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Strong second half carries Argyle past Gilmer, into state semifinals

CORSICANA — Argyle’s Austin Aune didn’t hit early or often. He just hit big.

Despite completing only 11 of his 33 pass attempts, the senior quarterback racked up 299 yards and three scores through the air, leading Argyle to a 51-35 win over Gilmer (13-1) in the Class 3A Division II Region II final Friday night.

Argyle advanced to face Monahans in a state semifinal.

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The teams traded blows in the first half with Gilmer taking an early lead on Darrion Pollard’s 7-yard touchdown catch only three minutes into the game. But every time the Buckeyes seemed ready to blow the game open, Argyle found a way to answer.

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Gilmer scored three first-half touchdowns. And Argyle answered all three, sending the game into halftime deadlocked at 21 all.

Argyle finally took a lead on the first play of the second half, when Aune hit Ian Sadler down the sideline for 70 yards to give the Eagles a 28-21 edge. Antonio Brown’s 78-yard interception return on Gilmer’s ensuing possession increased the lead to 14 points.

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But Pollard refused to let Gilmer die.

The senior receiver — who finished with 20 catches for 218 yards and three scores — caught a pair of touchdown passes down the stretch, including a 4-yarder with 7:03 to play to cut the Argyle lead to 41-35.

After a three-and-out by Argyle, Gilmer got the ball back on their own 6-yard line with five minutes to work. But Jordan Traylor’s pass to Gavin Holt on fourth and 4came up short of the marker, allowing Argyle to ice the victory with a chip-shot field goal.