REGIONAL FINAL

BEDFORD, Texas-The site of Paul Pewitt's brightest football moment turned into the most disappointing for the Brahmas here Saturday night.

Pewitt won the Class 2A Division I state title at Pennington Field last December, but revenge-minded Boyd ended the state's No. 1 team's march toward a second straight championship on the same field, 19-6.

Their 22-game winning streak scissored in the Region II title game, the Brahmas finished the season at 12-1. Boyd, which lost to the Bulls in last year's regional finals, advances to the state semifinals against Canadian, a winner over Ozona Friday night.

It was clear from the start that the Yellowjackets had been pointing to this rematch with Paul Pewitt and they never trailed after scoring two first-quarter touchdowns. Dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, Boyd was able to shut down the Bulls' high-scoring (45 points per game) offense and move the ball when it had to against a proud Brahma defense that couldn't handle the Yellowjackets' size.

Still the Brahmas had a chance until Jimmy Wilkerson's fourth-down pass from the Boyd 35-yard line fell short of the receiver as Cody Mayhew hit the Pewitt quarterback as he threw.

Obviously frustrated, the Brahma defense allowed Boyd to drive 65 yards in just eight plays, first-half hero Tommy Clutter getting the score when he swept right end and cut back through the middle for a 25-yard TD with 1:33 left in the game.

It was fitting that Pewitt's two biggest senior stars-Wilkerson and Kenny Boyd-combined for the Bulls' only touchdown. Wilkerson's fumble recovery at the Boyd 49 midway through the third quarter was followed by Boyd's 40-yard burst through the middle. Then the Brahmas' all-time leading rusher with more than 5,000 career yards, scored untouched from the 5 on the same play with 3:42 left in the period.

Boyd finished with 112 yards on 19 carries. Wilkerson threw for 113, but did not complete a pass in the second half.

While Boyd made the most of its few opportunities in the first half, Paul Pewitt shot itself in the foot more than once.

The Yellowjackets had only three possessions for only 5:40 on the clock, but still had a 13-0 lead thanks to a blitzing defense that bent but never broke as the Brahmas twice penetrated the Yellowjacket 20-yard line.

Clutter was in the middle of both Boyd touchdowns, streaking 43 yards around the left side on the Jackets' first possession to set up Kaleb Tierce's 6-yard touchdown pass to all-stater Brandon Autrey on third and goal. Then, after Kedrick Wright outbattled two defenders for a 48-yard pass from Wilkerson, Clutter nabbed a pass that skipped off the receiver's hands at the Boyd 19 and set sail down the right sideline for an 81-yard interception return.

It was Wilkerson's first interception of the season.

Pewitt, which almost doubled Boyd's offensive output with 161 yards to 81 for the Jackets in the first half, threatened twice more after Clutter's interception.

James Gilmore broke several tackle attempts to turn a Wilkerson pass into a 35-yard gain on third and eight, but the drive stalled at the 6-yard line and Matt Huff caught Wilkerson for a 4-yard loss on fourth down.

The blitzing Huff sacked Wilkerson again on the Brahmas' next drive that reached the Boyd 21 and a muffed handoff on a reverse resulted in a fumble on fourth down.

Wilkerson was knocked down behind the line of scrimmage five times and Boyd was held to only 34 yards on eight carries.

Boyd 13 0 0 6_19
Paul Pewitt 0 0 6 0_6

B-Brandon Autrey 6 pass from Kaleb Tierce (Tommy Clutter kick)

B-Clutter 81 interception return (kick failed)

PP-Kenny Boyd 5 run (kick blocked)

B-Clutter 25 run (kick failed)

Boyd Pewitt

First Downs 13 14

Yards Rushing 26-156 43-139

Yards Passing 85 113

Passes: A-C-I 11-5-0 13-5-0

Fumbles-lost 2-1 2-1

Penalties-Yards 6-40 5-50

Punts-Avg. 3-28.3 2-35

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING:

Boyd, Clutter 5-73, Ronald Norris 3-31, Tierce 8-22, Matt Huff 10-30.

Paul Pewitt, Boyd 19-112, Wilkerson 16-5, Desmon Jones 7-17, Mitch Gibson 1-5.

PASSING:

Boyd, Tierce 5-11-0-85.

Paul Pewitt, Wilkerson 5-13-1-113.

RECEIVING:

Boyd, Autrey 4-69, Huff 1-15.

Paul Pewitt, Kedrick Wright 3-77, James Gilmore 1-35, Hercules Tarver 1-1.