Crockett Shocks Travis; McCallum District Champ

McCallum coaches will be busy drawing up schemes against the Knights' first round opponent, Lake Travis. Photo courtesy of aaronisnotcool.

Quarterback Paul Wagner connected with tight end Dylon Fleming from eight yards out with just 1:35 to go as the Crockett Cougars upset the Travis Rebels, 10-7.  The catch was Fleming’s first career touchdown and surprising on a night where the Cougars struggled to move the ball through the air.

The Crockett victory means the Cougars will represent District 26-4A as the Division II #1 seed, while Travis falls to the second seed.

The game-winning touchdown came after Travis had taken the lead earlier in the fourth quarter on a John Hernandez two-yard plunge.   The touchdown drive constituted most of Travis’ offense on the chilly Thursday night.

Travis quarterbacks Jonathan Sterling and Adam Solis struggled for much of the game, managing to go just 8-17 for 45 yards.  Wagner wasn’t much better for the Cougars, but came through when it mattered most.  Coach John Waugh said the reason Crockett threw was because they thought Travis would be expecting Wager to run.  And for most of the game, he had, amassing 86 yards on 26 rushes.

The win means the Cougars kick off their playoff campaign against District 25-4A fourth seed Marble Falls (5-5) on Thursday at Mustang Stadium in Marble Falls.  The Rebels’ first game will be Friday against Cedar Park Vista Ridge (8-2), at a site to be determined.

McCallum 55, Lanier 30

With a game against three-time defending state champion Lake Travis looming, the McCallum Knights limited the carries of star running back Michael Sorrells.  The running game still proved to be the Knights’ bread and butter, as they picked up 386 yards on the ground en route to a 55-30 victory over Lanier.  This win, combined with Travis’ loss to Crockett, means McCallum is the district champ–despite an equal record with LBJ–by virtue of their victory over the Jaguars in week 8.

LBJ 51, Reagan 14

It took just 34 seconds for LBJ to separate itself as the better team from its bitter rival, Reagan.  With Iowa State-commit Jaquarias Daniels sitting the game out, the Raiders never had a chance of keeping this one close.  LBJ had four different players rush for touchdowns and two others throw for scores as they took a 48-6 halftime lead.

LBJ will be opposed by Cedar Park (9-1) in bi-district action at a site and time to be determined.

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.