By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@gmail.com

As Clyde quarterback Tanner Riley’s desperation pass landed innocently on the turf at Tarleton Memorial Stadium, Bowie High School’s football team erupted in celebration.
Bowie defeated Clyde 44-40 in the bi-district round of the Conference 3A Division I playoffs. This marked the Jackrabbits first playoff win in football since 1981.
“It was a special night,” Bowie head coach Dylan Stark said. “It’s been a long time. It took a lot of hard work, and we had a group of seniors leading the way for us.”
Stark gave credit to Bowie’s senior-laden offensive line for yielding 521 yards and 44 points. Brandon Hutto produced his best-ever performance with 25 carries for 208 yards.
Hutto scored the game winning touchdown as lineman Jared Roberts, one of those seniors, blocked a path to the end zone. Carter Shackelford added the all-important two-point conversion, meaning Clyde needed a touchdown to win.
The Bulldogs’ drive eventually stalled in Bowie territory, but Clyde didn’t even make it to the red zone.
Clyde had taken a 40-36 lead on a Dante Gomez run – but that just set the stage for Bowie’s game-winning drive.
“There was no panic,” Stark said. “We had good field position (after an 11-yard Chase Hall return), and we were able to match down the field.”
Bowie used just one timeout during the final three-minute stretch, making the drive all the more efficient. And the Jackrabbits made two-point conversions when they mattered most – in the second half. Read more in the mid-week Bowie News.

On the winning sequence, (top) Jared Roberts blocked for Brandon Hutto as he scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to beat Clyde. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)