Wolves strike early, Yellowjackets strike last: Stephenville rallies past West Plains

For the second straight season, West Plains found itself staring down Texas powerhouse Stephenville in the Class 4A Division I region final at Lowrey Field. And just like last year, the young program didn’t show an ounce of fear. In fact, the Wolves opened the game as if they intended to shock the state again, marching to a 21-7 lead early in the third quarter. But that early surge wasn’t enough to topple an unbeaten Stephenville team that closed with 34 unanswered points and claimed a 41-21 victory.

What made West Plains’ start so impressive was the conviction behind it. The Wolves played like a team that fully understood what it would take to knock off a storied program—long drives, fourth-down aggression, and a willingness to take risks. Their opening possession set the tone: a 16-play, 82-yard statement drive that drained more than seven minutes off the clock and ended with Gianni Peck punching in the first score. Twice on that drive, West Plains converted on fourth down, a preview of the bold coaching decisions to come.

The Wolves’ early success wasn’t a fluke, either. Their defense forced Stephenville to earn every yard in the first half, and their offense mixed power, tempo, and some timely explosiveness. Boston Ladd delivered the highlight of the night, ripping off an 80-yard touchdown that stretched the lead to 21-7 and sent the West Plains sideline into a frenzy. Considering the Wolves were without leading rusher Slade Russell, performances like Ladd’s—109 yards on 10 carries—were critical.

But if any program knows how to respond to a punch, it’s Stephenville. The Yellowjackets seized momentum late in the second quarter, cashing in a touchdown and then taking advantage of a turnover to kick a long field goal as time expired. In a span of 34 seconds, West Plains’ two-score cushion shrank to 21-17, and the feel of the game shifted.

After halftime, Stephenville found its rhythm. Quarterback Trot Jordan produced two game-changing runs in the third quarter: the first a broken-play touchdown that gave Stephenville its first lead, and the second a 34-yard keeper that stretched the margin to double digits. From there, the Yellowjackets controlled the tempo, the field position, and the scoreboard.

Meanwhile, West Plains struggled to regain its spark. The Wolves managed just eight rushing yards after halftime and never rediscovered the efficiency they had early. Although quarterback Reid Macon threw for 234 yards without a turnover, Stephenville’s adjustments limited big-play opportunities and shut the door on any comeback hopes.

Even in defeat, the Wolves showed the qualities that have made their young program one of the state’s most intriguing stories: toughness, creativity, and belief. And it’s impossible to overlook what this game represented for players like Macon, whose career helped shape the identity of a school still in its infancy. With 54 starts and a 42-12 record, he leaves behind a foundation most programs spend decades trying to build.

West Plains didn’t get the finish it wanted. But it left the field with an identity intact—and a reminder that the gap between up-and-coming and established contender gets narrower every year.