INSTANT REACTION: Pottsboro Wins Thriller Over Brock
FRISCO - Wow. Just wow. What an ending experienced at the Ford Center as Pottsboro stormed back from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 36-35 and punch its first-ever ticket to the State Finals.
This was the play that sealed the win for Pottsboro (15-0)
This is the play that sends Pottsboro to its first ever State Championship #TexomaNation @BrendanAgans @txredzonereport @txhsfb #txhsfb @pottsboroisd @PottsboroF @JasonDellaRosa @ProfessorDiggs @Gosset41 pic.twitter.com/aYhFt6Rv3o
— Derek Ray Johnson (@derekraydj) December 13, 2019
Facing third and 12, Brock went with the double pass and somehow Pottsboro defensive back Tyler Farris ended up with the ball in his hands.
It was the only turnover in the game for either side in a very briskly-played game with just a handful of penalties and only two other possessions that did not end in scores (outside of kneel down possessions to end each half).
Pottsboro leaned on quarterback Braden Plyler, who rushed the ball 30 times for 101 yards and a score and threw for 216 yards on just 10 completions and another score.
Brock (12-3) was led running back Cash Jones, who seemingly found little resistance on the ground to the tune of 265 yards on 36 carries and five rushing scores.
Pottsboro and Brock scored on each of their first two possessions, but a Pottsboro punt on its third allowed Brock to score again and take a 21-17 lead into the half following late second quarter field goal by Pottsboro's Jacob MacDonald.
Brock opened the third with a touchdown, which was responded in one play by Pottsboro.
Brock scored again and led 35-24 as the third quarter ended. On a reverse to Jasek Hooker, Pottsboro pulled to within 35-30 (failed 2-point conversion).
On Brock's next possession, Pottsboro was able to make a stop for the first time in the game. It took two big-time fourth down conversions, but Pottsboro was able to extend its drive and finally get into the endzone and regain the lead, which ended up being the final score.
The win gives Pottsboro its first-ever berth to the state finals where it will play the winner of Grandview and Columbus at 3 p.m. Thursday at AT&T Stadium.
VYPE U: Katy Taylor makes history, again
Ending the regular season with an even 5-5 record, the Taylor Mustangs have advanced to the state semifinals.
The Mustangs outlasted the Cy Creek Cougars by a score of 58-20 in NRG Stadium on Saturday. They showed up to play and maintained their high intensity throughout the whole game.
Practically every key player on Taylor's offense and defense contributed to the win. Touchdowns were scored by six different players, three of which were scored on defense and special teams. Once the Mustangs gained the slightest bit of momentum in the first quarter, they were off to the races.
Katy Taylor was led by junior quarterback J. Jensen III and a backfield of CJ Tolbert and Casey Shorter, who were able to get the game running going early in the first quarter. On the second drive of the game, Shorter was able to make big yardage plays, including a 15-yard run for a first down that put the Mustang's offense into field-goal range. CJ Tolbert capped off this drive with a four-yard touchdown rush that put the Mustangs up 7-0 with 7:07 left in the first quarter. The high energy from the players and fans would definitely carry on to their next drive.
Taylor's next 17 points would be scored within a span of one minute and thirty-seven seconds of game play. A 30-yard run from Tolbert set up a successful 43-yard field goal from junior kicker Renan Baeta, who was perfect on the day. The score would then be 10-0 with 3:37 left in the first quarter.
From that moment onward, the Mustangs' defense turned up the energy. On the ensuing kickoff after the recently made field goal, a swarm of Taylor players forced Cy Creek's returner to fumble. The ball bounced into the end zone where junior defensive back Cecil Ivey II jumped on it for a touchdown. Once the Mustangs' defense returned to the field, they scored again right away as junior safety Trevor Woods picked off Cy Creek's Julian Uwadia for a 25-yard score with 2:39 left in the first quarter. The Mustangs ended the first quarter winning 24-0.
The Cougars would put up some points on the board, including a kickoff return for a touchdown and 25-yard reception from senior receiver Legend Grigsby and another 25-yard reception from senior running back Eddie Jimmerson. Despite Cy Creek's ability to find the end zone at times, Taylor remained dominant throughout the whole game.
At one point with 7:03 remaining in the second quarter, Taylor had an 11:1 ratio of first downs over Cy Creek. Jensen was able to get comfortable with the passing game, he found his star receiver Griffin Dougherty open on two consecutive plays and later found the end zone on a 35-yard pass to senior Tanner Isola, allowing the Mustangs to go up 34-7.
Cecil Ivey II was definitely the player of the game. On top of his touchdown that he scored on the kickoff team, Ivey picked off Julian Uwadia and ran it back 20 yards for another score.
When asked how he plans to lead his defense heading into the next round, he responded with "We didn't come here just to come here. We got to keep moving forward. We got to execute, play it day-by-day, and continue to move on."
Taylor's defense and special teams played one of the best games they have played all season. Two touchdowns, three interceptions, one forced fumble, multiple deflections, and a sack are only a few of the many contributions they made to the team's victory.
While Cy Creek finishes off a great season with an overall 9-5 record, Katy Taylor prepares for next week's game against Austin Westlake on December 13 at McLane Stadium. As long as the Mustangs' momentum stays persistent into the next round, they will be a difficult team to overlook.