Cypress-Ranch’s undefeated season remains intact while Langham Creek is left to pick up the pieces after being ground and pound by RB’s EJ Thompson and Holden Gourley in the Mustangs 49-31 victory over the Lobos at CF-FCU Stadium on Friday night.
This was Cy-Ranch’s 22nd consecutive district win in 17-6A. Their division dominance can be attributed to a ground attack featuring two RB’s that each racked up over 100 yards against the Lobo defense. EJ Thompson received the bulk of the carries for the Mustangs, carrying the ball 15 times for 150 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Thompson’s counterpart Holden Gourley only ran the ball three times, but he made his presence felt as he cut loose for 134 yards rushing and one touchdown. Gourley averaged an incomprehensible 44.7 yards per carry on the night.
With two lethal ball carriers able to gouge opposing defenses, Cy-Ranch head coach Gene Johnson said it wasn’t difficult to figure out which one to leave on the sidelines. “When each gets tired” Johnson said. “They’re both great players and we try to roll them in. They both do great things with the ball in their hands.”
Cy-Ranch’s ability to run at will meant Langham Creek could not afford a slow start offensively, but that’s exactly what happened.
Langham Creek’s first quarter can be characterized by one, misfortunate word: fumbles. The lumbering Lobos coughed up the football four times in the opening period, three of which were recovered by an opportunistic Cy-Ranch defense.
Langham Creek’s first fumble came on their initial play from scrimmage and paved the way for Cy-Ranch to take an early 7-0 lead. RB EJ Thompson shouldered the load for the Mustangs, getting the ball on all five plays of their 40-yard touchdown drive. Langham Creek’s third and final turnover of quarter also lead to Cy-Ranch points. The scoring drive picked up steam on QB Blake Nevins 41-yard pass to WR Keric Wheatfall and was polished off by Nevins’ two-yard QB keeper into the end zone.
The Lobo’s took a different approach into the second quarter. Looking for an offensive spark and a drive culminating in anything but another fumble, the Lobos decided to change things up at QB. Kacey Pryor took over the reigns as signal caller and managed to sustain a 10 play, 65-yard drive that resulted in a 26-yard field goal by K Ryan Harwell. Harwell’s kick got Langham Creek on the board, 14-3.
Cy-Ranch head coach Gene Johnson knew his defense had to be able to adjust on the fly with two Lobo quarterbacks sharing the snaps.
“They both are dynamic players. We just had to be sound and fit where we were supposed to fit.”
The best defense for the Mustangs, however; might have been an unstoppable rushing offense. EJ Thompson torched the Lobos on the ground in the first half, his most notable run coming on a 34-yard touchdown to put the Mustangs up 21-3 with 3:25 left in the second quarter.
Langham Creek found themselves down big early and were determined to make up for lost time. The Lobo’s hurriedly cobbled together a four play, 70-yard drive in 49 seconds. Two of the four timely plays were a 31-yard catch by WR Golden Eke and a 27-yard Toneil Carter touchdown run.
Langham Creek’s speedy drive was met by an even more efficient three play, 65-yard scoring campaign by Cy-Ranch. The Mustangs were carried into the red zone on a hard fought 56-yard run by Gourley and reached pay dirt on a 7-yard touchdown reception by WR RJ Sneed II. Cy-Ranch took a 28-10 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Cy-Ranch running back tandem showed no signs of slowing down in the second half. Gourley topped his previous long run of 56 yards with an even more impressive 65-yard rushing touchdown to start the third quarter.
Quarterbacks Jacob Walls and Kacey Pryor continued taking turns behind center for Langham Creek in the second half. Pryor lead the Lobos in passing with 156 yards and one touchdown pass while Walls finished the night with 138 yards and no touchdowns.
The Lobos orchestrated a 10 play, 85-yard drive on their first possession of the second half. Toneil Carter’s 14-yard touchdown run would be the only time Langham Creek would find the end zone in the third quarter.
Following a failed onside kick by the Lobo’s, Cy-Ranch would need only one play to effectively step on the jugular. Not yet satisfied, EJ Thompson broke free for his longest run of the game. The 49-yard touchdown would give Cy-Ranch an insurmountable 42-17 lead with 6:22 still remaining in the third quarter. Both teams traded meaningless scoring blows in the fourth quarter. Langham Creek added two touchdowns: one on a 21 yard pass from Pryor to WR Reagan Coburn and the other on a last gasp 27 yard run by RB Chris Mehn. Cy-Ranch’s insurance points came courtesy of a 14-yard touchdown pass from QB Austin Goffney to WR Nicholas Sorensen.
Cy-Ranch’s undefeated season continues at 7-0 and they will look to remain perfect on October 22nd against the 2-5 Cypress Lakes Spartans. Langham Creek picks up it’s second loss of the season and finds itself at 5-2. The Lobos will turn their sights to their October 21 date with the 2-4 Cypress Springs Panthers.
