Football: Early 24, Kermit 12

SWEETWATER The Early Longhorns won their ninth consecutive game and eliminated Kermit from the playoffs in a 24-12 win Friday at the Mustang Bowl in a Class 2A Division I regional playoff.

Early (9-3 overall) jumped out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead, but Kermit quarterback Austin Grubbs scored on a 19-yard run to pull Kermit within 14-6 with 4:52 left in the half.

The Yellowjackets defense, which has been stout all season, couldn’t keep Early within range, though, as the Longhorns rushed for 259 yards and passed for 164 more.

Early will face Littlefield at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Grande Communications Stadium in a Class 2A Division I quarterfinal.

Grubbs led Kermit, throwing for 137 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 38 yards.

Kermit 0 6 0 6 — 12

Early 14 3 0 7 — 24

SCORING SUMMARY

First Quarter

Early: Collin Rome 52 run (Mitchell Bailey kick), 6:10.

Early: Seth Coolbaugh 34 pass from Nick Lyle (Bailey kick), 2:45.

Second Quarter

Kermit: Austin Grubbs 19 run (kick blocked), 4:52.

Early: Bailey 37 FG, 2:01.

Fourth Quarter

Early: Bo Ross 19 run (Bailey kick), 4:07.

Kermit: Manuel Pargas 72 pass from Grubbs (pass failed), 3:07.

TEAM STATISTICS

Yardstick Kermit Early

First Downs 11 20

Total Yards 254 423

Rushes-Yards 37-117 39-259

Passing Yards 137 164

Passing 6-18-0 10-23-2

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-1

Punts-Avg 7-32.6 4-27.3

Penalties-Yards 4-40 8-50

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing

Kermit: Austin Grubbs 8-38, Chris Pando 8-38, Brandon Arnsworth 7-20, Johnathan Mendoza 4-11, Manuel Pargas 1-8, Matt Wagner 5-(-1), Jorge Vasquez 2-4, Michael Orona 2-(-1).

Early: Bo Ross 22-143, Collin Rome 12-128, S. Morris 2-4, Chase Reeves 1-1, Nick Lyle 2-(-17).

Passing

Kermit: Austin Grubbs 6-18-0—137.

Early: Nick Lyle 10-23-1—164.

Receiving

Kermit: Manuel Pargas 2-87, Vasquez 2-33, Trevor Leeson 1-10, Jonathan Mendoza 1-7.

Early: Cody Bullard 3-27, Seth Coolbaugh 1-34, John Moore 1-26, Cameron King 2-35, Austin Cochran 1-16, Chase Reeves 1-16, Guy Henry 1-10.