The China Spring Cougars (14-0) secured their spot in the State Semi-Finals with a 31-14 victory over the West Orange-Stark Mustangs (11-2) on Friday night at Tomball ISD Stadium.
1st Half Recap
This game started out as most do for China Spring, a three and out for the Cougar defense. After that was anything but normal for the quick strike Cougar offense.
China Spring took over on their own 41 after the initial Mustangs punt. A couple of plays later, Tre Hafford had a run of 10 yards and was taken down by a facemask. This set up the Cougars just outside of the red zone, and that is when things fell apart for the Cougar offense. A fumbled option pitch started a string of three straight drives that ended in a China Spring turnover.
The Mustang offense turned the first Cougar turnover into a touchdown. With a heavy dose of RB Elijah Gales, West Orange-Stark marched down the field on the 10 play scoring drive. A key play on the drive was a 30 yard completion from QB Keyshawn Robinson to WR Nicholas Crosson. That play set up the Mustangs on the Cougar 3 yard line where Gales punched it in for the touchdown.
The Mustangs would not record another first down in the first half. The swarming Cougar defense was tough on the inside runs and did not allow the Mustang speedsters to gain the corner on the outside. The Mustangs were hampered near the end of the 1st quarter when they lost Elijah Gales to an injury.
After China Spring shook the turnover bug, the quick strike offense was back. One play was all the QB Major Bowden needed to put the Cougars on the board. On a play designed to run up the middle, Bowden bounces off one of his linemen, spins and sprints 72 yards for the first score on the night.
The most impressive drive, however, was the next drive. After the Cougar defense held the Mustangs to another three and out, the China Spring offense takes over on their own 4 yard line. The Cougars mount a 17 play drive that eats up most of the 2nd quarter. Bowden and RB Kyle Barton eat up yardage as China Spring methodically moves down the field.
China Spring was aided by two offsides penalties by the Mustangs and converted on a 4th and 8 from the West Orange-Stark 29 to keep the drive alive. With time running out in the half and the Cougars on the Mustang 17 yard line, China Spring elects to attempt the field goal. K Thomas Barr lined up for the 36 yard field goal attempt and split the uprights as time expired.
After their worst offensive half of football, the China Spring Cougars had a 10-7 lead over the West Orange-Stark Mustangs going into halftime.
Halftime Reset
When the Cougars came out for the second half, they looked like the Cougars we have seen all year. Big plays from their big time players. Major Bowden added two more spectacular touchdown runs from 71 and 44 yards. On the 44 yard run, Bowden escaped sure tackles from the Mustang defenders on several occasions as he sped down the field.
Kyle Barton had an exceptional run of his own as he took a swing pass from Bowden. 44 yards later, he set up a Dawson Exline 1 yard touchdown run.
After a 70 yard touchdown of their own, the Mustangs had the ball again down by 17 and trying to score quickly. DB Isaiah Williams intercepted a Keyshawn Robinson pass. Then on the ensuing Cougar drive, Williams hauls in a 15 yard pass from Bowden to allow China Spring to line up in the Victory Formation and close out the game.
Cougar Defense
The Cougar offense was exciting to watch, but make no mistake about it, this win was anchored by the Cougar defense. With momentum squarely on the side of the Mustangs in the first half after taking the lead and getting three turnovers, the Cougar defense held strong and put the ball back into the hands of the offense.
Next Up
The China Spring Cougars (14-0) will face the Cuero Gobblers (13-1) on Friday December 10th at 7pm at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex in Round Rock in the State Semi-Final Round.
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