Cisco football powers past New Deal in regional semifinal

COLORADO CITY — There was a touch of déjà vu Friday at Wolf Stadium.

For the second season in a row, at the same venue, the day after Thanksgiving was a Cisco celebration at the expense of New Deal. This iteration of the Region I-2A Division I semifinal ended 33-14 in the Loboes' favor, a point off from the year prior.

Again Cisco (11-2) built a 20-point advantage before the Lions got on the board. Again the 1-2 punch of Trenton Huston and Hunter Long powered the rushing attack. And again the Loboes benefited from a stout defense.

Cisco hopes the result also means a rematch with Hawley, which broke its heart with a dramatic 36-33 win Nov. 4. The Bearcats, who face Sonora on Saturday, ended the Loboes' season in the region final last year.

"That's been in the back of our minds and our kids' minds," Cisco coach Kevin Stennett said. "It's nothing we have to talk to them about. They understand what's at stake. If they can take care of business week in and week out, then we're probably going to see them again. And that's a matchup we're looking forward to."

New Deal (9-4) gained a first down on its first play. It proved to be the Lions' only first down of the opening half, with Cisco taking advantage in the second quarter. The Loboes scored touchdowns on their final three possessions before halftime, which all came on the heels of three-and-outs.

"That was the game right there," Stennett said. "We relied on our defense to come up with some stops. We knew they were getting the ball to start the second half. We got a chance to stop them, get the ball and get in the end zone. To me, that was the game right there."

Long, who ran for 105 yards, threw two TD passes to Cade Gayle during the spurt. Gayle made a toe-tap scoring catch in the back of the end zone and later got behind the New Deal defense on a 56-yard TD that capped a 56-second drive. Coupled with a ground game that tallied 285 yards, it added an efficient complement.

"(Passing) is something we've gotten better at as the season's progressed," Stennett said. "Running into a defense like that that's so big up front, we had some issues running the ball there in the first half. So to be able to rely on our passing game, trust our receivers and quarterback to get the job done, that means a lot, especially at this point in the playoffs."

Gayle's catches sandwiched an 11-yard TD run by Huston, who finished with a game-high 156 rushing yards and two scores.

Down 20-0, the Lions showed their first signs of life to start the third quarter. New Deal gained more yards (66) on its scoring drive than it totaled in the opening half (40). Kendrick Nelson's 3-yard TD preceded a lost fumble by Cisco on the next play.

But the Loboes forced a turnover on downs four plays later, boosted by Brayden Stoker's tackle for loss on third-and-3. Following a Cisco TD, New Deal couldn't get in the end zone despite driving to the Loboes' 6-yard line.

Lions coach Matt Hill said the improved play after halftime was a matter of adjusting to a talented Cisco bunch. But the team couldn't climb out of the early hole.

"I'm just proud of our kids today," Hill said. "… You don't get to see people like (Cisco) live in practice. Once you get the rhythm of the game, I think our kids responded, adjusted well and came out the second half and put up a good fight."

REGION I-2A DIVISION I SEMIFINAL

Cisco 33, New Deal 14

SECOND QUARTER

CIS — Cade Gayle 27 pass from Hunter Long (kick failed), 8:54

CIS — Trenton Huston 11 run (Julius Proffitt kick), 3:09

CIS — Gayle 56 pass from Long (Proffitt kick), 1:00

THIRD QUARTER

ND — Kendrick Nelson 3 run (Aiden Ysaguirre kick), 7:43

CIS — Long 14 run (kick failed), 2:01

FOURTH QUARTER

CIS — Huston 8 run (Proffitt kick), 4:11

ND — Dallas Sumner 1 run (Ysaguirre kick), 1:09

TEAM STATISTICS

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Cisco, Trenton Huston 21-156, Hunter Long 20-105, Tre Brackeen 2-16, Cade Gayle 2-10, Team 2-(-2). New Deal, Kendrick Nelson 15-87, Dallas Sumner 11-62, Slade Martin 4-3.

PASSING: Cisco, Long 5-8-0—139. New Deal, Sumner 8-15-0—81, Ethan Brown 0-1-0.

RECEIVING: Cisco, Gayle 2-83, Kanon Orsagh 2-28, Carter Holton 1-28. New Deal, Brown 5-24, Martin 2-38, Damoria Hall 1-19.

RECORDS: Cisco 11-2; New Deal 9-4.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Cisco football powers past New Deal in regional semifinal