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Abilene Wylie 28, Burkburnett 6
November 23, 2007 11:27 PM

Zach Duncan
Times Record News

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas - Burkburnett has won as many playoff games this decade as Abilene Wylie has won state titles.

So while Wylie had the factor of playoff experience on its side, that didn't matter nearly as much as its swarming defense Friday night at the Birdville Athletics Complex.

Wylie's staunch unit held Burkburnett to a season-low in nearly every offensive category, paving the way for a 28-6 victory in the Region I-3A Division I quarterfinals.

Abilene Wylie (10-2) will play today's winner between Fort Stockton (9-1) and Andrews (9-2) in the state quarterfinals. Burkburnett ends its season at 8-4.

"The more you do this, the better you get," said Burkburnett coach Bill Dalke, whose team made the playoffs for the first time since 2001. "I'm real proud of the guys and everything they have accomplished this year."

No. 8 Wylie, winner of nine straight, turned a slim lead at the half into a 14-6 advantage in the third quarter off Jared Wallace's 12-yard touchdown pass to Abe Templeton. Fullback Jesse Jennings then punctuated the victory with two short TD runs in the fourth.

Meanwhile, Burkburnett struggled to move the ball against Wylie's ball-swarming front. The offensive output set season lows in total yards (122), rushing yards (110), first downs (eight) and points scored.

"They're good at getting off blocks and getting to the ball," Dalke said of Wylie's defense. "We knew we had to play our very best and get some breaks."

Lyn Barnes, who was coming off a 150-yard game in last week's victory over Canyon, was held to 17 yards. Jonathan Frank was the leading rusher with 45 yards, while Jason Beach got most of his 44 yards during late-game scrambles.

"We kept them moving laterally," Abilene Wylie coach Hugh Sandifer said. "We were well-prepared and tackled them well."

Dalke said he thought his defense played well, considering the tough spots it was put in. Seven of Wylie's drives started at midfield or better, partially because of punting five times into a stiff wind.

Burkburnett scored first on Jay Gould's 1-yard run, which ended a 14-play, 56-yard drive early in the second quarter. Five of the Bulldogs' eight first downs came on that march, easily their most productive of the night.

Abilene Wylie answered five minutes later on Cameron Rogers' 30-yard touchdown run, and took the lead when Bryce Channell tacked on the PAT. Rogers finished with 79 yards on a season-high 16 carries.

Wylie threatened twice before that first score, but its opening drive ended when Wallace fumbled on Burkburnett's 6-yard line. The next one came to a halt when Burkburnett's Trent Sharp intercepted a tipped pass.

But Wylie, which won a state title in 2004, rose to the occasion in the second half when called upon, a trait of a championship-type team.

Staff sports writer Zach Duncan can be reached weekdays after 4 p.m. by calling 720-3470 or 1-800-627-1646. Or e-mail him at duncanz(at)timesrecordnews.com.