The San Saba County Shoot-Out was all tied up at 19 wins each, until last Friday night, when the Coyotes of Richland Springs defeated the Cherokee Indians 59-14, in a game that ended at the half, due to the mercy rule. Most of the games in this rivalry, which began in 1921, have been a little lop-sided, with each team trading win streaks by the decades. Richland Springs won the majority of the games from the 1920s’ all the way into the early 60s’ and then the pendulum swung back to Cherokee who dominated all the way thru the late 90s’. The four-time State Champion Coyotes have won the last 6 games in the new century, keeping the bragging rights and the Silver Armadillo Trophy(?) in the western half of the county, for at least another year....

Drives Recapped

•Danny Tillery kicks off into the endzone for a touchback, Coyotes hold the Indians, three plays and punt.

• Coyotes 1st and 15 from their own 38 yard line. Reeves throws incomplete and then sweeps the right side for 39 yards to the Indians 3 yard line. Chance Bush slams up the middle for the touchdown. On the PAT try, the snap is over Trevor Tinneys’ head but he recovers and passes to Danny Tillery in the endzone for the 1 point conversion.... Coyotes 7 Indians 0

•Tillery again kicks into the endzone for a touchback. Indians 1st and 15 from their own 20 yard line.

E. J. Borchers passes to Stephen Austermann for 7 yards and then runs the same play and Austermann runs to Coyotes 22 yard line. Borchers runs to the 7 yard line and then runs again for the score. PAT no good..... Coyotes 7 Indians 6......6:18 left in the first quarter

•Coyotes from their own 35, Denim Reeves passes to Tillery to the Cherokee 26, after throwing incomplete, Reeves runs left to the 10 yard line. Chance Bush cuts inside right end for the TD. Trevor Tinney kick is good.... Coyotes 15-Indians 6

•Indians start from their own 20 after the touchback kick from Tillery. Borchers pass is almost intercepted by Chance Bush. Ben VanCleave sacks Borchers to the Indians 6 yard line. Vancleave sacks Borchers again in the endzone for a safety..... Coyotes 17-6

•After the ensuing kickoff, Denim Reeves scampers untouched for 46 yards, PAT no good.... Coyotes 23-6

•Another Tillery touchback and the Coyotes hold the Indians and take over on downs at the Indians 20 yard line. Reeves runs to the 7 and then Bush runs to the 4 before Reeves waltzes in for the score. Tinney PAT is good.... Coyotes 31-6

•The Coyotes hold the Indians again and take over on downs at the Cherokee 30 yard line. Denim Reeves connects with Danny Tillery for 12 yards to the 18 yard line. Then Reeves skirts the left side following a great cut block by Thomas Fowler and scores easily. Tinney kick is good.... Coyotes 39-6

•After another VanCleave sack, Denim Reeves swats away the 4th and 17 pass attempt and the Coyotes take over on downs again. Reeves hits Tra Williams deep, 50 yard pass and run for the touchdown. Tinney kick is good.... Coyotes 47-6

• Dillon Parker makes a touchdown saving tackle on the ensuing kickoff and the Coyotes hold and take over on their own 12. Chance Bush rushes to the 25 yard line then Tra Williams runs the reverse to the Cherokee 37 yard line. Reeves misses Patrick Phillips and Chance Bush with passes then hits Williams to the Cherokee 16. Denim cuts up the middle, then right, then left and scores untouched. Tinney kick failed.... Coyotes 53-6

•Tillerys’ kick is returned to the Cherokee 38 yard line by Payton Tatsch. Chance Bush stuffs an Indian receiver for a 3 yard loss. 2nd and 18 from the Cherokee 35. Borchers hits Logan Lopez to the Coyote 27 yard line. Borchers passes to Jorge Labrador to the Coyote 22 yard line. Borchers passes laterally to Austermann who passes in the endzone to Borchers... touchdown. PAT is good.... Coyotes 53 Indians 14.... 13 seconds left in the half.

• The Indians pooch kick is fielded by Ben VanCleave at the Coyotes 36, Ben breaks two tackles, maintains his balance, and outraces the Indians to the endzone. Parker kick failed... Coyotes 59 Indians 14.

The Indians didn’t come close to containing Denim Reeves who had 7 rushes for 145 yards and 4 TDs and added a long scoring toss to Tra Williams. Chance Bush had 4 carries for 41 yards and 2 touchdowns. Ben VanCleave returned the last kickoff back for 54 yards and a touchdown. Tra Williams caught two passes and scored on the one for 44 yards. Danny Tillery had two catches for 39 yards and Trevor Tinney kicked 4 PATs for 8 points and salvaged one point on a PAT pass to Tillery.

Defensively, Ben VanCleave had a huge night with 12 tackles, 5 for losses and the safety. Chance Bush and Gunner Mann both had 7 tackles and Denim Reeves registered 5 tackles for the Coyotes. Danny Tillery, Dillon Parker, Tra Williams, Trevor Tinney, and Patrick Phillips all recorded tackles in the winning effort.

The 7-0 overall and 1-0 in District play, Coyotes, will host Lohn this week at Coyote Field at 7:30PM. Go Coyotes Go!!!!