Lumberjacks fall short despite fourth-quarter comeback Diboll loses barnburner to Westwood 65-59

By Joe Miranda - Lumberjack correspondent

RECORD BREAKING PERFORMANCE - Ketaraus Stanton has been the workhorse for the Diboll Lumberjacks and has rewarded the Jack fans all season with outstanding performances. Ketaraus broke the single season rushing record of 1,936 yards and 24 TDs set by Terry Colquitt in 1999 with a total of 2,054 yards. Stanton also has a new school record with 427 yards rushing in a single game against Westwood. Diboll quarterback Jacolby Spencer also set a new school record-racking up 25 TD passes in a single season. It is quite probably that Stanton's 29-rushing TDs for a single season may also be a school record, but that figure has not been verified.

In a bi-district match up between two offensive machines, the Diboll Lumberjacks lost to the Palestine-Westwood Panthers for the Class 3-A Division II championship at Abe Martin Stadium in Lufkin last Friday night.

Records were set and others were broken in a wild display of explosive power. The two teams combined for over 1,600 yards of offense and 124 points.

The Panthers got on the board first when they took the opening kick-off and drove 63 yards in eight plays. Quarterback Gralyn Crawford capped it off with a two-yard pass to Bruce Smith. Freshmen Tyler Dillon kicked the first of his ten extra points.

Diboll bounced right back with a 64-yard drive that took only three plays as Ketaraus Stanton dashed 33 yards for his first of six touchdowns. Alex Castillo added the extra point.

Westwood answered with a 53-yard drive in four plays to take a 14-7 lead after Crawford ran in from 11 yards out.

On the Lumberjacks next three possessions, they developed a case of fumbleitis, losing the ball all three times. The one that cost the most was when Jacolby Spencer, lost the ball at the Panther one yard line after a long run to get there.

Crawford promptly rifled a bullet to Smith, near mid-field and he was off to the races for 99 yards and a two-touchdown margin, 21-7.

Near the end of the first quarter, Stanton broke loose on a 75-yard gallop to cut the lead to one score (21-14) after Castillo added the point.

Beginning the second quarter, Crawford was on the prowl again, and he scored on a 2 yard keeper. Dillon booted the point.

On the Lumberjacks next possession, Spencer tied the school record of 24 touchdown passes with a 44-yard laser to J.J. Hayes. Castillo added the extra point.

But the Panthers came right back and countered the Jacks score, with a 67-yard drive on four plays, finished by Crawford's 6-yard run. Dillon added the point to give the Panthers a two score lead.

And the chess game continued as Diboll, roared back with a 64-yard drive in 7 plays. Stanton capped it off with a 50-yard dash across the field, to chop the lead to one score, 35-28.

Just before the half with time running out, Westwood put on yet another drive, going 67 yards in 12 plays. Quarterback Crawford, who had been the biggest thorn in the Jacks side, called a razzle-dazzle play that worked. He lateraled the ball to running back D.J. Morrow, who then stopped and launched a 27-yard pass back to Crawford, who had slipped into the end zone, and caught it after Hayes tipped it in the air.

Along with the TD reception, Crawford rushed for 170 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 314 yards and three TD's

Starting out in the second half behind 42-28, the Jacks stumbled and gave up a safety. After the free kick Westwood set up camp on their 49. Six plays and 51 yards later, the Panthers struck again with a 30-yard TD pass, Crawford to receiver George White. Dillon drilled the x-point to give the Panthers a 51-28 advantage and their biggest lead of the night.

But playing with a heart of a Champion, the Lumberjacks would not yield to the Panthers. They struck back quickly with a 70 yard drive in plays, when Stanton went the final 23 with his fourth TD of the night. He followed that with the two-point conversion to cut the score to 51-36.

On the Panthers next two possessions they had hoped to shut the door on the Jacks, with touchdowns from Crawford (his fourth) and Marvin Warren his first.

But in the last quarter, the Jacks defense unit were finally able to find the cut-off switch, to the Panthers power machine. That was when the never say quit Lumberjacks, started their incredible comeback from 29 points.

The rally started with (who else) Stanton smashing over from the one-yard line ending a 69-yard drive in 11 plays. Hayes tacked on two more on the board with the conversion.

Stanton followed that with another touchdown, and Nick Cortines caught a 2-point conversion pass from Spencer to chop the lead to 65-52.

On the Jacks next possession, Kyle Prescott recovered the on-side kick. One play later Spencer found Castillo in the back of the end zone for the score. Castillo booted the x-point to cut the margin to six points.

Another on-side kick was tried, but this time the ball went out of bounds and the Panthers took over and ran out the last few seconds of the game.

On defense, Prescott led the way with 10 tackles and the on-side kick recovery. Others who contributed were Ryan Whitworth, J.R. Youngblood, Ryan Rasbeary, and Hayes with an interception.

On offense Stanton, with a superman performance, become the first Lumberjack to reach the 2000-yard milestone finishing with 2,054. In the game, he rushed for 427 yards (a record) on 23 carries and six touchdowns, also a record. Terry Colquitt previously held the old record with 1,920 yards set in 1999. Spencer broke the school passing record with two TD's to surpass the old mark of 24 set by Cedric Vinson and Luis Rios. Spencer broke the record when he hooked up with Castillo for 16 yards, with 45 seconds left on the clock.

Congratulations and thanks to A.D./Head Coach Gray Martel, his staff, seniors, and the rest of the team, for the wonderful ride this season; And the many memories that go with it. Coach Martel said "We will continue to make a lot of noise in the coming months and seasons to come, not only in football, but in all sports."