Check out last week's Plays of the Week, which includes highlights from College Park, Kinkaid, Stratford, The Woodlands, and Katy Tompkins.
In 23-6A, Pearland Dawson hosting Strake Jesuit. And how about the hurdle from Strake’s Dylan Campbell. Nice athleticism there. The crusaders find the end zone first as Campbell muscles his way in from three yards out, 7-0 strake. Dawson answers in the 2nd, as Jaden Stewart plows through a couple of defenders and won’t be denied, 10 yards for the touchdown and it’s knotted up at 7-apiece. It’s 10-7 strake in the third, when Dawson’s Myles Kitt-Denton calls his own number, huge hole to run through, he makes a man miss and he’s gone. 52 yards for the score, Eagles take their first lead at 14-10. Strake on the move, and check out this catch by the crusaders’ Bryce Palumbo, he tips it to himself and then reels it in. What a grab right there. Same drive, and Alex May finishes it off for the Crusaders, and Strake leads 17-14 after three quarters. But in the fourth, Stewart Powers his way into the end zone, and that’s the game-winner. Pearland Dawson takes down Strake Jesuit, 21-17 is the final.
In the private school ranks, Episcopal heads up to the metroplex to face Addison Greenhill. In the first, Episcopal’s Ethan Tuckwood airs it out deep into the end zone for Colin Crane, nice sliding grab by Crane and it’s 7-nothing Knights. In the 2nd, Episcopal’s Adrian Cormier takes the handoff right up the middle, he goes 8 yards for the score, and Episcopal blows past Addison Greenhill, 44-0 is the final.
Let’s head over to Tully stadium now, where Memorial welcomes 4-0 Cy Falls. Cy Falls gets on the scoreboard first, quarterback Brandon Collins keeps it on the read option, and watch as he weaves his way through traffic and then leaves his feet to dive for the pylon, 37-yards on the touchdown run, it’s 7-0 Eagles. It’s 10-0 Cy Falls late in the 2nd, but Memorial’s defense comes up with a stand, as Dillon Glenn picks off the deflected pass and returns out near the 30-yard line. That keeps it 10-nothing Cy falls heading to intermission. Opening kickoff of the second half, Memorial on the return, but Cy Falls’ Ethan Spear delivers the huge hit to knock the ball out and the Eagles recover the fumble deep in Mustangs territory. That leads to a field goal to make it 13-0. Memorial answers on the ground. Carson Zahn takes the handoff, makes a man miss, and he’s off to the races. It’s a 50-yard touchdown run and Memorial is right back in it, down 13-6. Cy Falls responds with a nice play-action pass. Caleb Pollard rolls right and connects with Jayden Goodwin, Goodwin takes it in for six, and Cy Falls leads 20-6. Same score, with Pollard looking to pass again, but this time Kane Tullos jumps the route for the interception and he’s headed the other way, 32 yards for the pick six, and memorial is back within seven at 20-13. But there’s nobody scores in the 4th quarter and Cy Falls runs out the clock to improve to 5-0 with a 20-13 win over Memorial.
Alief Taylor welcomes 3-0 Pearland to Crump stadium for both teams’ district opener. Early on, problems for the Oilers on special teams as the snap sails over the punter’s head, Phillip Moore scoops up the loose ball and walks in for the Alief Taylor touchdown, Lions up 10-zip. Pearland’s offense answers right back, as JD Head hooks up with Jeremiah Aaron and there’s nobody between Aaron and the end zone, he coasts in for a 50-yard score that cuts it to 10-7. But Alief Taylor controls much of the first half, as Estoban Torres keeps it on the read option, gets to the edge, and scores from 13 yards out. And then it’s Torres dropping back, he has all day, and he has a wide open Derrick Jones streaking down the field, Torres hits him in stride, it’s a 67-yard touchdown pass and Alief Taylor leads 26-21 at halftime. In the third, it’s the Lions defense, Keshaun Cooper-Owens is untouched on the blitz, he forces the fumble and Bryce Burkett scoops it up and returns it 42 yards to the house, and Alief Taylor smelling a big upset, leading 32-21. But Pearland fights back. Brandon Campbell takes the handoff right down main street, he goes 15 yards to the end zone, and the Oilers are back within four at 32-28. Then in the fourth, head lofts one up into the end zone for Jaden Piece, and a nice job by piece to haul it in for his second score of the night, Oilers take the lead, 34-32. And finally, Head sets up the screen for Campbell, and Campbell takes care of the rest. He takes it 40-yards to put this one on ice, Pearland scores 27 unanswered to storm back and win it, 48-32 over Alief Taylor.
Fort Bend Travis and Elkins each carry perfect 3-0 marks into their district opener Thursday night. Travis leads 7-0 in the first, when Elkins quarterback Cameron George calls his own number, and he gets into the open field. He’s off to the races, 83 yards down the far sideline for an Elkins touchdowns, Knights tie it up at 7 apiece. Then it’s the Elkins defense coming up big. The pass is tipped at the line of scrimmage, and there’s Jalen Harbut there to pull it down for the interception, and he takes it the other way 31-yards for the touchdown, Knights lead it 14-7. It’s tied at 14 in the 2nd, when Travis quarterback Eric Rodriguez fires into the end zone for Jarrell Farr, it’s a 21-yard scoring strike and Travis goes back in front 21-14. Elkins answers right back, as George lofts one up for Savion Sims, and Sims fights his way across the goalline for the touchdown, it’s tied at 21 at intermission. In the third, Rodriguez swings it out to Farr and Farr finds the end zone, it’s a 7-yard score and the tigers lead 28-21. Elkins responds on the ground. Issiah Nixon takes the handoff, makes a man miss in the backfield, and suddenly there’s a big hole. He goes 45 yards to the house, and Elkins evens it back up at 28-28. But the Knights have no answer for the Travis passing attack. Rodriguez throws five touchdowns, three to Farr, and this one puts the tigers up 35-28. Later, it’s Kalen Shankle going right up the gut, 7 yards for the score, and Travis leads 42-28. Same score in the fourth when Rodriguez uses his feet, he adds a 9-yard touchdown run to put this one away, as Fort Bend Travis improves to 4-0 with a 56-28 win over Elkins.
Bridgeland is off to a 4-0 start in just its second year of varsity football, the Bears taking on Cy Woods Friday night. Early on the Bridgeland defense comes up with a big turnover, as Charles Moore knocks the ball loose and Bryce McMorris recovers the fumble for the Bears. Cy Woods’ defense gets the pigskin right back however, Khalil Robinson is sitting patiently in the secondary and picks off the pass to set up the Wildcats with good field position. And the Cy Woods offense cashes it into points, as Christian Scott takes the pitch and he scampers 5-yards for the Wildcats touchdown, Cy Woods up 7-0. More Wildcats in the 2nd, Jackson Jones running the option, he decides to keep it, and look at him battle his way across the Goalline, it’s a well-earned 4-yard touchdown run, wildcats lead 17-0 at halftime. Bridgeland’s defense keeps the Bears in it though. Gavin Kaspar gets the takeaway this time, as he intercepts the pass and returns it into Cy Woods territory. But the Wildcats defense comes up huge once again. Gavin Snow gets his helmet on the football to pop it loose and Tylan Foster scoops it up for Cy Woods, and he takes it 71-yards the other way. There’s a flag on the return, but Cy Woods rolls to a 20-7 victory over Bridgeland.
In district 16-6A, 2-1 Dekaney hosting Aldine MacArthur Thursday night. Dekaney already 7-0 in the first when Daelyn Williams sets up the screen pass for Jacquez Shaw, Shaw breaks a tackle and goes 21-yards for the touchdown, wildcats with a quick 14-0 lead. In the 2nd, MacArthur looking to answer through the air, but there’s Dekaney’s Ronnie Thomas there for the interception, and he’s headed the other way. Thomas picks up some blockers and races 52 yards down the far sideline for the pick-six, Dekaney leads it 21-0. Meanwhile Williams throws for two scores and rushes for two more, as Dekaney dominates this one throughout, with a 56-0 shutout win over Aldine MacArthur.
Cy Lakes is riding a three-game winning streak heading into a Thursday night tilt with Cy Ranch. Cy Lakes strikes first, Sofian Massoud with plenty of time in the pocket, he connects with Khaliq Abdul-Mateen in the back of the end zone, it’s a 14-yard touchdown pass, Spartans lead 7-0. Cy Ranch responds on the ground. Willie Eldridge takes the handoff, bounces it outside, and turns upfield for a 20-yard touchdown run, that evens the score at 7-apiece. Massoud goes back to the air and hits Joshua McMillan in stride, and McMillan turns on the after-burners. He takes it all the way for a 70-yard Cy Lakes touchdown, and the Spartans build a 17-13 halftime lead. More Cy Lakes in the third, Massoud goes up top to Amir Turne, perfect pitch and catch for a 25-yard score, Spartans lead it 31-13. But the Mustangs get a big momentum-changer from their defense, as Robin Neely picks off the pass for Cy Ranch early in the 4th. The Mustangs offense cashes it into points as Dj Ciers swings it out to Drake Dabney, and Dabney shakes free of a defender and trots in for a 14-yard touchdown, suddenly it’s 31-26. Late in the fourth, Ciers buys himself time, then looks deep downfield and sees a wide-open Rodrigo Zelaya, and Zelaya goes the distance, 67-yards for touchdown, and that’s the game winner, Cy Ranch rallies back from an 18-point deficit to win it, 34-31 is the final.
