Michael Norris / Amarillo Globe-News Wellington quarterback Westin Williams runs past Boys Ranch's Laquan McGowan for a touchdown during the Skyrockets' 24-12 Class 1A Division I bidistrict victory Friday night.

The inflatable helmet Wellington players run through looks a lot like that worn by Wisconsin Badgers players.

The weather Friday night at Dick Bivins Stadium felt like it was Wisconsin.

Two things in favor of the Skyrockets.

Two more were Westin Williams and Eric Needham. Williams scored twice on runs, and Needham ground out 89 yards and, as a linebacker, recovered a key fumble to lead the Rockets to a 24-12 Class 1A Division I bidistrict win against Boys Ranch.

The Roughriders' first playoff run in school history ended at one game.

"It definitely was a fun atmosphere, and the energy was there," Boys Ranch coach Mike Lozano said. "They earned the right to be here."

Meanwhile, Wellington's best season since 1991, when the Rockets opened with 12 wins before losing in the quarterfinals, continues. The 11-0 Rockets will play No. 8 Canadian at 7 p.m. Friday in Pampa.

"We knew it would be a little tough," Skyrockets coach Wade Williams said. "(Boys Ranch) kept it simple and ran the clock. I give credit to them."

Both coaches pointed to a turning point in the second quarter. Down, 12-0, Boys Ranch gained 52 yards on its first pass of the game, a crossing route from James Murphy to Dejon Haye that Haye took along the home sideline to the Rockets 14. Murphy fumbled the next snap, and Needham recovered.

"If they hadn't fumbled the ball early, it would've been a lot tougher," the Wellington coach said.

Lozano agreed.

"The little things. It shows how green we are. You can't make those mistakes in this kind of game," he said.

The Skyrockets went 86 yards for their third score. A 51-yard pass from Williams to Quenton Patterson and a 15-yard keeper by Williams preceded the junior quarterback's scramble out of the pocket 13 yards for the touchdown.

The Rockets added one more TD midway through the third quarter on Josh Culpepper's 13-yard run. It came four plays after a second poor Boys Ranch punt - 7 yards net - into the wind.

Boys Ranch avoided a shutout by going 20 yards after Haye's fumble recovery and return to the Wellington 20. Murphy passed 5 yards to Jansen Timmons in the right flat for the score.

After a third fumble by Wellington, Murphy hit passes for 15 and 26 yards to set up a 10-yard run by Timmons with a minute to play, cutting the Riders' deficit in half.

The Rockets defense played well for three-plus quarters. Tackle Gus Wilbur had a couple of sacks and helped Wellington control the line of scrimmage.

"It wasn't our best defense. I'd give us a B-plus," Wilbur said. To handle Canadian, he said, "we'll have to follow our keys better."

Wellington scored on the game's opening drive, going 76 yards on 11 plays, nine on the ground. Williams went the final 2 yards for the score. The pass for two points failed.

The drive into the wind took almost half the quarter.

The Rockets gave up a first down on the Riders' first offensive series before Sean Shipman dropped Timmons for a 2-yard loss on fourth down at the Wellington 36.

Williams guided his team 64 yards the other way, mixing runs and passes on 12 plays. A 10-yard run by Prentice Coffee put the ball at the 3, Needham went over right tackle the next play and the Rockets had a two-touchdown lead at 9:37 before halftime.

Wellington dominated the first half wit 16 first downs and 223 yards. The Rockets finished with 322 yards to 245 for Boys Ranch. Timmons had 69 yards rushing and Murphy 107 yards passing.

"I think our players found out what it takes to even get here," Lozano said. "We'll be back."

Boys Ranch 0 0 0 12 - 12
Wellington 6 12 6 0 - 24

W-Westin Williams 3 run (pass failed)

W-Eric Needham 3 run (run failed)

W-Williams 13 run (pass failed)

W-Josh Culpepper 13 run (pass failed)

BR-Jansen Timmons 5 pass from James Murphy (pass failed)

BR-Timmons 10 run (kick failed)

Boys Ranch Wellington
First downs 11 20
Yards rushing 138 211
Yards passing 107 11
Total yards 245 322
Comp-Att-Int 6-8-0 9-15-0
Punts-Avg 3-11.3 0-0
Fumbles-Lost 3-2 3-3
Penalties-Yards 5-32 5-35

Individual Statistics

Rushing-Wellington-Eric Needham 14-92, Westin Williams 8-54, Prentice Coffee 8-43, Josh Culpepper 8-25, Sean Shipman 1-1. Team 2-minus 4. Boys Ranch-Jansen Timmons 12-69, Victor Landeros 7-31, Zac Bolton 9-24, James Murphy 14-12, Tim Benavidez 1-2, Chris Wilkinson 2-0,

Passing-Wellington: Westin Williams 9-15-0-111. Boys Ranch: James Murphy 6-8-0-107

Receiving-Wellington: Culpepper 3-12, Quenton Patterson 2-55, Matt Cummings 2-25, Needham 1-13, Coffee 1-6. Boys Ranch: Dejon Haye 2-78, Timmons 2-8, Joe Ben Pacino 1-15, Landeros 1-6.