The Bulldogs erased a 10-point deficit to win the Southtown Showdown 49–32 and earn a home playoff game against El Paso Del Valle.

By Greg Jaklewicz

Pictures Courtesy of TexPix.com

Dawg Bites

• Wylie takes second place in District 2-5A and secures a home playoff game Friday, Nov. 13, against El Paso Del Valle.

• Cooper runs back the opening kickoff 95 yards to the Wylie 2, scores on the next play, and adds a field goal for a 10-0 lead before the Bulldogs score 42 of the next 49 points.

• Quarterback Jadin Karleskint throws for 248 yards and six touchdowns, including three to Blaze Ruffin and two to Jackston Williams.

• Blaze Ruffin finished with 11 catches for 151 yards. Jett Wilson ran for 135 yards on eight carries.

Wylie rallies in the Southtown Showdown

There was no blue wave Friday night at Sandifer Stadium.

For starters, the visiting Cooper Cougars, once known as the Big Blue Crew, wore all-white uniforms.

Wylie, wearing all black, battled back from a 10-0 early deficit, scoring 28 points in the second quarter as quarterback Jadin Karleskint threw for 248 yards and six touchdowns to lead his team into the Class 5A playoffs with a 49-32 win.

It was Wylie’s fifth straight win in the Southtown Showdown.

“We overcame adversity. It didn’t start off the way we wanted but we kept our composure,” Wylie coach Clay Martin said. “Everyone looked the same the whole game.”

A playoff game at home

The Bulldogs are back in the playoffs after a one-year absence and will play another home game, taking on El Paso Del Valle at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Sandifer Stadium.

Del Valle enters the playoffs at 6-4.

It will be the first football meeting between the two schools, although Wylie volleyball won an area round match against Del Valle just last week.

Cooper (6-4) is in the playoffs but the Cougars have to make the long drive to the El Paso area and back as the third-place team. They take on Canutillo (8-2), the District 1-5A runner-up.

The district playoff picture was completed Friday when Wichita Falls Legacy, two years removed from its inaugural 0-10 season, mashed crosstown rival Memorial 55-17 to earn its first postseason berth. Palo Duro already had secured first place before closing its regular season with a 49-13 win over Lubbock-Cooper.

Martin said Wylie has work to do to be successful in the playoffs.

“We have to get better and clean some stuff up, but we are playing good football right now,” he said. “(Cooper) is electric and has very dynamic players … I thought we played well defensively.

“I’m just proud of these guys.”

Karleskint relishes his first postseason opportunity.

“It’s great to get back in the playoffs,” he said.

Blaze Ruffin put it like this: “It was a good win. We don’t have to go to El Paso.”

A sea of big plays

Truth be told, there were plenty of waves Friday. Waves of big plays.

“They had big plays and so did we,” said Martin, who had said limiting those was key to the success of both teams. “It turned into a shootout, but we were able to get stops when we had to.”

The combined 81 points were the most in the eight games between the Southtown rivals. Wylie’s 49 points now are the most by either team in the series, eclipsing the 48 scored by Cooper in the first meeting in 2018.

There were huge plays all night by both teams, three that were not even touchdowns.

• A 95-yard opening kickoff return by Markquel Sims. He was pulled down at the Wylie 2 by Liam Chapman.

• A 79-yard kickoff return by Dylan Regala. Blaze Ruffin fended off would-be tacklers as they raced along the Bulldogs’ sideline, but Regala was caught just short of the pylon.

• A 70-yard gallop in the fourth quarter by Wylie running back Jett Wilson, who scored untouched on a 40-yard run in the third quarter. He was pulled down at the Cooper 12.

Each time, however, a touchdown followed.

Cooper had two more big plays. The first was a screen pass to Matt Balvantin that turned into a 68-yard touchdown thanks to a key edge block by receiver Elijah Soto.

The other was a 75-yard scoring run in the third quarter by Bender. Bender appeared bound to be tackled behind the line of scrimmage going right but got free and down the Cooper sideline. A trio of Wylie players was in pursuit but could not catch the junior back.

The Bulldogs had just scored to go up 42-17 and fans were sensing victory with under 5 minutes to play in the third quarter.

Bender’s touchdown fired up Cooper and with plenty of game still remaining, celebration plans were put on hold.

However, Karleskint’s sixth touchdown pass and third to Blaze Ruffin, a 12-yarder with 9:14 remaining, boosted the score to 49-24 and it finally seemed Cooper didn’t have enough time to mount a comeback. The Cougars had come from behind late in the game to down Legacy in Wichita Falls.

Ruffin had a season-high 11 catches for 151 yards, mixing deep routes against man coverage and simple curls. His last catch was his best, caught with his left hand as the defender pulled on his right, he said.

How does he do it?

“I don’t know, man,” he said, smiling. “It starts with the O-line and Jadin placing it right in there, and I was able to make a play. I think we have a lot of confidence in ourselves to beat the other guys we’re going against. We take pride in that.”

Ruffin also was penalized after a TD catch.

“I didn’t mean to get that flag. I threw (the football) on the ground but it hit him. It is what it is. We’re rivals and there was a lot of intensity and we were happy to come with a win.”

With Cooper relying on its rush, Wylie was prepared for one-on-one coverage. It was just a matter of having time to get a good throw to the receivers.

“We had to win those battles,” Martin said. “They were doing a great job against the run, so that’s what it came down to a lot of times.”

Another reason Wylie fans were less anxious is that Mason Cole was in at quarterback. Starter Joel Soto left the game on the series after Bender’s long run with an injury. Wylie brought pressure and intercepted Cole’s first two passes, both by Regala.

It was a first for the senior.

“I’ve had multiple chances in the previous games but I finally came down with them in this one,” he said.

Regala said he read the quarterback on the first pick “and I just came down with it. Same thing (with the second interception). I just floated with him and I saw the ball in the air and just came down with it.”

Yes, Cooper made some big plays, he said, “but with the way our offense was putting points on the board … but we definitely need to get that fixed.”

Cole was able to drive the Cougars 55 yards for their final touchdown with 5:28 to play.

By then, Wylie was in a prevent defense and rushing only two or three linemen, giving Cole both time to throw and open field to run. He ran five times for 34 yards, including 11 yards for the last TD of the game.

Scoring flurry around halftime works again

Against Legacy, Wylie broke open the game with two touchdowns in the first minute of the second half, turning a 21-17 lead into a 34-17 advantage. That differential changed how both teams played out the rest of the game.

It was a similar story Friday at The Hugh.

Cooper had taken a 17-14 lead on the 68-yard screen play touchdown with 2:56 to play in the first half.

Wylie was getting the second half kickoff but points before halftime would be greatly beneficial.

Karleskint went deep down the middle to Blaze Ruffin for 35 yards to the Cooper 20. On second down from the 23, after a Wylie penalty, the two teamed on a pass into the end zone to put Wylie up 21-17.

Cooper’s first mistake of the night was a big one.

Forced to punt from the Cougars’ 34, the snap was bobbled and before it could be kicked, Landry Pate was there for the tackle at the 7.

A penalty pushed Wylie back but on third down, Karleskint went to … Ruffin on a crossing route in the end zone. On this play, Ruffin was wide open to make the easy catch with 21 seconds left in the half.

Suddenly, a three-point deficit was an 11-point advantage at halftime.

Coming in, Wylie was 6-0 this season when scoring at least 24 points. And when Wylie was ahead at halftime, the Bulldogs also were 6-0.

Fans had reason to be optimistic with 28 points and the lead, but 24 minutes of football were left and Cooper was the opponent.

Wylie, however, made those stats stand up.

The Bulldogs drove 70 yards after the second-half kickoff with Karleskint completing six passes, the last a 19-yarder to Jackston Williams. The sophomore made a toe-tap catch at the back of the end zone.

Wylie forced a punt on the next series, and it went just 17 yards.

Starting at the Cooper 40, Wilson rushed into the end zone with 4:54 left in the third quarter.

Wylie scored 28 unanswered points on either side of halftime to turn a three-point deficit into a 25-point lead.

Big night for Karleskint and the seniors

It was a big senior night for senior Karleskint. He finished the night just shy of 2,000 yards passing for the regular season.

He was 22-for-28 for his 248 yards without an interception. Two passes were throwaways as Cooper kept pressure on him all night. He had just 5 yards rushing, taking six sacks. He also had a couple of good runs when forced out of the pocket.

“The pocket broke down a little bit but I thought the O-line did a great job tonight,” Karleskint said.

There was panic after Cooper took a 10-point lead and Wylie missed a field goal.

“We had some communication problems and there were a few things we weren’t prepared for but the worst that could happen happened in the first quarter. We knew how to stop and we bounced and we won,” said defensive lineman Garrett Taylor.

The offense did its part to get the ship turned in the right direction.

“Rocky start in the first quarter but I thought we did a great job of responding,” Karleskint said. “No anxiousness. We trust our coaches and I thought they put us in great spots to succeed.

“And Jack and Blaze and even Blake got in there. Just get the ball to our weapons and let them do their thing.”

Besides going to Blaze Ruffin three times, his two completions to Williams were for 12- and 19-yard touchdowns. His other touchdown pass was a six-yarder to a wide-open Blake Frailing for Wylie’s first points of the game.

“Jadin made some great throws and some great plays by our receivers, Blaze and Jackston,” Martin said.

Ruffin now has 15 TD catches for the season while Williams boosted his total to 10.

Wylie had 395 yards, losing eight yards on two game-ending kneels by backup Myles McCarty.

Wilson recorded Wylie’s best rushing performance of the season, carrying for 135 yards on just eight totes. The rest of the team added just 12 yards.

The sophomore said he followed his pulling tackle and “I saw a hole and hit it and never looked back.”

Cooper totaled 383 yards with 143 of that coming on two plays.

Soto had thrown for 139 yards before exiting. Sims finished with 54 yards.

The game at times was chippy. The teams combined for 142 penalty yards, including six 15-yard penalties.

The Cougars presented challenges on both sides of the ball, but Wylie was better Friday night.

After blowing out Plainview in the 2025 finale but ending the season, the Bulldogs now enter the playoffs with their first three-game winning streak of the season.

And senior Ben Vail gets another game. Vail missed his entire junior season and much of this season with unrelated injuries. The noseguard will continue to play as long as Wylie keeps winning from this point.

“It’s awesome. I feel great,” Vail said.

Bo Kates receives the Mouser Award

It also was a big night for linebacker Bo Kates, announced as this year’s Mouser Award winner. That goes to the senior making the biggest overall contribution to the football program. Coaches and others in administration vote.

“It’s an honor to see they really trust me and see what I’ve put into this sport. I have put so much into this sport,” he said while watching the senior video tribute on the south-end scoreboard.

He shared credit.

“If everyone wins on every play, we do our assignment, we’re going to win the game,” he said. “Getting everyone there. That’s what I do.”

Kates noted he will leave Wylie undefeated against Cooper.

“It feels great,” Kates said.

Maybe more rewarding than the award, at least for the coming week, was the Bulldogs winning Friday.

“We don’t have to go to El Paso,” Kates said.

Box score

Team stats

Scoring by quarter

First quarter

• Cooper · Jarmarion Dunson 2-yard run (Felipe Herrera kick), 11:30.

• Cooper · Herrera 31-yard field goal.

Second quarter

• Wylie · Blake Frailing 6-yard pass from Jadin Karleskint (Kannon Ruffin kick), 11:00.

• Wylie · Jackston Williams 12-yard pass from Karleskint (K. Ruffin kick), 3:51.

• Cooper · Matt Balvantin 68-yard pass from Joel Soto (Herrera kick), 2:56.

• Wylie · Blaze Ruffin 23-yard pass from Karleskint (K. Ruffin kick), 1:53.

• Wylie · B. Ruffin 14-yard pass from Karleskint (K. Ruffin kick), 0:21.

Third quarter

• Wylie · Williams 19-yard pass from Karleskint (K. Ruffin kick), 7:33.

• Wylie · Jett Wilson 40-yard run (K. Ruffin kick), 4:54.

• Cooper · Bender 75-yard run (Herrera kick), 4:41.

Fourth quarter

• Wylie · B. Ruffin 12-yard pass from Karleskint (K. Ruffin kick), 9:14.

• Cooper · Mason Cole 11-yard run (Dunson run), 5:28.

Wylie individual stats

Rushing · Jett Wilson 8 carries for 135 yards, Cooper Jones 8 for 15, Jadin Karleskint 11 for 5, Dylan Regala 3 for 0. Team 2 for minus-8.

Passing · Karleskint 22 of 28 for 248 yards, 6 TDs, 0 interceptions.

Receiving · Blaze Ruffin 11 catches for 151 yards and 3 TDs, Regala 4 for 40, Jackston Williams 2 for 31 and 2 TDs, Maylon Green-Rhodes 1 for 11, Brody Anderson 1 for 5, Blake Frailing 1 TD catch, K.J. Villegas 1 for 2.

Final District 2-5A standings

Final regular-season results

• Amarillo Palo Duro 49, Lubbock-Cooper 13

• Wylie 49, Abilene Cooper 32

• Wichita Falls Legacy 55, Wichita Falls Memorial 17

• Lubbock Coronado had completed its season.

Bi-district playoffs

• Thursday, Nov. 12 · El Paso Burges at Amarillo Palo Duro

• Friday, Nov. 13 · El Paso Del Valle at Wylie, 6 p.m. at Sandifer Stadium

• Friday, Nov. 13 · Abilene Cooper at Canutillo

• Wichita Falls Legacy · Opponent to be announced