Prairie Lea heads to playoffs; play for district title Friday
LPR staff
For the first time since 1944, Prairie Lea has qualified for the state playoffs, ending Texas’ longest high school postseason drought of 80 seasons.
On Friday, the Indians easily handled Runge at Indian Field, 52-7, to move to 2-0 in district play (7-2 overall). Prairie Lea’s final regular season game will be at first-year program Knippa (2-6, 1-1) on Friday. A Prairie Lea win will give the Indians the outright district title and allow the Indians to host a first-round playoff game, likely against the Medina Bobcats, and the game will either be at San Marcos Academy in San Marcos or somewhere in San Antonio. Prairie Lea will not find out until Friday night.
Ending the 8-decade playoff drought has Dave Campbell’s Texas High School Football perhaps featuring the Indians in its next issue.
In 1944, Prairie Lea beat Yancey 66-0 for the Bi-District Championship, which was the only playoff game during that period.
“I really don’t think our kids care about the (playoff) drought,” said Prairie Lea Head Coach Steve Brown. “I think they’re realizing how good they can be. They’re having fun and playing football, and I emphasize having fun.
“The senior class has made this one big happy group. They are having fun winning.”
The game against Runge was likely the final game at Indian Field this season for Prairie Lea, and it only lasted a few plays into the third quarter due to 6-Man Football’s 45-point rule.
Jimmy Soberanes began his 152-yard, 5-touchdown night early and often, scoring three times in the first quarter alone. His first touchdown gave Prairie Lea a 6-0 lead, a 39-yard run. He added a 2-yard touchdown, followed by Lane Fiscus’ kick and a 14-0 lead. Soberanes added a 42-yard TD run to make it 20-0 in the first period.
Runge scored its only TD to open the second period, followed by the extra point run to make it 20-7, Prairie Lea.
The Indians reeled off four scores to end the half.
Fiscus scored on a 47-yard jaunt, followed by Soberanes’ 13-yard run for a TD and a 32-7 advantage.
Joe Zapata scored on a 25-yard fumble return and a 38-7 lead.
Soberanes closed out the first half with a 45-yard scoring run, followed by Fiscus’ PAT and a 46-7 lead.
It only took three plays into the third quarter for Prairie Lea to end the game by the mercy rule. Fiscus ended the game with a halfback pass to quarterback Gabriel Garcia for 45 yards and a touchdown to reach the final margin.
Soberanes finished by scoring on half of his 10 carries for 152 yards. Fiscus added 141 yards on 5 attempts.
Defensively, Zapata led Prairie Lea with 10 tackles, followed by Fiscus and Edwin Canepa with 4 each, and Jesus Perez 3.
“Our job on defense on the night was to keep their number 5 under control,” Brown said. “I don’t know what he finished with, but it was well under 100 yards.”
* * *
1A 6-Man District 16
Standings
Prairie Lea 7-2 2-0
Runge 3-6 1-1
Knippa 2-6 1-1
Benavides 4-5 0-2
Last week’s scores
Prairie Lea 52, Runge 7
Knippa 25, Benavides 13
This week’s games
Prairie Lea at Knippa
Benavides at Runge
