The Amherst Bulldogs’ season ended last Friday with a 44-24 loss to the Groom Tigers in the Bi-District round of the UIL Class 1A-2 High School Football Playoffs at Mitchell Zimmerman Field in Lockney.
The Tigers started with the ball on their own 21 yard line after Amherst’s deep kick, but didn’t get very far. They turned over on downs at their own 32 yard line after the first series. The Bulldogs were unable to take advantage after the first snap sailed over the backfield and was recovered at the Amherst 34 yard line.
Amherst was able to get back to the Groom 35 yard line, but turned over on downs at that point.
Amherst’s defense did more than shut the Tigers down on the next drive. Groom’s Stephen Kuehler, under pressure, found Blayne Shuck open, but he was promptly shut down for an 11 yard loss.
Kuehler went to Greyson Peet on the next play, but Gabriel Garcia got the interception for the first score of the game. Garcia also did the honors for the two-point kick for an 8-0 Amherst lead with just over six minutes left in the first quarter.
Groom took over on their own 20 yard line after again being pinned deep. This time, however, they steadily moved downfield until, with 2:30 left on the clock, Kuehler found Ryan Weinheimer open for the first Tiger touchdown of the game. Kuehler’s kick was good for an 8-8 tie.
The second quarter started with the Tigers again on the prowl, facing second down and 10 yards on their own 24 yard line. Kuehler, who was under pressure from Amherst most of the night, found Shuck open again for a 16-8 lead. That’s where the score stayed for the rest of the first half with neither team having any success at moving the ball.
The kick return to open the second half, however, looked to change things when Amherst’s Hector Perez took it all the way to the end zone, tying the score at 16.
Groom looked to be in trouble. They took over on their own 34 yard line and after a late hit call moved them up to the Amherst 15 yard line, they stalled out.
The Tigers gained one yard in three plays, then a holding call on fourth down moved them back to the 24 yard line.
Kuehler hit Peet open for a touchdown and a 24-16 Groom lead after the kick with 8:24 left on the clock.
The Tigers forced Amherst to punt, then scored again on their next drive. While the kick failed, Groom led 30-16 with 5:07 left in the third period.
Amherst kept the ball for most of the rest of the third quarter, but came away with only a turnover on downs at the 1:39 mark.
Groom was tagged for a false start on the 12 yard line, moving them back to their own seven yard line with first down and 20. Kuehler then broke loose for 73 yards and a 38-16 Groom lead.
The Tigers scored again at the 1:48 mark on a Kuehler to Noah Wood combination.
Amherst’s last score came with just 47 seconds left in the game when Joel Garcia went to Oscar Contreras.
Groom got the resulting kick off and were able to take the victory formation to end the game Amherst finishes their season at 8-3 overall, 3-1 and district runner- up in UIL Class 1A-2, Region I, District 2