North Crowley begins state title defense with comfortable win over Keller

North Crowley took the first step toward defending its Class 6A Division I state championship with a 42-20 win over Keller in the bi-district playoffs Friday at Crowley ISD Stadium.

The Panthers (10-1) put in their backups late in the third quarter against the Indians (5-6).

North Crowley advances to the area round to face Midland Legacy (6-5), a 62-42 winner Friday over El Paso Franklin, with the location somewhere in Abilene, Panthers coach Ray Gates said.

Gates said he was proud of how his team played, controlling the game despite falling behind early. With the team aiming for another state title, his message remained the same as it has been all season.

“Part of what we are focusing on is TSU,” Gates said while wielding a giant pipe wrench. “It’s an acronym for us, it means ‘tighten stuff up.’ We want to tighten up everything we can with our team. As the playoff rounds get deeper, teams get better and the margin for error gets smaller.”

North Crowley, ranked No. 9 in the state by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, came in as a heavy favorite after sweeping through District 3-6A play, scoring 60 or more points in five of its six wins.

Keller won its last two District 4-6A games by a combined four points to earn the league’s last playoff spot, and the Indians got rolling on their opening drive. Facing third-and-long, quarterback Brock Burkett took a quarterback draw up the middle 49 yards for a touchdown.

North Crowley answered, executing its balanced attack of wide receiver screens and running the ball on its first two drives, which ended with short touchdown runs from running back Kiante Ingram. The Panthers led 15-7 heading into the second quarter.

The next three drives resulted in turnovers — two for North Crowley and one for the Indians.

The Panthers’ Elijajuan Houston recovered a fumble after a strip sack. North Crowley was driving, but a pass over the middle was tipped up, and Keller’s Carson Sims came down with it in the end zone.

Then the Indians were driving, with Burkett hitting receiver Bodie Davis for a 32-yard pass deep into Panther territory, before the next play resulted in another fumble, recovered by North Crowley’s Antonio Smith.

The Panthers then went down and scored another touchdown, with running back G’yrell Smith running it in from short distance, making it 22-7 at halftime.

North Crowley stayed in full control in the third quarter. Quarterback Hayes Cloutier found Damarion Mays for a 32-yard touchdown pass on a fade route, and later Smith scored on a 19-yard run to go up 36-7.

After the Panther defense forced a turnover on downs at midfield, the coaches felt comfortable enough to insert the backups.

Keller’s defense made a play when linebacker Matthew Reagan stepped in front of a pass and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 36-13 heading to the fourth quarter.

North Crowley backup quarterback Demarcus Harris got it back when wide receiver Aiden Whitmore took a screen 41 yards to the end zone.

Keller’s offense answered with a quick drive, ending with Burkett finding Davis for a short touchdown pass.

Cloutier threw for 199 yards and a touchdown. Smith had a team-high 88 yards rushing and one touchdown, while Ingram had 66 yards and two touchdowns. Mays led the team with five catches for 66 yards and one touchdown.

Burkett threw for 132 yards and one touchdown while also leading the Indians with 89 yards rushing and one touchdown. His favorite target was Davis, who caught seven passes for 63 yards and one touchdown.

It was a tough way for the Indians to go out, playing as heavy underdogs against the defending state champions. With that in mind, coach Carl Stralow was proud of his team for competing well and giving its all.

“I’m going to remember this group of seniors that got us back into the playoffs,” Stralow said. “We’ve been in the playoffs seven times in the last nine years, and it’s because of senior leadership that got us back here.”