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It looked as though Burleson’s attempt at reaching the playoffs would be tougher than expected when the 1-8 Weatherford Kangaroos bolted down the field on their opening drive and took a 7-0 lead.
But Burleson turned up the offensive and defensive pressure and scored 41 unanswered points en route to a playoff-clinching 41-7 victory at Elk Stadium on Friday night.
With the win, Burleson (4-6, 3-3) faces District 4-5A opponent Arlington Martin (4-6, 4-2) at 7:30 p.m. Friday night at R.L. Anderson Stadium in Mansfield in the Division I bidistrict playoffs.
The Elks needed the win over Weatherford to secure the fourth and final playoff spot in District 3-5A, along with Abilene, North Crowley and Richland.
Burleson gained 473 yards on the ground against Weatherford on 61 carries behind the running of Blake Smith (239 yards on 27 attempts) and James Owen (133 yards on 15 carries). Smith and Owen each accounted for two touchdowns and helped the Elks gain 473 rushing yards on 61 attempts in the game.
Weatherford’s Jaren Gentry, who finished with 103 yards on 14 carries, scored the first touchdown of the game on a 15-yard run to cap a 10-play, 71-yard drive that appeared to have the Burleson defense reeling. The Elks, however, returned the favor with a nine-play, 68-yard drive that finished off by Smith’s 1-yard plunge.
The Elk defense stiffened the rest of the game while the offense scored on every possession of the first half and never punted in the game.
Burleson’s second possession saw quarterback Brice Warren connect with tight end Patrick Houston for the second week in a row for a touchdown. The 12-yard pitch and catch put the Elks in front for good on the first play of the second quarter.
Weatherford drove the field on its ensuing possession and faced a second and goal at the Elk 4. But on an option pitch attempt, Burleson’s Clint Allen batted the ball, picked it up and fumbled it to teammate Dont’e Curry at the Elk 34.
Running plays of 7, 32, 23 and 5 yards, the last of which accounted for a touchdown by Owen, capped off a 66-yard drive. A 12-play drive on its next possession gave Burleson a 27-7 lead when Owen scored from 4 yards out with 1:49 left in the first half.
The Elks opened the second half with the ball but the possession ended with a Warren interception. It was the lone possession in which the Elks did not score. Smith would score on a 4-yard touchdown and Jacob Johnson added a 1-yard plunge in the fourth quarter to account for Burleson’s final touchdown.
Warren finished 2-of-3 through the air for 44 yards and the one touchdown. Houston has both catches. The Elks had 25 first downs to Weatherford’s 13. The Roos rushed for 242 yards on 35 carries.
Burleson held Weatherford quarterback Chris Jackson to 3-of-12 passing for 22 yards.
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