Crockett Blasts Lanier; Secures Playoff Birth

By Sam Bohmfalk

The official game start time was 7 p.m., but for the second straight week the Crockett football team showed up late.  Once again, it didn’t matter.

Finding themselves down 7-0 after one quarter, the Cougars stormed back to outscore Lanier 50-3 over the final three quarters to secure the fourth and final playoff spot in District 26-4A.

The best offense for the usually pass-happy Cougars turned out to be a combination of the running game and the defense.  Joseph Basemore’s 9-yard rush to even the score was quickly followed by a Cesar Diaz 1 yard plunge to put the Cougars up a touchdown.

The Crockett defense harassed Lanier quarterback L’Ken Britton all day, allowing him just 115 yards on 33 passing attempts.  With the Vikings trying to play catch-up, Crockett’s Vicente Cantu-Harlkless picked off a Britton pass and returned it 65 yards to the end zone to push the Lanier lead to 23-7.

The Vikings, who were looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2005, simply could not hold onto the ball, throwing two interceptions and putting the ball on the ground four separate times, twice leading directly to scores.

The win by Crockett ensures the team a third consecutive playoff birth, regardless of next week’s result against Travis.  The result was like déjà vu for many, as it was a win over Lanier last year that secured Crockett’s place in the playoffs.

The Cougars know, however, that if they want a better result than they got in last year’s bi-district play—a 58-7 loss to Lake Travis—that they better start showing up on-time.

Around the District

McCallum 49, Reagan 0

Much like an overplayed song on the radio, McCallum’s star running back Michael Sorrells won’t go away.  Different game, same story.  Sorrells touched the ball just nine times but finished the game with 175 total yards and three touchdowns en route to a 42-point halftime lead and eventual seven touchdown victory.

Travis 56, Eastside 7

The Rebels moved one-step closer to securing a three-way split of the district championship as they scored at will on the undermanned Panthers.  Quarterback Jacob Sterling was a perfect 4-4 for two touchdowns and running back C.J. Herrera scored three of his own as the Rebels romped, 56-7.