TRENT — Thanks to their 79-24 win Friday over Trent, the Blackwell Hornets are back in the playoffs once again.
Blackwell (3-1 in District 6-1A, D-II, 4-6) clinched its 12th postseason berth in 14 years with the win. It is the No. 2 seed — Bronte (4-0) is the district champion — and for the second straight year will play Balmorhea in bi-district. The Bears (9-1) are the champions of District 5-1A, D-II.
The teams’ playoff will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Rankin, the same place they met a year ago. Blackwell is the visiting team, according to coach Wiley Cummings.
Blackwell, which started 0-5, has scored over 70 points in each of its three district wins. Against Trent, the Hornets stormed to a 50-0 advantage after one period en route to a mercy rule victory by halftime against the Gorillas (1-3, 6-4). Despite losing its last three games and missing the playoffs, Trent still had its best season in several years.
Seven different players had rushing touchdowns for Blackwell, led by Keagan Reno (7 carries, 108 yards and three TDs).
Kreed Cummings (47 yards), Colson Moffett (28 yards) and Ryder Antilley (1 yard) scored the only time they ran the ball, while Slade Wilkinson (3 carries, 63 yards), Samuel Campbell (2 carries, 35 yards) and Jaxon Shipman (2 carries, 15 yards) also had rushing TDs. Rylie Cronkright ran for 14 yards and Memphis Boyd 13.
Wilkinson was 2-for-2 passing for 60 yards and Arthur Bogaert 1-for-1 for 3 yards, with Antilles catching two throws for 23 yards and Reno one for 40. Wilkinson was also 7-for-7 on extra point kicks and Bogaert 1-for-2.
Cummings also scored on defense by returning an interception 60 yards, as well as recording 13 tackles and recovering a fumble. Wilkinson had nine tackles and Boyd eight, and Wilkinson and Moffett also recovered a fumble. Moffett caused a fumble as well, and Wilkinson broke up three passes for Blackwell.