Friday, November 28, 1997

Gordon continues defense of state title

By BILL HART / Abilene Reporter-News

The Gordon Longhorns continue on the road to defending their Six-Man state championship tonight when they play Panther Creek in De Leon.

May, the only team to beat Panther Creek this season, takes on Trinidad in the other quarterfinal game in Hico. The two winners clash next week in the semifinals.

Gordon, 12-0 this year and 28-0 over the last two seasons, is playing as well, if not better than last year. Panther Creek has been without ace running back Luis Delgadillo the past two games, but still has managed to keep winning.

John Leven, 6-4, 280 pounds, is Gordon's top rusher with 1,370 yards and has scored 21 touchdowns, while Ray Buse has rushed for 570 yards and 15 touchdowns, plus two more on kickoff returns. Joe Kostiha has completed 46 of 73 passes for 883 yards and 19 touchdowns.

The defense has been just as strong. The unit has allowed only 13 touchdowns all year and only three teams have scored more than once, including Jonesboro which had 24 points in the bi-district loss.

Chris Chamberlain leads the defense with 124 tackles, four caused and four recovered fumbles, and three blocked kicks. Only three opponents have rushed for more than 100 yards and two passed for more than 100.

Steven Loyd has taken over Delgadillo's spot and last week in Panther Creek's win over Mullin, he rushed for 211 yards and scored four touchdowns. Delgadillo, whose availability is day to day, had 1,454 yards rushing and 36 touhchdowns.

Brent Dawson has passed for 1,247 yards and 23 touchdowns. Mike Risse is now the top receiver after Kyle Dawson broke his leg on the fourth play of the last regular season game.

May will be facing Trinidad, which is 11-0 and ranked in the top four most of the season.

The Tigers are led offensively by Brandon Purcell, but they will miss his brother, Michael Purcell, who broke his leg last week in the win over Mullin.

To win, May must stop Damien Jackson, who had nine touchdowns and 447 yards rushing in the 94-80 win over Strawn.

Brandon Purcell has accounted for 51 of May's touchdowns. He has completed 84 of 125 passes for 1,850 yards and 36 touchdowns and has rushed 110 times for 1,444 yards and 15 touchdowns.

C.R. Thompson has caught 31 passes for 647 yards and 13 touchdowns and Michael Purcell caught 25 passes for 244 yards and eight touchdowns.

Todd Cottrell (132 tackles), Brandon Purcell (120 tackles and Jason Smith (89 tackles) are the leaders on defense. Smith also has eight interceptions.