Albany knocks off defending state champion Windthorst in Region II-2A Division II final
GRAHAM – The previous two years, Brooks Neece had seen his season end at the hands of Windthorst in the playoffs.
It wasn’t a very good feeling.
“It’s heartbreaking to lose at all (in the playoffs), and it’s even worse when you lose to the same team two years in a row,” the Albany senior said.
Neece didn’t want to feel that way a third time.
“I just really wanted to beat these guys,” Neece said. “It’s for the regional championships. That’s big enough, but you’re playing the team that knocked you out two years in a row. It just magnifies it that much more. I can’t go out to these dudes again. One time is too much, but three? I couldn’t do it.”
The third time proved to charm for Neece and the Albany Lions.
Cole Chapman threw three touchdowns passes and ran for another TD as the Lions beat the defending state champions 28-14 in the Region II-2A Division II final Friday at Newton Field.
“We lost to them last year, and it was tough,” said Chapman, a second-year varsity player. “I’ve been thinking about it all year. We finally got it done.”
Chapman, junior quarterback, had a big night, throwing for 134 yards while also leading the Lions in rushing with 53 yards on nine carries, including a 34-yard TD run.
Yet, it was the defense that provided the big sparks.
Interceptions by Adam Hill and Coy Lefevre set up the Lions’ first and last TDs – ironically to Hill and Lefevre respectively – as Albany (13-0) finally got past Windthorst. The Trojans ended the Lions' season the previous two years – beating them 18-13 in the third round last year and 24-20 in the second round in 2019.
“You get this deep in the playoffs, playing for a regional final, and you’ve got two good football teams, you’re going to have to get some breaks,” Albany coach Denney Faith said. “We got some turnovers, which made a difference.”
Albany will play Stratford (13-1) at 6 p.m. Thursday in the state semifinals at Lowrey Field in Lubbock. Stratford beat Wellington 26-6 on Friday in Amarillo.
Hill’s pick came on Windthorst’s first play from scrimmage and set the Lions up at the Trojans’ 33-yard line. Three plays later, Chapman threw a 21-yard TD pass to Hill.
The Lions pushed their lead to 14-0 before Windthorst even had a first down as Chapman ran 34 yards for the TD on Albany’s next possession.
“We put them in a situation they don’t like to be,” Faith said. “They like to run the ball with that big offensive line and big, tough running backs. We put them in a situation where they had to throw a little bit more than they want to. We felt like we were in a good situation at that point.”
Windthorst (12-2) answered with an eight-play, 60-yard drive. Clay Hoff capped it with a 10-yard TD run, but the Trojans missed the PAT kick and trailed 14-6 with 2:20 left in the first quarter.
Albany turned around and drove 60 yards on 13 plays. Chapman finished it with a 7-yard TD pass to Lafevre on fourth-and-6, giving the Lions a 21-6 lead with 8:42 to play in the first half.
Lafevre came up with an interception on the Trojan’s second possession of the second half, giving the Lions the ball at the Windthorst 29.
Three plays later, Chapman hit Lafevre for a 28-yard TD pass, giving the Lions a commanding 28-6 lead with 4:07 left in the third quarter.
Windthorst didn’t go away.
The Trojans responded with a 13-play, 77-yard scoring drive. Logan Cope found Brayden Berend in the left corner of the end zone for a 16-yard TD pass.
Cope also threw a pass to Zane Hackley on the two-point conversion, cutting the Lions’ lead in half at 28-14 with 11:19 to play in the game.
Windthorst then forced a three-and-out at the Albany 24, and it appeared the Trojans would get good field position. But Lions’ punter Zane Waggoner flipped the field – getting off a 68-yard punt – pinning Windthorst at its 8.
The Trojans wouldn’t get past midfield the rest of the night as Albany finally exorcised its demons.
“They’ve beaten us for so long now,” said Albany senior Taren Farmer. “It’s finally great to break that.”
Added Neece: “It feels great for right now, but we’ve got more work to do.”
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Game summary
► Turning point: After turning the ball over on downs at the Lions’ 26 on the first possession of the second half, Windthorst did what it couldn’t afford to do down two scores – throw a second pick on its next possession. Lafevre’s interception set the Lions up at the Trojans' 29, and three plays later he caught a 28-yard TD from Chapman for a 28-6 lead.
► Players of the game: Cole Chapman, quarterback, Albany – The junior completed 12 of 23 passes for 134 yards and three TDs to go along with a team-high 53 yards rushing on nine carries, including a 34-yard TD; Coy Lafevre, fullback/safety, Albany – Lafevre had a game-high six catches for 74 yards, including TDs of 7 and 28 yards – and the 7-yarder came on fourth down. The junior also picked off a pass to set up his second TD.
► Key stat: The Lions had a 14-0 lead before Windthorst had a first down. They didn’t turn the ball over, while coming up with two interceptions – the only two turnovers in the game.
► Coach Faith said: “They played well. Their kids played hard. So, did ours. We got a few more bounces tonight, and we made some plays when we needed to.”
► Impact: Albany is a win away from advancing to state for the first time since 2015, when the Lions lost to Bremond in the title game for the second consecutive year. The Lions have seven state title game appearances, winning two (1960-61). This is their first state semifinal since losing to Gruver 30-17 in 2018.
► Up next: Albany plays the Stratford (13-1) at 6 p.m. Thursday in the state semifinals at Lowery Field in Lubbock. Stratford beat Wellington 26-6 on Friday in Amarillo.
REGION II-2A DIV. II FINAL
Albany 28, Windthorst 14
Windthorst … 6 … 0 … 0 … 8 – 14
Albany … 14 … 7 … 7 … 0 – 28
FIRST QUARTER
ALB – Adam Hill 21 pass from Cole Chapman (London Fuentes kick), 9:43
ALB – Chapman 34 run (Fuentes kick), 7:09
WIN – Clay Hoff 10 run (kick failed), 2:20
SECOND QUARTER
ALB – Coy Lefevre 7 pass from Chapman (Fuentes kick), 8:42
THIRD QUARTER
ALB – Lefevre 28 pass from Chapman (Fuentes kick), 4:07
FOURTH QUARTER
WIN – Brayden Berend 16 pass from Logan Cope (Zane Hackley pass from Cope), 11:19
TEAM STATISTICS
……………… WIN … ALB
First downs … 17 … 12
Rushes-Yards … 42-169 … 26-73
Passing … 72 … 134
Comp-Att-Int …… 9-21-2 … 12-23-0
Punts …… 2-35.5 … 5-41.2
Fumbles-Lost … 1-0 … 0-0
Penalties-Yards … 1-5 … 6-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Windthorst, Clay Hoff 24-114, Logan Cope 15-51, Haven Vieth 2-9, Zane Hackley 1-(-5); Albany, Cole Chapman 9-53, Jaheim Newton 9-36, Coy Lefevre 4-5, Clay Green 1-(-1), TEAM 3-(-20).
PASSING: Windthorst, Cope 9-21-2—72; Albany, Chapman 12-23-0—134.
RECEIVING: Windthorst, Brayden Berend 2-25, Hackley 4-18, Gage Lindley 2-17, Kolby Teakell 1-12; Albany, Lefevre 6-74, Adam Hill 1-21, London Fuentes 2-15, Brooks Neece 1-9, Cooper Fairchild 1-8, Newton 1-7.
RECORDS: Albany 13-0; Windthorst 12-2.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Albany beat Windthorst in Region II-2A Division II football final
