At top, Brook Hill quarterback, Tyler Baker breaks a tackle on his way to one of his three touchdown runs n the loss to Waco-Reicher in the TAPPS Division III state title game. Baker was named the team MVP for the Guard. Above, senior wide receiver, Jeremey Chappelle fights through a Cougar tackle en route to a Brook Hill first down. KILLEEN – After the smoke had cleared from a great state title game, the Waco Reicher Cougars earned their third consecutive championship, with a 35-28 win over the Brook Hill Guard on Saturday night at Leo Buckley Field.

It was a classic battle of size versus speed, and in the long-run….size won out.

The Reicher offensive line was named the winning team MVP award, after consistently pounding away to lead to 358 yards on the ground in 61 tries.

After an early Reicher drive and score, Brook Hill forced a turnover to set the stage for the first Brook Hill score at the Guard 38.

(Banner Staff Photos by Paul Dickey) It took sophomore, J.B. Moss taking a lateral pass up the sideline for 66- yards and the even-up at 7-7, after Moss kicked the PAT boot true.

Reicher’s, MVP quarterback, Matt Hicks then marched his team back down the field and capped off another Waco lead, with a 4-yard run. Reicher quarterback Matt Hicks ran for 236 yards on 40 carries.

Getting even again, it was ‘Shakeand Baker’ time on the last play of the quarter for the 14-14 tie, as the junior swerved up the middle and took the sideline untouched for a 54-yard scoring sprint.

The press in attendance named Baker as the Brook Hill MVP, who finished his junior year eclipsing several team milestones.

Baker passed the 1,000 rushing yards on the year with 154 yards in the game.

Baker also passed the 2,000-yard barrier with 72-yards in the air.

In the second quarter, Reicher continued to run at-will, going up 28- 14, forcing Brook Hill to punt after a trick play went wrong.

Reicher answered with a quick score, before the Guard pulled to within 7 before the half with a 12-play, 68-yard drive.

Senior, Jeremey Chappelle made a crucial 19-yard catch on third-and-16 to keep the drive alive before Baker finished the drive with a 2-yard plunge. Chappelle made seven catches in the game, but held out of the end zone.

Starting off the second half, Baker picked up his rampant running showcase as he broke two tackles and outran two more defenders, for a 68- yard touchdown less than a minute into the half, for a 28-28 tie.

The game-winner, however, came as the Cougars took advantage of a Brook Hill turnover, with Hicks capping a 24-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run, his third of the game.

The two teams then traded failed fourth-down conversion attempts to no avail, in the fourth quarter.

On the final Guard drive of the year, a hook-and-ladder, catch-and pitch between Chappelle-to-Cool put the Guard in Cougar territory, but the drive stalled short and Brook Hill fell short on four downs.

The state title was the ninth in Reicher’s school history and the thirdconsecutive for the Cougars (10-3).

The Guard (12-2), only lost four seniors from a team that has progressed onestep in the TAPPS football playoffs, with four straight district titles under their belt.

Congratulations to the Guard on a record-setting season.

TAPPS Division III State Final At Leo Buckley Stadium, Killeen

Scoring Summary

First Quarter REI - Matt Hicks 2 run (Andrew Hostak kick), 7:16. BH – J.B. Moss 66 run (Moss kick), 7:02. REI - Hicks 4 run (Hostak kick), 0:06. BH - Tyler Baker 54 run (Moss kick), :00.

Second Quarter REI - Josh Wrzesinski 26 pass from Hicks (Hostak kick), 8:30. REI - Isaac Gonzales 9 run (Hostak kick), 5:29. BH - Baker 2 run (Moss kick), 1:23.

Third Quarter BH - Baker 68 run (Moss kick), 11:01. REI - Hicks 4 run (Hostak kick), 3:47.

Game Statistics

Individual Statistics

RUSHING – Reicher: Matt Hicks 40- 236, Isaac Gonzales 17-104, Matt Pineda 2-8, Howie Grieve 1-5, Garlin Gonzalez 1-5. Brook Hill: Tyler Baker 16-154, J.B. Moss 4-64, Zachary Cool 3-16, A.J. Minter 1-7, Ross Lee 2-2, Team 1-(-17).

PASSING - Reicher; Hicks 3-7-0 76. Brook Hill: Baker 9-16-1 72.

RECEIVING - Reicher: Nick Martinez 1-39, Josh Wrzesinski 1-26, Pineda 1- 11. Brook Hill: Jeremey Chappelle 7- 65, Minter 2-7.