High School Football: Justin Brady's pick-six sparks Stamford past Forsan in playoff game

SWEETWATER — Just when it appeared Forsan would have a chance to make it a one-score game, Justin Brady tipped the balance for the Stamford Bulldogs.

Brady returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown on a second-and-goal play at the Bulldogs’ 5-yard line — sealing the Region I-2A Division I bi-district playoff game Friday night at the Mustang Bowl.

Brady’s pick-six gave Stamford a 22-point lead, and the Bulldogs would get two more interceptions — both by Alec Hernandez — to set up two more scores in a 42-6 victory.

Christian Duran threw three touchdown passes earlier in the game to spark the Bulldogs (9-1), who advance to play No. 4 Stratford (11-0) in area round next week. The Elks beat Sundown 61-0 on Thursday in Canyon.

It was Stamford’s first playoff win since beating Lindsay 68-34 in the first round in 2018. The Bulldogs were 0-3 in first-round playoff games since then before Friday’s wins.

Forsan, which beat Stamford 21-14 in the first round last year, ends its season at 8-3.

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How it started

Forsan opened the game with an 11-play, 70-yard drive. The Buffs were running the ball right down the Bulldogs’ throat.

Yet after getting a first-and-goal at 9, Forsan couldn’t get in the end zone as Stamford dropped Huston Stockton for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-goal from the 1.

It was a scoreless game until Brayden Jimenez took a short pass from Duran and turned it into a 74-yard TD pass with 7:03 left in the first half.

Jimenez broke a tackle and then rambled down the left sideline for the TD.

Forsan answered with a 9-play, 70-yard scoring drive. This time Nicholas Holloway scored from a yard out on quarterback sneak with 2:49 left in the half.

The Buffs went for two, but the snap sailed past Holloway, who had to fall on it at the 25.

It took a little razzle-dazzle to spark the drive. Brooks Wright took a handoff from Holloway, then threw a 38-yard pass to Hayden Bowlin on the first play of the drive.

The Bulldogs got some breathing room — answering the Forsan TD with a quick eight-play, 59-yard drive.

Duran threw a 35-yard TD pass to Quinten Pryor — just barely past the outstretched hands a defender at the goal-line — on third-and-18 with 1:18 to play in the half. It came one play after a holding call wiped out a 25-yard TD pass to Drew Faulks.

The big finish

It remained a 14-6 game until Duran threw a 21-yard TD pass to Faulks with 10:03 remaining in the game.

Duran had a 45-yard run to the Buffs’ 38 to bolster the six-play, 83-yard drive. Duran’s run came on the last play of the third quarter.

Down 21-6, Forsan threatened to make a game of it on its next possession. The Buffs drove from their own 28 to get first-and-goal at the Stamford 9. Two plays later, Brady sealed the victory with the pick-six that gave Stamford the 28-6 advantage.

Jared Brady — Justin’s brother — ran for TDs of 1 and 36 yards after Hernandez interceptions to finish off the Buffs.

In fact, Hernandez nearly made it back-to-back pick-sixes. The very next time Forsan ran a play from scrimmage after Justin Brady’s pick-six, Hernandez picked off a pass at the Forsan 40 and nearly scored before being stopped at the 9. Jared Brady scored one play later.

His second pick gave the Bulldogs the ball at their own 49.

Friday’s Stars

Christian Duran, Stamford

Duran completed 10-of-18 passes for 186 yards and three TDs with one interception. The junior quarterback also ran for a game-high 115 yards on 14 carries.

Alec Hernandez, Stamford

The sophomore defensive back picked off two passes – both leading to touchdowns.

Justin Brady, Stamford

The senior defensive back returned an interception 100 yards for a TD.

Brycen Cervantes, Forsan

The senior tight end caught three passes for 30 yards and also ran four times for 49 yards.

They said it

Stamford coach Wayne Hutchinson on the win, Stamford’s first since 2018: “These kids have worked so hard for a long time, and as you saw when they handed us that trophy how excited our kids were. That was our goal all year long. … These guys are hungry. They want to win some more, but I’m so proud they were able to do that tonight.”

Stamford quarterback Christian Duran on what the win means to the Bulldogs: “This is something we’ve been wanting since last year. Last year, we didn’t come out on top (against Forsan). But this year, we came out more prepared and just executed better.”

Hutchinson on Jared Brady’s pick-six: “That was an unbelievable pick by Justin Brady and then what a return. That was awesome.”

Forsan coach Jason Phillips on the pick-six and the game overall: “That was a big play in their favor. But looking back at the score and seeing how well we played … We did a lot of good things. The score doesn’t indicate how well we played. It was a lot closer game that. But we had some mistakes, and they’re a really good football team. But I’m super proud of our kids. They never gave up and kept fighting.”

Hutchinson on facing No. 4 Stratford next: “I know they’re highly ranked, undefeated, and they have a big tradition at Stratford just like we do at Stamford. So, I suspect it’s going to be a heck of game next week.”

REGION I-2A DI BI-DISTRICT PLAYOFF GAME

Stamford 42, Forsan 6

Forsan … 0 … 6 … 0 … 0 – 6

Stamford … 0 … 14 … 0 … 28 – 42

SECOND QUARTER

STAM – Brayden Jimenez 74 pass from Christian Duran (Julius Arvad kick), 7:03

FOR – Nicholas Holloway 1 run (run failed), 2:49

STAM – Quinten Pryor 35 pass from Duran (Arvad kick), 1:18

FOURTH QUARTER

STAM – Drew Faulks 21 pass from Duran (Arvad kick), 10:03

STAM – Justin Brady 100 interception return (Arvad kick), 6:33

STAM – Jared Brady 1 run (Arvad kick), 5:32

STAM – Ja. Brady 36 run (Arvad kick), 1:39

TEAM STATISTICS

……………… FOR … STA

First downs … 19 … 18

Rushes-Yards … 46-244 … 32-173

Passing … 149 … 186

Comp-Att-Int …… 10-22-3 … 10-18-1

Punts …… 3-30.6 … 3-23.0

Fumbles-Lost … 2-1 … 1-0

Penalties-Yards … 6-35 … 6-55

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Forsan, Huston Stockton 22-99, Brycen Cervantes 4-49, Grant Roman 3-41, Nicholas Holloway 7-41, Brooks Wright 5-13, Yandell Melendez 2-1, Hayden Bowlin 3-0; Stamford, Christian Duran 14-115, Cle Whitfield 9-33, Jared Brady 4-12, Kaston Vega 3-8, Mason Mueller 1-6, Team 1-(-1).

PASSING: Forsan, Nicholas Holloway 8-17-2—99, Brooks Wright 2-5-1—50; Stamford, Christian Duran 10-18-1—186.

RECEIVING: Forsan, Colton Martinez 4-56, Brycen Cervantes 3-30, Hayden Bowlin 2-47, Brayden Cervantes 2-16; Stamford, Drew Faulks 4-51, Quinten Pryor 2-46, Cle Whitfield 2-15, Brayden Jimenez 1-74, Stetson Campbell 1-0.

RECORDS: Forsan 8-3; Stamford 9-1

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Stamford upends Forsan in Region I-2A DI high school football playoffs