ABILENE, TX — One of the best football seasons in Wall's history came to an end Friday with a 42-32 loss to Gunter in the Class 3A Division II state semifinals at Abilene Christian University's Wildcat Stadium.
Wall proved it could play with the best team in the state and even had a 15-point lead on the back-to-back defending state champions in the third quarter.
Gunter, however, showed its pedigree by scoring the game's final 25 points.
Wall led 12-10 after the first quarter and 25-17 at halftime. The game was tied 32-32 entering the fourth quarter.
Wall's 12-game winning streak was snapped, and the Hawks finished the year with a 13-2 record.
Gunter (13-2) advances to play unranked Woodville in the state final at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
It looked for much of the game like it was going to be Wall's day.
The Hawks scored on the first play from scrimmage when Hagyn Barbee took a quick pass from Landon York and raced 75 yards for a touchdown.
York then hit Briggs Jones for a 38-yard TD pass on a fourth-and-four on the ensuing drive for a 12-7 lead.
After Gunter took a 17-12 lead, Wall scored the next 20 points. The Hawks extended their lead to 32-17 on a highlight-reel 58-yard juggling TD catch by Reid Robertson with 9:43 left in the third quarter.
Yet Gunter responded like champs and shut out Wall's high-flying offense the rest of the game.
The Tigers took their first lead since the second quarter on Jay Campiti's 16-yard TD run with 6:35 remaining.
Wall's offense was unable to answer, and Gunter sealed the win on a 38-yard field goal with 2:59 remaining by Preston Tarpley, a kicker receiving scholarship offers from NCAA Division I schools.
York finished with three TD passes and a TD run to lead Wall's offense. He'll be among the underclassmen returning next year, along with receivers Robertson, Evan Boehle and Kellan Oliver.
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6:34 p.m. Gunter 42, Wall 32 - FINAL ... Incredible season for Wall, which reached the state semifinals for the first time since 2016. Gunter will play in the state final for the fourth straight year and try to win its third consecutive state championship.
6:32 p.m. Gunter with a first-down run, and that will end this game. Tigers only need a couple kneel downs now.
6:30 p.m. After a first down, there are a couple of stops by Wall's defense, and the Hawks burn a timeout each time to keep their slim hopes alive. Gunter with a third down now with 1:57 left.
6:28 p.m. Another incomplete pass, and Wall will turn the ball over.
6:27 p.m. Three straight incompletions, and Wall is now facing a fourth-and-10. Season on the line here.
6:25 p.m. Pass interference on Gunter will move Wall down to the 33.
6:23 p.m. Reid Robertson with a big catch off a flea flicker, and the Hawks are across midfield to Gunter's 48.
6:22 p.m. If Wall is able to score, the Hawks still have all three timeouts left to try and get the ball back.
6:21 p.m. Gunter with a 38-yard field goal by Preston Tarpley. Gunter leads 42-32 with 2:59 left. Wall in a very difficult spot now. Has to start with a score on this drive.
6:20 p.m. Gunter with a third-and-7, and the play is stuffed by Wall's Hagyn Barbee.
6:18 p.m. Incomplete pass, and Gunter can now take command of this game. Tigers will take over on Wall's 40 with 5:14 remaining.
6:17 p.m. Wall with two short runs and an incomplete pass. Massive fourth-and-6 facing the Hawks.
6:16 p.m. Wall will start this drive at its 36 after a nice return by Briggs Jones.
6:15 p.m. Gunter has scored 22 unanswered points. Wall needs to respond here.
6:14 p.m. Jay Campiti with a 16-yard TD run. Gunter with its first lead since the second quarter. Tigers lead 39-32 with 6:35 left in the game.
6:12 p.m. Dylan Tokarz with a catch that has Gunter at Wall's 16.
6:11 p.m. Gunter with a pass play that puts the Tigers down to Wall's 29-yard line.
6:10 p.m. Brock Boddie with a power run, and Gunter with a first down at its 45.
6:09 p.m. Gunter will take over on its own 29 with 9:32 remaining.
6:08 p.m. Wall is unable to capitalize and will have to punt the ball right back.
6:06 p.m. Gunter puts the ball on the ground, and Wall's Brylan White recovers it at Gunter's 49-yard line!
6:04 p.m. Wall 32, Gunter 32 - end of 3rd Quarter
6:02 p.m. Three straight incomplete passes by Wall, and the Hawks will have to punt again. Gunter returns it to their 40-yard line.
6:01 p.m. Wall picks up a first down on a run by Thomas Leanos.
5:58 p.m. Gunter with a 50-yard TD pass from Preston Tarpley to Mitchell Gage. The Tigers then convert the two-point try to tie the game at 32-32 with 1:41 left in the third quarter.
5:54 p.m. Great punt by Levi King, and Gunter will take over on its own 7.
5:53 p.m. Wall's offense gets one first down, but the Hawks then punt the ball back to Gunter.
5:48 p.m. On a third-and-goal from the 18, Gunter QB Preston Tarpley throws a TD pass to Mitchell Gage. Wall's lead cut to 32-24 with 5:12 left in the third quarter.
5:47 p.m. Garrett Guy blows up a play, and then a false start pushes Gunter back to a second-and-goal from the 18.
5:44 p.m. Gunter has driven down to Wall's 21.
5:39 p.m. Wall takes a shot on the first play, and Reid Robertson with a highlight-reel juggling catch for a 58-yard TD from Landon York. Wall leads 32-17 with 9:43 left in the third quarter.
5:38 p.m. Interception by Wall! Ethan Quinney picked it off, and great opportunity for the Hawks at their own 42.
5:36 p.m. Gunter converts on a third-and-9 to prevent a three-and-out.
5:34 p.m. The second half is underway. Wall kicks off with a touchback. Gunter will start on its 25.
5:11 p.m. Wall 25, Gunter 17 - HALFTIME ... No. 4-ranked Hawks scored the final 13 points of the first half and lead back-to-back defending state champion No. 1 Gunter. Tigers will receive the opening kickoff of the second half.
5:09 p.m. Gunter takes a knee and runs out the clock.
5:09 p.m. Wall does punt, and it's a touchback. Gunter will get the ball back with 23 seconds left on its own 20-yard line.
5:08 p.m. Wall looks like it will punt from the 50-yard-line with 31 seconds remaining.
5:03 p.m. Wall will take over on its own 33 with 1:48 to play in the second quarter.
5:02 p.m. Wall's defense steps up huge. Gunter goes three-and-out and will have to punt the ball right back.
4:58 p.m. Landon York with a 2-yard TD run — only his second rushing TD of the year — and the Hawks lead 25-17 with 3:11 to go in the second quarter.
4:57 p.m. Wall calls timeout with a second-and-goal at the 2.
4:56 p.m. Gunter jumps offsides. First-and-goal from the 5.
4:55 p.m. On third-and-9, Evan Boehle with an 8-yard catch. Big fourth-and-1 from the 10.
4:53 p.m. After a false start pushes Wall back to second-and-15, the Hawks take a shot to Reid Robertson, and Gunter is called for pass interference. Wall moves to the 19.
4:52 p.m. Wall calls timeout facing a second-and-10.
4:51 p.m. Wall recovered it on the 14-yard line, but a sideline infraction will cost the Hawks 15 yards. They'll start on Gunter's 29.
4:50 p.m. Wow, Gunter failed to field the kickoff cleanly, and Wall recovers it!
4:49 p.m. Brylan White with a 2-yard TD pass to Bryson McFarden on second-and-goal. Wall has regained the lead, but the two-point conversion fails again. Wall leads 18-17 with 6:22 remaining in the second quarter.
4:46 p.m. Gunter calls a timeout with 6:54 left in the second quarter.
4:45 p.m. Wall facing a third-and-13, and Hawks call a run. Thomas Leanos breaks a 39-yard run to get Wall down to the 2-yard line.
4:43 p.m. Even Boehle with a tough catch to move the chains. First and 10 at Gunter's 38.
4:42 p.m. Pass interference on a third-and-9, and Wall's drive will continue. Hawks are now across midfield at Gunter's 48.
4:40 p.m. Defensive holding gives Wall another first down at its own 36.
4:38 p.m. Reid Robertson with a first-down catch. Hawks needed that after back-to-back three-and-outs.
4:35 p.m. Brock Boddie with a 10-yard TD run, and Gunter is back on top 17-12 with 11:20 left in the second quarter.
4:31 p.m. Wall 12, Gunter 10 - end of 1st Quarter
4:30 p.m. After the punt, Gunter will take over on Wall's 37.
4:29 p.m. Wall will have to punt, and Gunter calls a timeout to force the Hawks to have to punt into the wind again.
4:27 p.m. Wall's defense with a big answer. Hawks force Gunter to punt right back from the 50. Outstanding punt by Preston Tarpley, who pins Wall at the 2-yard line. He had two punts that were downed at the 1 last week.
4:24 p.m. Wall has a three-and-out, and the Hawks have to punt into the wind. Gunter will take over on its own 45-yard line.
4:20 p.m. Gunter with a 37-yard field goal. Wall lead has been cut to 12-10 with 3:37 left in the first quarter.
4:19 p.m. Gunter is facing a fourth-and-5 at Wall's 20-yard line. Tigers are sending out their field-goal unit.
4:17 p.m. Wall attempts an onside kick. Hawks weren't able to recover it, but Wall head coach Craig Slaughter is being as aggressive as ever.
4:16 p.m. Wall goes for the two-point conversion to try and make up for the missed PAT. It fails, and Wall's lead remains 12-7.
4:15 p.m. Wall goes for it on fourth-and-4 from Gunter's 38, and the Hawks take a shot downfield to Briggs Jones, who hauls in a TD pass from Landon York. Wall leads 12-7 with 4:55 left in the first quarter.
4:13 p.m. Wall driving and has moved across midfield.
4:09 p.m. Wall has a freshman kicker who has been pushed into starting duties after an injury to Lane Stansberry, while Gunter kicker Preston Tarpley is receiving NCAA Division I offers, so that's a big advantage for the Tigers. That being said, this was the first time in 16 tries that Wall kicker Tyler Klinesmith has missed an extra point.
4:07 p.m. Gunter with a 21-yard TD pass from Preston Tarpley to Dylan Tokarz with 9:04 remaining in the first quarter. Tigers' extra point is good, and they lead 7-6. Gunter went 62 yards on its opening drive.
4:02 p.m. Wall scores on the first play from scrimmage! Hagyn Barbee takes a quick pass from Landon York 75 yards for a touchdown. Extra point misses, however, and Wall leads 6-0 just 13 seconds into the game.
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