Stephenville QB stings Kennedale

By Darren Lauber

Special to the Star-Telegram

MINERAL WELLS -- Stephenville quarterback Tyler Jones passed for 478 yards and eight touchdowns, including four to receiver Brice Gunter, as the Yellow Jackets flew past Kennedale 56-24 in a Class 3A Division I area-round game Friday at Ram Stadium.

Stephenville (10-1), which ended the regular season No. 3 in The Associated Press state poll, meets either No. 2 Abilene Wylie (11-0) or Andrews (7-4) next week in the state quarterfinals at a site and time to be determined.

Kennedale (9-3) had no answer for the dynamic Stephenville offense. The Wildcats forced a fumble on the Yellow Jackets' opening series, but Stephenville scored on its next eight possessions, all touchdown passes from Jones.

"We clicked as an offense and I was able to spread the ball around to multiple receivers," said Jones, who also led Stephenville with 108 yards on 10 rushes. "The best part about the game is getting everyone involved and, of course, our linemen too, you have to give them credit for opening holes and making key blocks."

The Yellow Jackets forced a Kennedale punt after the fumble and Gunter and Jones gave Stephenville a 7-0 lead with a 13-yard scoring pass in the first quarter.

A 59-yard punt by Kennedale's Zac Michener pinned Stephenville at its own 3, but Gunter took a slant pass 95 yards for a score and a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Stephenville led 35-10 at halftime.

"We wanted to work the small stuff, nickel and dime, and then hit them with the long ball," said Jones, who added TD passes of 35 yards to Jarrett Stidham, 60 yards to Witt Westbrook and 2 yards to Brock Morrison in the second half. "And that's what we did. We started off short and they eventually came up on our guys and then we threw deep."

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