La Vega Overpowers Wimberley, Ends Stoever’s Gritty Run in Semifinals
Wimberley senior quarterback Cody Stoever left nothing in the tank Friday night. In his final high school game, he carried the Texans on his back—nearly single-handedly keeping them afloat—but powerhouse Waco La Vega had too much firepower. The Pirates piled up 471 total yards and rolled to a 62-35 victory in the Class 4A Division II semifinals at Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex.
It marked the second straight semifinal exit for Wimberley (12-3), which lost a heartbreaker to Bellville last December.
Stoever’s Last Stand
With running back Josh Belanger sidelined by injury, Stoever became Wimberley’s offense. He rushed 29 times for 175 yards and three touchdowns, threw for 117 yards and another score, and accounted for 292 of the Texans’ 309 total yards.
The performance fit his reputation—a gritty, tough-minded quarterback who never quits. In past seasons, not even a broken wrist could keep him off the field.
“He embodies what our program is about,” head coach Doug Warren said. “Toughness, grit, and a fighting spirit.”
Pirates Too Much to Handle
Wimberley’s defense simply had no answers for La Vega’s balance and explosiveness. Quarterback Kourtney Parr set the tone early, firing a 51-yard touchdown strike to Jabarie Thornton on the Pirates’ opening drive. From there, La Vega scored on every possession except its final, game-ending series.
Parr was surgical, going 9-of-12 for 217 yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score. Running back Bryson Roland shredded the Texans for 187 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Special teams miscues compounded Wimberley’s problems—a muffed punt in the first quarter and a failed onside kick recovery to open the second half both turned into quick Pirate touchdowns.
“Those mistakes put us behind the 8-ball,” Warren said. “And against a team that good, it’s hard to claw back.”
Looking Ahead
La Vega (12-3) advances to face Carthage in next Friday’s state championship at AT&T Stadium. Carthage, which eliminated Wimberley in the 2022 title game, now stands between the Pirates and a state crown.
For Stoever, the loss ended a remarkable high school career defined by toughness. With Division III offers from Hardin-Simmons, Mary Hardin-Baylor, and Northeastern State, his next chapter will come at the college level.
“Somebody’s going to take a chance on that guy,” Warren said. “And whoever does will be proud to have him.”
