No. 2 Water Valley Stunned in State Semifinals by Rankin

SAN ANGELO, TX — The No. 2-ranked Water Valley Wildcats suffered a stunning 54-46 loss to Rankin on Saturday in the Class 1A Division I state semifinals at San Angelo Stadium.

Water Valley had defeated Rankin 68-20 when they met in the regular season, but the Red Devils pulled off a shocking upset in the rematch.

Water Valley nearly erased a 20-point second-half deficit when Boston Wiese scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 43 seconds remaining to pull the Wildcats within 48-46.

The extra-point kick was blocked, however, and Rankin then scored with 19 seconds left. The Red Devils missed their kick, giving Water Valley a last-gasp chance, but they weren’t able to score.

The Wildcats’ final play included numerous laterals before they were stopped near midfield.

Water Valley’s season ended with a record of 13-1, while Rankin improved to 12-2 and advances to play No. 1 Gordon in the state championship.

It may have seemed like a given that Water Valley would again cruise past Rankin, but the Red Devils had shown significant improvement from that early loss, and they had already knocked off No. 5 Whiteface and No. 8 Borden County during their playoff run.

Water Valley was also limited as Landon Lacy wasn't playing on defense due to a leg injury. Lacy was still able to play effectively at quarterback — he threw for 282 yards and two TDs on 18-of-26 passing with one interception — but he was a first-team all-state safety last year, and his absence was clearly felt.

Perhaps even more important in the game's outcome was that Lacy didn't kick for his team most of the night. Water Valley only converted two of its seven kicks, meaning the Wildcats left 10 points on the field.

Conversely, Rankin made five of its seven kicks. That, along with a late safety, proved to be the difference.

Rankin's Matthew Ramos had 27 carries for 207 yards and five touchdowns. Kayin Hanna's 59-yard TD catch with 19 seconds remaining helped seal the win.

The Wildcats stuffed Ramos on the previous two carries, calling a timeout each time to stop the clock. On a third-and-12 with 33 seconds to play, the Red Devils called a passing play, and Hanna broke away, though he didn't fall to the turf to end the game, allowing Water Valley a last chance.

Ramos scored on a 4-yard run with 23 seconds left in the first half to give Rankin a 38-26 lead at halftime.

It looked as if Water Valley scored on the final play of the half when Lacy threw a beautiful 26-yard TD strike to Rett Dickison, but a holding penalty called it back.

Rankin led by as much as 46-26 when Ramos punched in a score from six yards out with 2:59 left in the third quarter.

Water Valley showed heart, however, and stormed back into the game. The Wildcats' defense forced back-to-back turnovers — an interception by Branson Lacy and a fumble recovery by Wiese — but a bad snap led to a safety that gave Rankin a 48-40 lead with 5:41 to go.

Water Valley's defense stepped up one more time, giving its offense a chance to tie the game. The Wildcats marched 69 yards to score with 43 seconds left, but the kick failed to all but seal their fate.

It was the second consecutive year Water Valley's season ended in the state semifinals. Before Saturday, the Wildcats had won every game by at least 22 points this season, and most of them were by the 45-point mercy rule.

Wiese had two TD runs and a kickoff return for a score against Rankin, along with six catches for 72 yards. Branson Lacy had 73 rushing yards and a TD, along with four catches for 44 yards. Dickison had  three catches for 64 yards and a TD.

Rankin has had numerous deep playoff runs over the years, but this is the Red Devils' first appearance in the state final. They'll be serious underdogs against a Gordon team that has won 43 games in a row and is shooting for a third straight state title.

Rankin 54, Water Valley 46

Rankin   8   30   8   6 — 54

Water Valley   6   20   6   14 — 46

First Quarter

WV - Branson Lacy 26 run (kick failed), 6:44 remaining

R - Matthew Ramos 32 run (Heath Amthor kick), 4:33

Second Quarter

R - Ramos 1 run (kick blocked), 9:56

WV - Lacy 21 run (kick failed), 6:03

R - Logan White 30 pass from Hunter Amthor (Heath Amthor kick), 5:20

WV - Boston Wiese 45 kickoff return (Marcus Rodriguez kick), 5:09

R - Ramos 48 run (Heath Amthor kick), 4:26

WV - Rett Dickison 51 pass from Landon Lacy (kick blocked), 2:47

R - Ramos 4 run (Heath Amthor kick), :23

Third Quarter

R - Ramos 6 run (Heath Amthor kick), 2:59

WV - Hayden Kolster 16 pass from L. Lacy (kick failed), 2:12

Fourth Quarter

WV - Wiese 1 run (L. Lacy kick), 9:56

R - Safety, 5:41

WV - Wiese 1 run (kick blocked), :43

R - Kayin Hanna 59 pass from Gage Lopez (kick failed), :19