Water Valley Back in State Quarterfinals After Win Over Knox City

HERMLEIGH, TX — The Water Valley football team is right back where it left off — in the six-man state quarterfinals.

After a two-year stay in 11-man football, the Wildcats have seamlessly made the transition back to the six-man game. They had no trouble in a 56-0 win over Knox City on Friday in a Class 1A Division I area-round playoff game in Hermleigh.

Water Valley (10-2) moves on to play Westbrook (10-2), a formidable opponent that has played in three consecutive state finals and won back-to-back state titles in 2021 and '22.

That game is set for 6 p.m. Friday in Garden City.

Water Valley, despite all of its success — which included four perfect regular seasons in a row from 2010-13 — has never advanced past the state quarterfinals.

Against Knox City, Water Valley's defense was dominant, allowing only 57 yards.

Boston Wiese had a team-high 12 tackles, while Landon Lacy, Hayden Kolster and Gunnar Brooks all had interceptions. Marcus Rodriguez recorded a safety.

Wiese also had seven carries for 50 yards and three touchdowns. Lacy had three carries for 56 yards and two TDs, and he threw a pair of TD passes to Kolster and Anthony Quintana.