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Seymour advances to State Finals
December 9, 2007 10:29 AM

Zach Duncan

Times Record News

LUBBOCK – While Seymour fans serenaded the team with chants of "State! State! State!" Panthers coach David Fambrough could only describe the moment as surreal.

It's an understandable emotion, considering the uncharted territory of it all.

The Panthers will be playing for their first state high school football state championship in school history after a 41-15 dismantling of Sunray on Saturday night at Lowrey Field.

"It's a great feeling right now," said quarterback Hayden Holub, who rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns while passing for 216 yards and three more scores. "Everybody here is just as excited as we are, and they're behind us."

Seymour (10-3) will meet No. 1 Alto (14-0) for the Class A Division I title at 3 p.m. Saturday in Midlothian. Sunray ends its season at 10-3.

There were no early jitters for Seymour, which hadn't made it this deep into the playoffs since 1957. The Panthers scored on all five first-half possessions, building an insurmountable 35-7 lead at intermission.

"It was just one of those nights where everything went right for us," Fambrough said. "We played our game from start to finish."

Holub scored on Seymour's third play from scrimmage – a 55-yard touchdown run – and threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Callan Coltharp on the next drive.

Since Sunray seemed intent to crowd the line of scrimmage, Holub came out firing. His second touchdown pass was a thing of beauty, covering 71 yards when Zack Hardin blew past his defensive back.

"Their safeties were jamming on the line, and I was able to outrun them," said Hardin, who caught six passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. "Hayden threw the ball well and we ran the routes they told us."

Holub's second rushing touchdown of the night extended Seymour's lead to 28-7, and then the senior quarterback led an 85-yard drive toward the end of the half in 44 seconds, capping it off with a 20-yard strike to Hardin.

About the only suspense in this rout was whether Holub would reach the 200-yard rushing mark for the third straight game. He didn't because Sunray ripped off two drives that consumed a total of 14 minutes in the second half, keeping the Panthers' offense on the sideline.

Sunray's Colton Wilson was a bright spot, as the sophomore running back had 33 carries for 178 yards and a late touchdown.

But the Seymour defense forced two turnovers – interceptions by Holub and Coltharp – and pressured Sunray quarterback Tyler Pounds plenty of times.

"From start to finish, this was the best game we've played all year, and it should be because we're in the semifinals," Fambrough said.

Now the first-year coach is hoping the team has one more top-notch performance against Alto, the defending state champion.

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.

Sey 21 14 6 0 -41

Sun 0 7 0 8 -15

Sey Sun

Fd 13 17

Rush 18-163 52-240

Pass 216 28

C/A/I 9-21-1 8-18-2

Punt 1-32 1-34

Fumb 0-0 2-0

Pen 1-15 2-25

Se – Hayden Holub 55 run (Callan Coltharp kick)

Se – Coltharp 20 pass from Holub (Coltharp kick)

Se – Zack Hardin 71 pass from Holub (Coltharp kick)

Su – Darren Bumpas 16 run (Tyler Pounds kick)

Se – Holub 10 run (kick failed)

Se – Hardin 20 pass from Holub (Holub run)

Se – Holub 38 run (kick failed)

Su – Colton Wilson 3 run (Mark Gonzales run)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: (Se) Hayden Holub 15-163; Donald Penner 1-3; Ross Peters 2-2; team 1-(-5); (Su) Colton Wilson 33-178; Darren Bumpas 12-64; Mark Gonzales 4-11; Tyler Pounds 3-(-13).

Passing: (Se) Hayden Holub 9-21-1, 216 yards; (Su) Tyler Pounds 8-17-2, 28 yards; Colton Wilson 0-1-0, 0 yards.

Receiving: (Se) Zack Hardin 6-157; Callan Coltharp 2-55; Ross Peters 1-4; (Su) Mark Gonzales 2-16; Colton Wilson 1-9; Danny Ruiz 2-5; Trevor Dooley 3-(-2).