Waxahachie defensive end/outside linebacker Carmelo Clawson celebrates a sack in a playoff-clinching win against Lancaster. (Kirk Holt/ECS)

Waxahachie swats Mesquite ahead of 6A football playoff run

Travis M. Smith November 7, 2024 Football, Waxahachie High School 2,144 Views

By Travis M. Smith | Ellis County Sports

MESQUITE — No bug spray was needed Thursday night at E.H. Hanby Stadium, as the playoff-bound Waxahachie Indians quickly and emphatically exterminated the host Mesquite Skeeters in the District 11-6A finale.

The (7-3, 4-2) Waxahachie defense held Mesquite to negative-3 yards in the first half en route to a 57-0 victory. Sophomore quarterback Jerry Meyer III tossed 3 first-half touchdowns and attempted just 5 passes in the second half. He completed 4 of those attempts, which included a 22-yard touchdown to Tristian Gardner (6-104, 2 TD) with 5:50 to play in the 3rd quarter. That 6-play scoring drive put the Indians on top 35-0 and allowed most of the starters to exit the game to begin preparing for the bi-district playoffs.

Meyer III finished the game by completing 14-of-his-19 passes for 195 yards and 4 touchdowns. His first-half interception was the lone turnover for the Tribe.

Kohen Brown hauled in 3 passes, including two first-half touchdowns to go with his 56 receiving yards.

The Waxahachie coaching staff agreed to a running clock in the second half, and that final buzzer sounded just as linebacker Demarion Jiles crossed the goalline after he scooped a Skeeter fumble and ran the Indians into postseason play from 26 yards out.

Waxahachie ultimately outgained Mesquite 387 total yards to negative-8, as the Skeeters rushed for a team total (including sacks and tackles-for-loss) negative-34 yards. Mesquite quarterback Jaiden Clayton finished 4-of-9 for 26 yards.

UP NEXT

The Indians enter the 6A Division I playoffs poised to yet again clash with (7-3) Hewitt “Don’t Call us Waco” Midway. This marks the third consecutive season for Waxahachie and Midway to meet in the bi-district playoff in the State’s highest classification and division.

The Midway Panthers fell in a headscratcher to (4-6, 2-4) Copperas Cove, 35-16, in their regular-season finale on Thursday. The Bulldogs are in their first season of Class 6A action.

The day, time and location for the Waxahachie bi-district playoff game against Midway has not yet been set.