In an anticipated early season matchup of unbeaten teams, the China Spring Cougars (4-0) defeat the Connally Cadets (3-1) 51-21 Friday night at Mac Peoples Stadium.
Short Handed Cadets
Connally came into the game already at a disadvantage. Starting QB Jelani McDonald was sidelined due to injury. That left the responsibility of getting the ball to WR Kobe Black on the arm of QB Jarrett Shepherd. The swarming Cougar defense, led by DT Greg Salazar and WR/LB Tristan Exline, did not allow Shepherd time to get set up to find Black. That led to many handoffs to RB Kiefer Sibley. Sibley found the same fate as Shepherd, with very little room to maneuver.
Stout Cougar Defense
photo by Becky Antunes Photography
Whether it was Sibley or RB Jylon Nobles, the Cadet running attack was being bottled up by the Cougar front seven. Of the nine drives the Cadet offense had against the first team Cougar defense, six of those drives ended in a 3 & out. Along with Salazar and Exline, LBs Jacob Mott, Jaylen Trotter and Jaeden Davis were on the Cadet ball carriers quickly. Connally did attempt to change things up by running a wildcat offense with Sibley as the signal caller, but the China Spring defenders were not fooled and kept the Cadets contained.
Rolling Cougar Offense
After the first two drives where Cadet DT Kaiden Turner was disrupting the Cougar offensive flow, China Spring made the adjustment and began moving the ball effectively. Cougar RB Kyle Barton again had a great night on the ground. Barton ran for 127 yards and 3 touchdowns, with the majority of those yards coming after contact. QB Cash McCollum had an efficient night going 11 of 18 for 185 yards and a touchdown through the air, finding WR/DB Tre Hafford for 91 yards and Exline for 88 yards and a touchdown. McCollum also added 60 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Barr Through The Uprights
While a key field goal was not needed in this game, K Thomas Barr showed he has the leg. Barr connected on field goals of 43, 28 and 45 yards while also converting all six PAT attempts. The Cougars have confidence in Barr’s leg and wouldn’t hesitate giving him the opportunity from 50+ yards out. That is a key weapon that could bode well for the Cougars down the stretch.
Up Next
The Connally Cadets will take on the Brownwood Lions (3-1) next week while China Spring will travel to Dallas to battle the Dallas Parish Episcopal Panthers (3-1). The Panthers will be a tough test for the Cougars. Dallas Parish Episcopal has a 24-17 win over perennial power Aledo and narrowly lost to the defending Class 5A DII South Oak Cliff Bears 31-28 on Friday.
*All stats are unofficial
