SAN MARCOS — New Braunfels made Bastrop play catch up Friday night and the Bears were unable to answer the challenge.
The Unicorns put an end to Bastrop’s magical season with a 41-21 win at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos.
In the Bears first playoff game since 2005, Bastrop’s playoff inexperience showed early in the game.
New Braunfels (8-3) held the Bears (9-2) out of the end zone the entire first half and to just 116 yards of offense.
“Anytime you get into the playoffs your inexperience is gonna show,” said head coach Gerald Perry. “You can sugar coat it all you want, but (our inexperience) was a big difference.”
New Braunfels built a 17-0 lead, which included a touchdown on its first possession of the second half.
Fighting from behind, Bastrop answered on its first offensive series with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Auston Shipley.
It was set up with runs of 21 and 12 yards by quarterback Josiah Monrore.
It proved to be the Bears only possession of the third quarter.
The Unicorns played smashmouth football with a 14 play drive that went 80 yards and ended with a 12 yard touchdown run by Josh Simmons on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Down 24-7 Bastrop quickly answered with its offense started clicking and Monroe ushered the Bears down to the 23-yard-line when he hit Chris Fletcher in the end zone.
New Braunfels got a lucky bounce, literally, when Bastrop’s onside kick attempt bounced off one of its own players and into the hands of Brett Rychel, who returned it 54 yards for a Unicorn touchdown.
New Braunfels scored on each of its last seven possessions to close the game.
Monroe finished the game with 190 yards passing and 116 yards rushing.
“Regardless of the outcome here (Friday) these kids did something special,” Perry said. “Everyone doubted them and they brought a community and a school together and won a district championship.”
Bastrop hasn’t won a playoff game since 2003.