CANYON — As the reigning state champions, Muenster football has become accustomed to getting an opponent’s best shot.
Gruver’s nearly knocked out the Hornets.
But, despite the overwhelming figures and momentum stacked against Brady Carney’s bunch, Muenster showed the fortitude that helped it raise a trophy last December at AT&T Stadium.
A tired Hornets defense made a final stand to preserve a 21-18 win over Gruver in Thursday’s Class 2A Division II state semifinal at Happy State Bank Stadium. After the late turnover on downs, Muenster converted the game-sealing first down on its 11th play after halftime.
The Hornets (13-2) had the ball for 4 minutes, 29 seconds, of possession in the second half as the Greyhounds executed coach Kurt Haberthur’s game plan to near perfection. But a big play and a couple defensive stands were enough to push Muenster through.
Call it championship mettle.
“I told Coach (Haberthur) down there, y’all whipped our heinies all over the field,” Carney said. “They didn’t win the scoreboard part, but I thought they won every other part of the game. Those kids played their freaking tails off.”
Carney’s assessment has support. Gruver (12-3) controlled time of possession, forced three turnovers and limited the Hornets to 241 yards and eight first downs. Seventy-one yards came on Muenster’s go-ahead touchdown pass from Casen Carney to Clayton Cunningham.
Even still, the Greyhounds methodically marched to the Muenster 34-yard line late in the game. The Hornets responded with three consecutive negative plays, the nail coming when Gruver quarterback Briggs Satterfield slipped on fourth down.
It was an agonizing finish to what felt like the Greyhounds’ revenge. Muenster topped Gruver in the semifinals last season as well.
“Defensively, offensively, phenomenal effort by our kids tonight,” Haberthur said. “We had our opportunities. They were there. You don’t get many opportunities in games like this, but they were there.”
Rhett Walterscheid did his part to close the door on those opportunities. The Muenster linebacker recorded three sacks — one that forced a fumble returned for a TD — including a pair on third downs on Gruver’s last two drives.
“(Walterscheid) tore his knee up last year in the eighth game of the season,” Brady Carney said, “so he didn’t get to finish the season with us. He worked his tail off to rehab and get back, and he’s been an exceptional player for us.”
Carney also commended the senior’s stamina. The coach called Walterscheid “dog tired” late in the game, an understandable position for anyone on the Hornets defense. Muenster showed its ability to deliver in the clutch, a skill forged by consecutive deep playoff runs.
“I feel like our experience is kind of carrying us right now,” Brady Carney said. “We’ve been there and done that. Been in these situations where, even though things weren’t going our way, we found a way. … We got a lot of seniors who have been playing since they were freshmen and sophomores. They played three-rounds deep every year, then the state championship last year.
“So, they’ve played a lot of football, and they just don’t have much quit in them.”
CLASS 2A DIVISION II STATE SEMIFINAL
Muenster 21, Gruver 18
Muenster 7 7 0 7 — 21
Gruver 6 6 6 0 — 18
SCORING SUMMARY
First quarter
MUE — Garrett Hess 75 fumble return (Legend Bounds kick), 5:54
GRU — Brock Butler 57 pass from Briggs Satterfield (kick failed), 4:27
Second quarter
GRU — Butler 28 pass from Satterfield (pass failed), 11:32
MUE — Casen Carney 1 run (Bounds kick), 5:04
Third quarter
GRU — Satterfield 1 run (run failed), 5:15
Fourth quarter
MUE — Clayton Cunningham 71 pass from Carney (Bounds kick), 9:12
TEAM STATISTICS
First downs: (M) 8; (G) 18
Rushes-Yards: (M) 25-95; (G) 53-133
Passing: (M) 146; (G) 170
Comp-Att-Int: (M) 7-18-0; (G) 8-15-0
Punts-Avg: (M) 3-37; (G) 1-45
Fumbles-Lost: (M) 3-3; (G) 2-2
Penalties-Yards: (M) 7-65; (G) 3-30
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Muenster, Dustyn Croft 2-39, Casen Carney 15-35, Nolan Peel 6-24, Carter Heller 1-2, Team 1-(-5). Gruver, Dax Conyers 26-122, Briggs Satterfield 25-18, Emmanuel Valverde 1-(-2), Team 1-(-5).
PASSING: Muenster, Carney 7-18-0—146. Gruver, Satterfield 8-15-0—170.
RECEIVING: Muenster, Noal Peel 3-23, Brody Baggs 2-45, Clayton Cunningham 1-71, Croft 1-7. Gruver, Brock Butler 5-116, Mason Lankford 2-50, Pake Babbs 1-4.
RECORDS: Muenster 13-2; Gruver 12-3.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Muenster football survives Gruver’s best shot to advance back to state championship
Reporting by Stephen Garcia, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
