HUTTO — On the penultimate play of a postseason classic, the Brenham Cubs forced Liberty Hill — one of Texas high school football’s most revered running programs — to do something it is not known for: pass.
The Cubs were ready for the moment and held firm to earn their second consecutive area championship.
Brenham defeated Liberty Hill 27-24 on Friday to advance to the Class 5A Division II regional semifinals.
Brenham (11-1) beat Liberty Hill in the area round for the second time in two seasons.
“We believed in each other,” said Brenham senior middle linebacker Caleb Espinoza. “We held each other accountable. We all know the mistakes we made and we all came back to fix the mistakes.”
What fans at Hutto Memorial Stadium witnessed on Liberty Hill’s final offensive snap was no mistake.
After Brenham senior punter Landon Zelenka pinned the Panthers deep in their own territory with a 41-yard boot to the 9-yard line, Liberty Hill set up shop with 2:58 remaining. From there, the Panthers moved just 17 yards on six plays and found itself in a do-or-die, fourth-and-5 situation with 45 seconds to go.
Liberty Hill quarterback Judah Fried dropped back to throw the Panthers’ fourth pass of the night — just the 20th of Liberty Hill’s season — and fired a laser to senior Ethan McMillian-Dutton just beyond the first-down marker. McMillian-Dutton got his hands on the ball, but bobbled it before Brenham senior wide receiver and defensive back Chris Guidry lowered his shoulder to McMillian-Dutton’s chest as the ball fell to the turf.
“I knew that was why [our coaches] put me in the game,” said Guidry, who is Brenham’s all-time career receiver but was targeted just twice Friday in a one-catch, nine-yard night.. “They knew it was going to be a pass play, and so I just came and showed up.”
The game-winning sequence was virtually telegraphed earlier in the night after the Cubs defense intercepted two of Liberty Hill’s previous three pass attempts.
Brenham blew up a Panthers fake-punt pass attempt with a pick in the fourth quarter and snagged another Liberty Hill pass just before halftime.
The Cub defense was prepared for the crucial late-game moment. Espinoza said Friday was not the first time the defense was put in a situation to win a game late, citing Brenham’s close win at Killeen in non-district play.
But the defense’s readiness for Friday, which saw the Cubs limit Liberty Hill to 4.4 yards per carry on 65 rushes, extended beyond this season.
“We have been practicing for four years now,” Espinoza said. “It is our fourth year being together (with Brenham coach Danny Youngs). We all know the mistakes that can be fixed and if we just listen to our coaches, we will get the job done.”
Youngs also trusted his defense through its play throughout the night.
“They played awesome the whole time,” he said. “They played awesome on the first drive. [Liberty Hill] is just really good … they are tough, tough kids.”
The Cubs had to dig deep after a game-changing sequence earlier in the fourth. Brenham had the ball on the Panthers’ 7-yard line in a first-and-goal situation and a 27-16 lead and 9:30 to play.
However, the snap went off senior quarterback Xyran Upshaw’s helmet and fell to the turf, where Liberty Hill middle linebacker Orrin Cole scooped up the ball and returned it 93 yards for a fumble return touchdown.
Brenham had more ball control issues on its ensuing drive with a dropped pass and two fumbles, including a strip sack from the Panthers, to force a punt.
The Cub defense stood its ground, stopping Liberty Hill in four plays as the clock hit 4:29. Brenham’s offense, which tallied 293 yards, only earned two yards on its final series and was forced to punt, ultimately setting up the Cubs’ game-clinching stand.
Senior wide receiver Cartelle Brown played a big role in the first half with two receiving touchdowns. He earned 95 yards on three catches to lead a passing offense that totaled 116 yards on six completions.
“I am happy for him because they started doing what they started doing, doubling me,” Guidry said. “Him, Nate (Rau), CJ, they often have games like this and just show up and show out.”
Upshaw led the Cubs rushing offense with 85 yards on nine carries, including a 76-yard run late in the fourth to set up a 2-yard score from sophomore running back CJ Glover that gave Brenham an 11-point lead with 11 minutes to play.
“You just never know,” Youngs said. “You want to sit out there and double Chris, that is fine, but we got other playmakers out there in CJ and Cartelle. Xyran ran the ball well tonight.”
Brenham will face Iowa Colony in the regional semifinals next week. Youngs told The Banner-Press that the game is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28, but the exact stadium information was unknown immediately following the game.
“I am just happy for our kids and our community,” Youngs added. “We are going another round. Let’s play during Thanksgiving, baby!”
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