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BASTROP — The Bastrop Bears’ playoff hopes fizzled away in their Friday night matchup versus the visiting Liberty Hill Panthers.
The Bears had no problem generating explosive plays and finding the end zone, but it wasn’t enough to keep pace with the Panthers’ lethal rushing attack, as they lost 81-31 and finished the season with a 5-5 record. Despite winning three of their first four games in non-conference play, Bastrop’s 2-4 district record won’t be enough to earn the fourth and final playoff spot.
With quarterbacks Quintaelyn Joyner and freshman Weston Nielsen sidelined due to injury, Coach Jake Griedl called upon senior Braden Tuck to lead the Bears’ offense. Tuck made an impressive first-down throw on the team’s opening drive, finding tight end Wyatt Marshall while taking a big hit and rolling to his left. Wide receiver Keyshon Moore then picked up a first down before the Bears were forced to punt.
Liberty Hill showed why so many defenses have struggled to stop their Wing-T offense over the years, as they ripped off a 60-yard touchdown on their opening possession. A successful two-point conversion gave the Panthers an 8-0 lead roughly five minutes into the game.
Bastrop responded with a nice drive of their own, highlighted by a 32-yard catch and run by Jaelyn Gratten to put them at the Panthers’ five-yard line. However, the home team settled for a field goal, and the score was 8-3 with under four minutes left in the first quarter.
After a Panthers field goal and a 40-yard touchdown run by Noah Long, the Bears were staring at an 18-3 deficit. Tuck then delivered a gorgeous deep pass on the first play of the next drive, connecting with Moore, who then burst down the left sideline for a 75-yard score.
The momentum was short-lived, as the Panthers scooped up an onside kick attempt and took it to the house to regain a two-touchdown advantage. After a Bastrop three-and-out, Long found the end zone again with another 40-yard rush.
Down 32-10 with a little over minutes left in the first half, the Bears remained aggressive on offense, and it paid off. Tuck made another accurate throw on a deep pass down the left sideline, hitting Gratten perfectly in stride for a 43-yard touchdown. The Bears converted their two-point attempt on a wild play in which the snap sailed over Tuck’s head before he scooped it off the ground and found an open receiver in the end zone.
Long continued to gash the Bastrop defense on the ensuing drive, scoring a 71-yard touchdown to give the visiting team a 39-18 lead with a minute and a half left in the second quarter.
The Bears, however, continued to attack the Panthers’ defense. A 50-yard bomb from Tuck to Moore quickly moved Bastrop into red zone territory. A few plays later, Tuck lofted a pretty touch-pass to Moore in the back left corner of the end zone for a 10-yard score.
With just 38 seconds left, the Bears faced a manageable two-touchdown deficit. But the Panthers ripped off another long, back-breaking rushing touchdown on the final play of the half, bringing the score to 46-24.
Liberty Hill rode the momentum into the third quarter by scoring on three straight drives. The game was suddenly out of hand, as the Bears were down 67-24. While Moore continued to showcase his elite playmaking talent with a 65-yard touchdown reception, it was too little, too late.
Despite a disappointing end to the season, Bastrop improved upon their 2022 record of 2-8 and will be returning talented players like Nielsen, Moore, Gratten and Bryan Pauley next year.
