Texas Longhorns QB recruit rallies Denton Guyer to state title

By Darren Lauber

Special to the Star-Telegram

ARLINGTON -- Trailing by 16 points with 8:26 left in the third quarter, Denton Guyer coach John Walsh wasn't ready to panic.

And with a quarterback like Jerrod Heard there's no wonder.

The Texas recruit rushed for five touchdowns and threw for two more as the Wildcats won their first state football title with a 48-37 victory over Georgetown in the Class 4A Division I championship game Saturday at Cowboys Stadium.

"It hasn't even hit me yet," said Heard of Guyer (14-2) winning the state title. "I'm sure it will, but right now it feels like a dream."

Heard was quick to give credit to his offensive line, as was Walsh, for paving the way for the quarterback to rush for 137 yards on 27 carries and go 8-of-13 passing for 189 yards. He earned Offensive Most Valuable Player honors.

"Jerrod is fantastic, anyone can see that, but everybody knows our offensive line is special," Walsh said. "I've been there for 18 years and have coached a lot of Division I linemen, but from tackle-to-tackle it's the best we've had."

The Wildcats fumbled away their first possession of the second half, but then scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions to take a 41-30 lead with 10:35 left in the game.

Heard scored on runs of 17, 14, and 5 yards and tossed a 71-yard scoring pass to Ellis Jefferson during the surge. The Guyer defense shut down Georgetown (15-1) during the span, holding the Eagles on downs and forcing two turnovers.

Defensive MVP Connor Allen's hit on Georgetown quarterback Jake Hubenak forced a fumble that was recovered by Guyer's Demontrie Taylor to set up Heard's 5-yard score on the ensuing play. That gave the Wildcats a 34-30 lead with 1:38 left in the third quarter.

"It was a counter play," said Heard, who ran through five Georgetown defenders to score. "The outside linebacker got in tight, so I took it out wide and I was determined to get it in the end zone."

An interception by defensive back Will Sanders set up the 71-yard pass on Guyer's next series.

Hubenak, who was 25-of-43 for 314 yards and three TDs, hit Randy Knightner with a 39-yard scoring pass to pull Georgetown to within 41-37 with 9:38 left, but the Eagles got no closer. Heard capped the scoring with a 7-yard run with 5:16 left.

"They're good in the offensive line," Georgetown coach Jason Dean said. "They're the best line we've faced all year long. Heard doesn't make it happen all by himself; they're really, really good."

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