BY TRAVIS CRAM / SPECIAL TO THE A-J

Post head coach Chris Jones said he was well aware of what Bushland could do if it was able to get things rolling early in the game. The Falcons stalled early on but kept it close, circling the Antelopes before eventually going for the kill in the second half.
No. 2 Bushland (12-0) racked up 172 rushing yards in the second half for 30 points to blow past Post, 44-7, in the Region I Class 2A-Division II area playoff game Friday night at Lowrey Field.

Post's quarterback Clint Windham (22) is tackled by Bushland's Monty McCasland (81) and Crockett Gillmore (8) during their Conference AA Division II game Friday at Lowery Field in Lubbock. (Merissa Ferguson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Post's Aaron James (18) is tackled by Bushland's Michael Matthews (22) during their Conference AA Division II game Friday at Lowery Field in Lubbock. (Merissa Ferguson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

Post's against Bushland's during their Conference AA Division II game Friday at Lowery Field in Lubbock. (Merissa Ferguson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)

“We had to try and control the clock and manage the game well to keep it our way, and for two quarters we were able to do that,” said Jones, whose Antelopes improved to 8-4 in his second season as head coach after going 5-5 last year. “I think we just probably got worn down more than anything else there in the second half. I know the ins and the outs of the offense they run and they run it well. … It was just a matter of us making mistakes and eventually getting worn down.”

Post scored on its second drive after being stopped at midfield to open the game and held Bushland to a three-and-out. The pass appeared to be what would work best for the Antelopes as quarterback Clint Windham hit tight end Aaron James on a seam route up the middle for a 34-yard gain and then threw a strike to running back Ernest Saldivar five plays later in the end zone for a 26-yard score. But Windham would complete only one more pass the rest of the night.

The 7-0 lead for the Antelopes was the first time Bushland had trailed in a game all season — and it lasted only 14 seconds.

Bushland wide receiver Thomas Cleveland fielded the ensuing kickoff at his own 10-yard line and went 90 yards untouched for the touchdown to tie the game 7-7 with 50 seconds left in the first frame. Cleveland finished the night with 123 return yards but it was the Falcons’ run game that made the biggest difference late.

“We just stayed with what we coached them up on this week,” Bushland head coach David Flowers said. “They did a tremendous job of keeping with their composure. We were really worried about how we would react to a team that could stick with us, hang with us.”

Receiver/running back Michael Matthews was the catalyst for Bushland’s ground game in the second half, rushing for 74 yards on five carries in the final 24 minutes. He ended the game with 81 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

More than anything, Bushland turned the control game on its side in the second half because of its ability to run the ball, rushing up to the line in almost a two-minute drill style on its second possession of the third quarter. The Falcons picked off Windham at their own 25-yard line and took the ball 75 yards in 4 minutes, 27 seconds to make it 21-7.

The Falcons only had the ball for 3 minutes, 46 seconds in the first half, which is about normal for its quick-strike offense. But the passing game was nowhere to be found thanks to Post dropping seven or eight guys on each play.

Bushland could have extended its lead early by seven more points had it not been for its only two penalties in the first half. A holding penalty on the ensuing punt after Post’s 5-minute drive was stalled brought back Cleveland’s 64-yard punt return for a score. And then the second penalty two plays later brought back another possible TD, a 50-yard pass from Sawyer Comelius to Crockett Gilmore.

And after all the things were said and done by the Falcons’ offense, both Jones and Flowers had to give props to Bushland’s defense and its ability to hold Post to no more scores on some long, clock-eating drives throughout the game.

“(Post) did a great job in taking away our passing game and making us go to the run,” Flowers said. “But our defense, that’s something people have not noticed about us too much this year. They’ve only given up about 75 points in the first 10 games.”

Added Jones: “They’re putting points on the board with their offense but that defense is what keeps them in the game and help them keep winning.”

CLASS 2A DIVISION II AREA PLAYOFF
BUSHLAND 44, POST 7
at Lowrey Field, Lubbock
Post 7 0 0 0 — 7
Bushland 7 7 9 21 — 44
FIRST QUARTER
POST—Ernest Saldivar 26 pass from Clint Windham (Reed Williams kick); 1:04
BUS—Thomas Cleveland 90 kick return (Sawyer Comelius kick); 0:50
SECOND QUARTER
BUS—Michael Matthews 7 run (Comelius kick); 7:37
THIRD QUARTER
BUS—Matthews 2 run (Comelius kick); 4:44
FOURTH QUARTER
BUS—Tate Rhodes 1 run (Comelius kick); 11:58
BUS—Matthews 16 run (Comelius kick); 7:37
BUS—Rhodes 3 run (Comelius kick); 1:25

TEAM STATISTICS
POST BUS
First downs 12 19
Rushes-yards 40-155 31-205
Passing yards 81 77
Comp.-att.-int. 3-9-1 7-13-1
Punts-avg. 3-27.7 2-24
Fumbles-lost 2-1 0-0
Penalties-yards 5-30 3-30
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Bushland, Caleb McGuire 3-12, Sawyer Comelius 7-15, Mason Harris 10-54, Michael Matthews 6-81, Tate Rhodes 4-37, Thomas Cleveland 1-6; Post, Giles Dalby 16-97, Ernest Saldivar 7-33, Clint Windham 12-17, Aaron James 1-16, Trent Babb 3-18
PASSING: Bushland, Comelius 7-11-0—77, Brett Wilhelm 0-1-0—0, Crockett Gilmore 0-1-1—0; Post, Windham 3-9-1—81
RECEIVING: Bushland, Gilmore 1-28, Rawley Gomez 2-24, Matthews 2-4, Harris 1-7, McGuire 1-14; Post, James 2-54, Saldivar 1-27