Wynne Answers Brookland With Two Touchdowns in 65 Seconds
Wynne 44, Brookland 12
BROOKLAND — Kaden Dixon threw a 25-yard touchdown pass and caught a 52-yard scoring pass, while Caden Crawford rushed for two touchdowns as Wynne opened 5A East play with a 44-12 victory Friday night at Jordan’s Stadium.
Wynne led 21-6 at halftime in front of Brookland’s homecoming crowd. When the Bearcats pulled within 30-12 in the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets answered with two touchdowns in 65 seconds. Wynne improved to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Matthew Hodges helped establish the early field position, leading the stop on a Brookland punt attempt that gave Wynne possession at the Bearcats’ 32. Ashton McDaniel finished the ensuing drive with a touchdown pass to tight end Grant Oguin with 4:43 left in the first quarter. Auggie Smith’s extra point made it 7-0.
Dixon’s touchdown throw came on a reverse in the second quarter. McDaniel handed to Crawford, who pitched to Dixon. The receiver then found X’Zavion Scott for a 25-yard score on third-and-goal, extending the lead to 14-0 with 9:58 remaining in the half.
Brookland answered after Tyler Fleer returned the kickoff 50 yards to Wynne’s 45. Caden Rodriguez added an 18-yard run during the possession before scoring on a 4-yard keeper. Wynne blocked the extra point, leaving the score 14-6 with 6:02 remaining.
Jackson Fleer intercepted a pass on Wynne’s next possession. The Yellow Jackets’ defense responded, with Darion Tibbs breaking up a third-down pass to force a punt.
McDaniel provided the next scoring opportunity with three consecutive runs that moved Wynne from its 43 to Brookland’s 4. Crawford scored around the left side with 40 seconds left, sending the Yellow Jackets into halftime ahead 21-6.
Carson Stovall’s punt return to Brookland’s 33 helped position Wynne for Smith’s 22-yard field goal with 7:16 left in the third quarter. The defense then stopped another punt attempt, giving the offense possession at the 5. Crawford scored on the next snap for a 30-6 lead.
Brookland responded with a 68-yard touchdown drive that stretched into the fourth quarter. Nick Bates converted two third downs on the ground and reached 100 rushing yards during the possession. Rodriguez finished it with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Fleer on fourth-and-goal with 8:48 remaining. Wynne stopped the two-point attempt.
The Yellow Jackets answered in two plays. McDaniel found Dixon down the middle for a 52-yard touchdown with 8:18 left. On Brookland’s next possession, Vince Little intercepted a pass and returned it 13 yards to the Bearcats’ 7. Eli Ramsey scored on the next snap with 7:13 remaining, and Smith’s fifth extra point completed the scoring.
Scoring Summary
| Quarter | Time | Scoring play | Running score |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | 4:43 | Wynne — Grant Oguin touchdown pass from Ashton McDaniel; Auggie Smith kick. | Wynne 7–0 |
| Second | 9:58 | Wynne — X’Zavion Scott 25-yard pass from Kaden Dixon; Smith kick. | Wynne 14–0 |
| Second | 6:02 | Brookland — Caden Rodriguez 4-yard run; kick blocked. | Wynne 14–6 |
| Second | 0:40 | Wynne — Caden Crawford 4-yard run; Smith kick. | Wynne 21–6 |
| Third | 7:16 | Wynne — Smith 22-yard field goal. | Wynne 24–6 |
| Third | 6:03 | Wynne — Crawford 5-yard run; extra point unsuccessful. | Wynne 30–6 |
| Fourth | 8:48 | Brookland — Jackson Fleer 5-yard pass from Rodriguez; two-point run stopped. | Wynne 30–12 |
| Fourth | 8:18 | Wynne — Dixon 52-yard pass from McDaniel; Smith kick. | Wynne 37–12 |
| Fourth | 7:13 | Wynne — Eli Ramsey 7-yard run; Smith kick. | Wynne 44–12 |
Players Who Stood Out
- Kaden Dixon, Wynne: Threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Scott on a reverse and caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from McDaniel.
- Caden Crawford, Wynne: Scored on runs of 4 and 5 yards. His 23-yard run on Wynne’s opening second-half possession helped set up a field goal.
- Ashton McDaniel, Wynne: Threw two touchdown passes. Three consecutive runs set up Crawford’s touchdown with 40 seconds left in the first half.
- Vince Little, Wynne: Intercepted a fourth-quarter pass and returned it 13 yards to Brookland’s 7, setting up Ramsey’s touchdown on the next play.
- Auggie Smith, Wynne: Made a 22-yard field goal and five extra points for eight points.
- Darion Tibbs, Wynne: Broke up a second-quarter third-down pass and tackled Bates for a 1-yard loss on third-and-goal in the fourth quarter.
- Caden Rodriguez, Brookland: Scored on a 4-yard run and threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Fleer on fourth-and-goal.
- Jackson Fleer, Brookland: Intercepted a second-quarter pass and caught Brookland’s fourth-quarter touchdown.
- Nick Bates, Brookland: Reached 100 rushing yards during Brookland’s second touchdown drive, which included two third-down conversions on his runs.
- Tyler Fleer, Brookland: Returned a kickoff 50 yards to set up Brookland’s first touchdown and broke up a pass in the end zone during the second quarter.