Winters 20, Goldthwaite 13

By JEFF WALKER

Staff Writer

GOLDTHWAITE - In a game many feel featured the top two teams in District 25-2A, Winters and Goldthwaite did not disappoint.

Winters quarterback Kenny Whittenburg found Jeremy Alarado streaking down the left sideline with 1:03 to play for a 44-yard game-winning touchdown and the Blizzards won their first game in a new district, 20-13.

"We came here about six years ago when they won state and they beat us something like 55-0," Winters head coach Robin Byrd said. "It's been about 15 years since Winters has beaten Goldthwaite. Any time you come here you better be ready to play. Both teams played with a lot of heart, it's a shame someone had to lose."

The game was nearly headed into overtime after the third-ranked Blizzards muffed the ensuing kickoff.

"We tried to kick one down the field on the ground and it hit (Greg Sanders) right in the leg," Byrd said.

Following a penalty on Winters, Eagle quarterback Steven Miles hit Chance Horton on a pass across the middle that landed Goldthwaite at Winters' 18-yard line with 52.2 seconds left in regulation.

Miles hit Josh Stewart on a pass to get the Eagles to the 10, but the drive stalled after Goldthwaite failed to gain another yard.

The big stop for the Winters defense came on 4th and 1 when Whittenburg flew up from his defensive back position to stop Billy Deeds before he could reach the first down for Goldthwaite.

"Both defenses played great," Byrd said. "At times there were breakdowns on both parts."

Winters opened the scoring with two touchdowns in the second quarter.

Whittenburg found Lee Woffendon open for a 48-yard touchdown pass to give the Blizzards a 7-0 20 seconds into the second quarter.

Winters' next score came off a Goldthwaite turnover.

Following a fumble deep in Eagle territoy, it took the Winters offense just three plays before Whittenburg found Wes Calcote from eight yards out to give the Blizzards a 13-0 advantage.

Goldthwaite came out and dominated the third quarter.

The Eagles gave Winters a dose of its own medicine by scoring twice on big plays.

Miles hit Deeds on a 41-yard pass with just over six minutes to play in the third quarter to pull the Eagles within six, 13-7.

After the Goldthwaite defense held Winters in check most of the quarter and into the fourth, Miles hit Chase Plagens on a 54-yard pass. After Sanders' extra point hit the left cross bar, the teams were notted at 13.

Jeff Walker can be reached at 676-6711 or at sports@abinews.com.

Winters......0......13......0......7-20

Goldthwaite ......0......0......7......6-13

SCORING SUMMARY

W - Lee Woffendon 48 pass from Kenny Whittenburg (Josh Minzenmayer kick)

W - Wes Calcote 5 pass from Whittenburg (kick failed)

G - Billy Deeds 41 pass from Steven Miles (Greg Sanders kick)

G - Chase Plagens 54 pass from Miles (kick failed)

W - Jeremy Alvarado 44 pass from Whittenburg (Minzenmayer kick)

......Winter......Gold

First downs ......11......10

Rushes-yards ......33-93......32-99

Passing yards......212......155

Comp-Att-Int ......7-18-1......9-22-2

Punts ......6-37.6......5-35.8

Fumbles-lost ......3-0......2-1

Penalties-yards ......4-40......3-25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING - Winters, Wes Calcote 17-49, Kenny Whittenburg 10-33, Lee Waffendon 6-11; Goldthwaite, Steven Miles 10-33, Kriswright 8-30, Billy Deeds 7-26, Chance Horton 5-17, Chase Plagens 2-(-7)

PASSING - Winters, Whittenburg 7-18-1 212; Goldthwaite, Miles 9-22-2 155

RECEIVING - Winters, Josh Minzenmayer 3-60, Waffendon 2-99, Alvarado 1-44, Calcote 1-8; Goldthwaite, Plagens 4-72, Horton 2-32, Deeds 1-41, Josh Stewart 1-9, Wright 1-1