FOOTBALL: China Spring Ends GHS' Playoff Hopes 17-7

Gatesville was fighting for a playoff berth right down to the very final seconds of Friday's regular-season closer at China Spring. Unfortunately, the Hornets came up shy in a 10-point loss and the league's tie-breaker rule. China Spring (2-3 district) made off with a 17-7 win in the finale and in the process claimed one of District 17-4A's postseason nods along with La Vega (4-1), Burnet (4-1) and Robinson (2-3). Gatesville, which finishes the season 4-6 overall and 2-3 in district, actually tied with Robinson and China Spring in district play but needed to either win Friday or lose by no more than six points based on the league's 3-team tie-breaker rule. “My heart goes out to our seniors who were playing their last game tonight,” said Gatesville head coach Kyle Cooper. “I wish we could have gotten it done tonight and advanced — for them." China Spring led 3-0 after the first two quarters. Gatesville's defense allowed just 43 yards rushing in the first half. The host-Cougars increased that lead to 10-0 early in the third period, but GHS responded before the quarter ended. Dakota Vernon's 20-yard touchdown run capped an impressive 10-play, 76-yard drive aided by a 34-yard pass from Collin Hallgarth to Andraque Jones. Gatesville took its next possession and drove deep into CS territory but was unable to convert on a potential game-tying field goal. China Spring still needed to extend the point differential and did so by scoring with just 2:02 left in the game. Gatesville's valiant last-minute next effort ended on downs at the Cougars' 28 yard line. "I’m proud of these kids for the season they gave us," noted Cooper. "They fought all the way to the end. There were plenty of times this year they could have laid down — and they never did.”