CEDAR CREEK – Twenty unanswered Wimberley Texan points scored late in the fourth quarter capped off a stunning 44-36 come-from-behind win over the Cuero Gobblers (12-1) Friday at Bastrop Memorial Stadium.
With the win, Wimberley (13-1) advances to play the West Orange Stark Mustangs in the UIL Class 4A, Division II state semifinals. The state semifinal game will be played at Legacy Stadium in Katy on Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m.
A pair of critical defensive stops in the final nine minutes of play kept the Texans’ season alive. At the center of those stops was a game-changing 36 yard interception return for a go-ahead touchdown by Texan junior defense back Trenton Dingman that sealed the win.
Early on, Wimberley leapt out to a 14-6 lead in the second quarter before Cuero rushed back into contention. A 43 yard touchdown run by Gobbler running back Jared Love cut the Texan lead to 14-12. Love rushed for a game high 151 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Following a Texan field goal, Cuero surged ahead for its first lead when wide receiver Jaden Williams collected a deflected pass and scored a 36-yard touchdown. Cuero led 19-17 at intermission.
The Gobblers maintained momentum by scoring 10 unanswered points to start the third frame, highlighted by a touchdown pass from Drew Riemenscheider to wide receiver Deondre Lang.
However, Wimberley cut Cuero’s lead to 29-24 with a methodical drive that was capped off with a one yard touchdown run by senior running back Thomas Carruthers.
The Gobblers expanded its lead to 36-24 with 9:26 left in the game via a 15 yard fourth quarter touchdown run by Riemenscheider.
Riemenschneider finished the game by going 15 of 24 for 224 yards and two touchdowns.
Wimberley quickly countered with an eight yard touchdown run by Carruthers. Following a Gobbler punt, the Texans regained the lead by virtue of a rapid four play, 79 yard drive. A 40-yard touchdown pass from quarterback JoJo Weeks to wide receiver Gavin Martinez gave the Texans a 37-36 lead late in the fourth frame.
Weeks went 20 of 22 for 336 yards and two touchdowns.
Wimberley’s Code Red defense put the game on ice with Dingman’s interception return for a touchdown. The Texans held Cuero scoreless the final nine minutes of the contest.
