Brock football loses heartbreaker to Malakoff in Class 3A Division 1 state semifinal
One year after a heartbreaking loss in the Class 3A D1 State Championship, the Brock Eagles fell just short of heading back to the grandest stage in Texas high school football.
Brock (11-4) narrowly lost to Malakoff (14-0), 38-31, in the Class 3A D1 State Semifinal at the Ford Center on Thursday. Malakoff forced four turnovers, two of which were fumbles returned for touchdowns.
“Those turnovers, they got us tonight,” Brock head coach Billy Mathis said. “But we had a chance to stop them and, you know, it takes a whole team to do it right. We can’t turn balls over against good teams.”
Mathis said he was proud of his team’s effort after the loss.
“Wins and losses don’t define us,” Mathis said. ‘These are fine, young Christian men. They played their tails off tonight. Both teams did. It was a battle.”
Mathis said there is nothing to hang their head about, given that Malakoff is a great team. The Tigers will face Franklin, the 2022 Class 3A D1 State Champion, in the 2023 Class 3A D1 State Championship at AT&T Stadium on December 14th with a 3 p.m. CT kickoff.
“We laid it all out there on the line,” Mathis said. “We left everything we had out there on the field. Nothing is easy about losing. It just breaks your heart seeing these seniors hurt.”
Mathis said he’ll remember the love the seniors have for their teammates and the coaches. The team lost three of four to start the season but bounced back to put together a deep playoff run.
“They were freshmen when I came in,” Mathis said of the seniors. “ ... Just the heart that they have. The fight that they have. But more than anything, just how they’re such good friends with each other. They give each other a hard time. They love on each other. They have each other’s back. That bond that you don’t get any other way besides a team sport.”
Mathis said he is excited for the future of Brock football, given the sophomore and junior varsity teams are district champions.
“We’ve got a lot coming,” Mathis said. “There’s a lot of pride and there’s a lot of heart in this town. It’s no shortage of hard work or dedication. These dudes bleed blue and gold. That’s what makes it special.”
Eagles start strong but miss opportunities
Brock settled for a 34 yard field goal in its first drive and DB Colt Matlock increased the Eagles’ early lead with a pick six from the 35 yard line. After another stop by the Brock defense, Brock had an opportunity to jump to a sizable, early lead.
“Momentum is a real thing,” Mathis said. “Anyone who has been part of sports knows that momentum is the real deal.”
The momentum shifted quickly. Brock quarterback Brody Woods fumbled and Malakoff LB Parker Poteete scooped it up and returned it 65 yards to the end zone, shedding odd a tackle in the process.
With two tackles for loss and some solid pressure on quarterback Mike Jones, the Eagles took over. On the first play of their offensive series, running back Brett Tutter broke free for a 61 yard touchdown down the sideline.
Malakoff cut into the Brock lead with a 52 yard rushing touchdown from Jones. After Woods threw an interception ball to Chauncey Hogg and Malakoff turned it over on downs, Brock had a chance to increase their lead before the half.
Woods completed four passes to get into striking distance and then a shot to the end zone was dropped by wide receiver Tyler Butler. The Eagles failed to get back on the board, taking a 17-14 lead into halftime.
Impact plays power Malakoff past Brock
In the third quarter, Brock was pinned at the 3 yard line and struggled to advance. The Eagles ended up punting and it was blocked by Michael Elliot; Malakoff started at the 9 yard line but settled for a short field goal.
Another momentum shifting play occured for the Tigers. Butler, on the kick return for Brock, was stripped by Malakoff’s James Studley. He returned it for a touchdown and gave Malakoff its first lead of the game with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter.
Brock tied things up with a six play scoring drive that culminated with a 4 yard touchdown from Tutter. Malakoff, however, took the lead right back with a 57 yard touchdown strike from Jones to tight end Doc Renberg on its second play of the ensuing drive.
Brock’s offense got right back where they left off, and Woods finished a seven play, 50 yard drive by taking it 13 yards to the end zone himself.
Malakoff turned the ball over on downs in its next drive but Brock couldn’t capitalize and turned the ball away.
Brocks defense secured another clutch stop and the Eagle offense took over at its own 31 with a chance to take the lead. The score was 31-31 with 4:18 remaining.
Mathis spoke highly of his team’s ability to stay in the ballgame, saying the players were “built for this” and had “no quit in them.”
After a few promising plays, it looked as if Brock was in the middle of a game winning drive. Woods, however, was hit and the ball flew up in the air.
Defensive lineman Daniel Norrell came down with the ball at the Brock’s 36 yard line and returned it all the way to the 16. Jones went down intentionally twice to drain the clock and then punched in the game winning, 1 yard touchdown with 19 seconds remaining.
Woods completed his last pass of his junior year to Tutter, a senior, who finished the game with 106 total yards and 2 touchdowns. The Eagles couldn’t make the 52 yard play to force overtime and were eliminated.
This story was originally published December 8, 2023 at 12:59 AM.
.jpg)