Post Triumphs Over Sunray as Regional Semi-Final Champions

The Post Antelopes came out strong against the Sunray Bobcats under the Friday night lights. On the second play of the game, senior running back Ian Vergara found a hole in the line and burst through for a quick 20-yard touchdown. A muffed kickoff return gave the Antelopes possession deep in Bobcat territory, starting on the 9-yard line. Vergara then found the end zone again, putting Post up 13-0 after a missed extra point and less than two minutes off the clock.

As the Bobcats took the field with a sizable deficit, they knew they needed to regain momentum and shift the game in their favor. After a long drive, they found themselves at the 2-yard line, poised to score. Sunray quarterback Armando Lujan handed off to running back Arnold Mendoza, who powered in for a touchdown, though the extra point attempt was no good. On the other side, the Antelopes struggled to get anything going and quickly gave the ball back to the Bobcats. Lujan then connected with receiver Kagan Davis on a deep 51-yard touchdown pass. With 11:48 remaining in the second quarter, the game was tied 13-13.

Another unsuccessful drive for the Antelopes allowed the Bobcats to capitalize. With 7:32 left on the clock, Sunray’s Lujan snapped the ball on the 10-yard line, scrambled out of the pocket, and threw a touchdown pass to Connor Petereit. The Bobcats, now up 19-13, had their first lead, turning a 14-point deficit into a 5-point advantage. The Bold Gold needed to respond before halftime. A methodical drive chewed up the clock, and Post found themselves in the red zone. A quick handoff to Ian Vergara gave him his third touchdown of the night, putting the Antelopes back on top, 20-19, as they headed to the locker room.

A slow start to the 3rd quarter gave way to a tightly contested second half. A huge fourth-down stop at the Bobcats' 10-yard line flipped the field, and Ian Vergara stayed hungry. A quick handoff to the outside allowed Vergara to sprint down the sideline for a 90-yard touchdown, giving the Antelopes a significant momentum shift and putting them up 27-19. But when it seemed like Post had regained control, Sunray answered back. A turnover on downs put the ball back into the Antelope's hands, but a lurking Bobcat defender hunted it down and secured an interception, taking it down to the Bold Gold's goal line. On the 4-yard line, Bobcat quarterback Armando Lujan powered into the end zone for a touchdown. However, a failed two-point conversion left Sunray trailing 27-25 with 4:31 remaining in the third quarter.

Despite holding a slim lead, the Bold Gold wanted more than just a 2-point cushion, but they could not get past the Bobcats' defense. With Sunray back on offense, quarterback Armando Lujan launched a 31-yard pass to Dawson Bennett, who made the catch and fought his way into the end zone to put the Bobcats back on top, 31-27.

The Antelopes knew they needed a spark to catch up, but the offense struggled to get things going. Fortunately, the Antelopes' defense stepped up when it was needed most. Keyandre Jefferson intercepted a pass, putting Post back into the red zone. Ian Vergara then found an opening through the trenches and scored his fifth touchdown of the night. A successful extra point put the Bold Gold back in the lead and set up the defense for one final stand.

And stand they did.

As the crowd roared and the sideline erupted after each swatted pass on third and fourth down, the Antelopes just needed to manage the clock. A push for a first down was in order, and with 10 seconds left on 4th and 1, Ian Vergara fought for the yardage, securing the first down and running the clock out to 0:00. After a hard-fought, back-and-forth battle, the Post Antelopes defeated the Sunray Bobcats, 34-31, and claimed the 2A-1 Regional Semi-Final Championship.

The Post Antelopes Head Coach John Wright talks about how his team overachieves to the fullest and can beat a strong-seeded football team. He highlights Ian Vergara and Keyandre Jefferson's big plays that put the Bold Gold in situations that won them the game. Watch that interview here:

The MVP of the game, Ian Vergara, praises his linemen for creating the opportunities that allowed him to shine. He also emphasizes the importance of continuing to practice and stay focused on the upcoming games with the goal of making it to the state championship. Watch his interview here:

The Post Antelopes will play the Stamford Bulldogs in the Regional Finals. The kickoff time and location is TBA.