Colleyville Heritage puts together comeback, shocks Argyle in regional round playoff game

Quarterback Luke Ullrich connected with wide receiver Braden Blueitt with a 21-yard touchdown pass with 41 seconds remaining as Colleyville Heritage overcame a 10-point deficit in the final 4:32 to stun perennial power Argyle, 38-34, in the 5A DII Region 2 semifinal Friday night at C.H. Collins Athletic Complex.

Trailing 34-24 with less six minutes to play, Ullrich threw a 33-yard TD strike to Hayden Golden on a fourth-and-10 play, capping a five-play, 67-yard drive to slice the deficit to 34-31. The drive was also keyed by a 34-yard Ullrich keeper on first down to reach the Eagles 33.

A zero-yard running play and two incomplete passes forced the fourth down, and then Golden split two defenders and raced untouched into the end zone.

Forcing a three-and-out defensively, Colleyville Heritage regained possession with 2:46 left and at its own 41. Aided by a pass interference call early in the series, Ullrich completed three short passes before finding Blueitt deep in the end zone on a first down pass for the game-winner.

The Argyle Eagles managed to reach the Heritage 47-yard line, but four incomplete passes gave the Panthers the hard-fought victory.

“We came out strong,” said Heritage head coach Jerry Edwards, who is in his first year at the helm of the Panthers program after 10 years leading Killeen Harker Heights. “We fell behind there in the second half. But we never quit. Never gave up. Our defense made some critical stops. And our offense was outstanding.”

Ullrich, a senior, threw for a game-high 274 yards and three TDs, while also a game-leading 146 rushing yards and another score.

“Being a senior, I knew I had to lay it all on the line,” said Ullrich. “Tough game. We found out how to play when we faced some adversity. And cannot say enough about the whole team. Just a great team win.”

Coach Edwards called Ullrich “a very special player.”

“Great competitor,” Edwards said. “Heart. Desire. Has it all.”

Golden had four receptions for 136 yards and 2 TDs as well as 1 rushing TD.

Golden had high praise for his quarterback, calling him the best in the state.

“And you can quote me on that,” Golden said with a smile.

Blueitt, who scored three TDs in each of the two playoff wins heading into this game, continued his torrid run, snaring 11 passes for a game-high 140 yards and the game-winning score.

“I knew I had to make a play,” said Blueitt, a junior who has recently received offers from Texas Tech and UNLV. “Total confidence in the quarterback and our team.”

Edwards said Blueitt is a tough matchup for any defense.

“That guy is difficult for anyone to cover,” Edwards said. “Special kid. He has a knack for making big plays.”

Colleyville Heritage bounces back

Anthony Ruvalcaba booted a 20-yard field goal with 5:18 left in the opening quarter to give Argyle a 3-0 lead.

Blueitt returned the ensuing Argyle kickoff to give the Panthers excellent starting field position at its own 45. Quarterback Luke Ullrich capped a seven-play, 55-yard drive with a five-yard TD run to forge a 7-3 Heritage advantage.

Argyle, thanks to a 21-yard kickoff return by Nathaniel Bruce on a pooch kick, began its drive at the Heritage 47. The Eagles reached the Panthers 11 but failed to convert a fourth-and-four, giving the ball back to the Panthers.

Heritage took advantage of the defensive stop. The Panthers needed just three plays to travel 89 yards, with Ullrich connecting with Golden on an 81-yard strike to extend its lead to 14-3.

Argyle responded with a seven-play, 75-yard march that culminated in a Chase Bagley 11-yard TD scamper. The drive, taking just 2:26 off the clock, was keyed by a 29-yard Jake Krekeler run and a 20-yard keeper by quarterback Maguire Gasperson.

Hudson Emeterio came up with an eight-yard sack on third and 11 for Argyle, forcing a Heritage punt on its next series. Starting at the Heritage 47 with 4:15 left before halftime, Argyle reached the Heritage 9 yard line, but could not convert a third-and-seven.

Having picked up a first down on fourth-and-eight earlier in the drive with an 11-yard Gasperson to Will Krzysiak pass, the Eagles opted for the 3-pointer at this point. Ruvalcaba came on to drill a 26-yard field goal with 31 ticks till the break, narrowing the Heritage lead to 14-13.

But Heritage was not done, even with no time outs left. Starting at its own 26-yard line, Ullrich gained 24 yards on a keeper, then hit Blueitt on a 25-yard pass along the sideline. That allowed Ryan Zuckert to knock through a 42-yard field goal as time expired, giving Heritage a 17-13 lead at intermission.

A fumble recovery by Argyle’s Jack Teller on Heritage’s opening possession coming out of halftime set the Eagles up at the Panthers 32. Gasperson scored on a 2 yard run on the drive that took just three plays. It was set up by a 29-yard run by Lane Stewart, who finished with 99 rushing yards, all in the second half.

Stewart replaced starter Jake Krekeler, who suffered a concussion midway in the second period and did not return. Krekeler, a move-in from Colorado, had gained 78 rushing yards on 13 carries before exiting the game.

The game that Argyle head coach Todd Rodgers later called a “chess match” continued. Golden scored on a six-yard run with 3:45 left in the third quarter to put Heritage back in front, 24-20.

On the next possession, Bagley scored on a one-yard TD that began with a 76-yard kickoff return by Nathaniel Bruce to the Panthers 20-yard line. That left Argyle holding a 27-24 lead heading to the decisive fourth period.

With 5:49 left in the final quarter, Will Krzysiak hauled in a 44-yard TD strike from Gasperson to finish a four-play, 74-yard drive that was keyed by a Stewart 29-yard run, that game Argyle a comfortable 34-24.

That set the stage for the two-touchdown rally by the Panthers (11-1), who now move on to the Class 5A D2 Region 2 final next week to face Emerson (10-2), a team that defeated Wichita Falls Rider 55-42 Friday afternoon to advance to the region final.

Rodgers gave “kudos to Heritage” after the game.

“Give them credit,” Rodgers said. “They have really good football players. We just could not stop the bleeding. Could not get key stops. And could not execute on some key plays.”

Gasperson finished with 14 completions on 24 attempts for 166 yards and added 43 rushing yards on 10 carries, throwing for one TD and rushing for another. Krzysiak had a team-high 108 yards receiving on seven catches.

Argyle finished the season 9-3, snapping a string of 15 consecutive years of double digit wins.