Wilson sees title hopes disappear with quarterfinal loss to No. 3 Ryan

The Wilson Tiger varsity football programs bid for their first-ever state championship came to a close this past Friday night at the Tiger Den.

The Tigers saw their dreams of adding another ‘first’ in their football history books disappear with a 56-36 loss to the No. 3 Ryan Cowboys.

The double-digit defeat came in the quarterfinal round of the Class C state football playoffs.

The loss to Ryan brings the Wilson gridirons 2023 season to a close at 10-2, which includes the schools first-ever district championship, first-ever playoff win, and first-ever 10-win season.

In last Fridays quarterfinal battle with Ryan, the Tigers broke the scoreless tie with just 31 seconds remaining in the opening quarter on a 5-yard TD run by Zabrien Shelburn. Charles Shelburn connected with Zion Shelburn on the conversion attempt to give the Wilson squad the 8-0 lead after the first 12 minutes of action.

The visitors made it an 8-6 contest with a 59-yard TD run by Carsen Rodriguez with 11:02 left in the second stanza.

The next score in the quarterfinal showdown came from the Ryan defense at the 9:05 mark of the second quarter on a 60-yard interception return by Noah Torrez. Rodriguez ran in the conversion attempt to give the visiting Cowboys the 14-8 advantage.

Charles Shelburns 1-yard plunge with 6:26 remaining in the first half deadlocked the score at 14-14, while the visitors took a 30-14 lead into the intermission following a pair of 3-yard TD runs in the final two and one-half minutes of the second stanza. The first 3-yard score came at the 2:20 mark from the Cowboys’ signal caller – senior Racen Williams – with Rodriguez crossing the goal line on the conversion attempt for a 22-14 margin, while the other 3-yard score came with 18 seconds remaining by Rodriguez with Williams calling his own number on the conversion try.

A 3-yard TD run and conversion run by Rodriguez at the 5:18 mark of the third quarter increased the visitors’ lead to 38-14, then a 31-yard TD run by Torrez just 11 seconds later gave the Cowboys their biggest lead of the contest at 44-14.

A 65-yard TD run by Zabrien Shelburn with 4:45 left in the third stanza and successful conversion run by Zion Shelburn cut the deficit to 44-22, while Torrez’s 5-yard TD run with 18 seconds remaining in the frame sent the quarterfinal battle to the final 12 minutes of action with the Wilson squad trailing by a 50-22 margin.

Zabrien Shelburn’s 12-yard run and successful conversion run at the 10:08 mark of the final stanza made it a 5030 contest, while Rodriguez pushed the Ryan lead to 56-30 on a 1-yard run with 5:11 remaining in regulation.

Zion Shelburn returned the ensuing kickoff 78 yards to paydirt to cut the deficit back to 20 points, 56-36, with 4:50 left in the final frame.

The visitors recovered the onside kick attempt and ran out the final minutes off the gameclock to hand the host Wilson Tigers the season-ending 56-36 setback.

— Class C Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Ryan 56, Wilson 36

Ryan: 0 – 30 – 20 – 6 (56) Wilson: 8 – 6 – 8 – 14 (36) — First Quarter

Wilson – Zabrien Shelburn, 5-yard run

(Zion Shelburn pass from Charles Shelburn); 0:31 — Second Quarter

Ryan – Carsen Rodriguez, 59-yard run (Run Failed); 11:02 Ryan – Noah Torrez, 60-yard interception return (Rodriguez run); 9:05 Wilson – Charles Shelburn, 1-yard run (Run Failed); 6:26 Ryan – Racen Williams, 3-yard run (Rodriguez run); 2:20 Ryan – Rodriguez, 3-yard run (Williams run); 0:18 — Third Quarter

Ryan – Rodriguez, 3-yard run (Rodriguez run); 5:18 Ryan – Torrez, 31-yard run (Run Failed); 5:07 Wilson – Zabrien Shelburn, 65-yard run (Zion Shelburn run); 4:45 Ryan – Torrez, 5-yard run (Run Failed); 0:18 — Fourth Quarter

Wilson – Zabrien Shelburn, 12-yard run (Zabrien Shelburn run); 10:08 Ryan – Rodriguez, 1-yard run (Run Failed); 5:11 Wilson – Zion Shelburn, 78-yard kickoff return (Run Failed); 4:50