Warriors fall in Semifinals

HUFFMAN, Texas - The Woodlands Christian Warriors were looking to complete a season sweep over Bay Area Christian and advance to the TAPPS Division III State Championship game on Saturday afternoon, however Bay Area used a strong spurt in the third quarter to end the Warriors dream season with a 39-14 win over Woodlands Christian at Falcon Stadium.

Bay Area Christian (12-1) trailed 8-0 after a Luke Hudson 2-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion with 1:47 left in the first quarter. Bay Area would then answer back with 13 unanswered points to take a 13-8 lead before another 1-yard touchdown run by Warrior running back Luke Hudson cut the Bay Area lead to 19-14.

Bay Area would then seize momentum going into the halftime break with a 57-yard field goal by Conner Crow as time expired in the first half, giving Bay Area a 22-14 lead at halftime.

Bay Area would continue the momentum in the second half as they scored 20 points in the third quarter and shut out the Warriors in the second half for the first time this season.

Woodlands Christian defeated Bay Area Christian on the road, 39-29 back on October 10, due to the Warriors piling up 431 yards on the ground, but could only total 264 rushing yards in the rematch.

The story of the game was the Bay Area Christian defense as they limited Woodlands Christian to just 12 first downs in the game and forced three turnovers.

Junior Running Back Luke Hudson led the charge for the Warriors with 26 carries for 154 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Quarterback Jack Bento was pressured all day as he only completed 4-of-10 passing for 28 yards. Bento also scrambled seven times for 87 yards rushing.

The strong Warrior defense allowed 377 total yards to Bay Area and forced just one turnover as Woodlands Christian finishes a dream season at 12-1.