-17, 2022. Watch our website and social media for COVER1 show announcements.
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