Turner Stadium was the site of one of the most anticipated games of the year in Texas High School Football, as the Atascocita Eagles (4-0, 1-0) took on the Summer Creek Bulldogs (4-0,1-0) in a matchup that people will be talking about all year. Atascocita came into the game with the best resume in the state, with wins at Katy and at Westlake, while Summer Creek had outscored their first four opponents but a combined score of 215-0. Two of the top teams in the state went to battle in front of a sold-out crowd, and it lived up to the billing.
Game Recap
This game was a tale of two halves, the first belonging to Atascocita. After a missed field goal on the Summer Creek opening drive, it took one play for the Eagles to get on the board, as Tory Blaylock broke a tackle and stormed 80 yards for the score. On the next Atascocita drive, Cardae Mack would find CJ Toney deep for a 48-yard touchdown. With 3:39 left in the first quarter, Atascocita led 14-0.
Summer Creek would find the endzone on their next drive, as Eugene Burnett ran through the right side of the line and took it 48 yards for the touchdown. On the first play of the next Atascocita drive, Blaylock found the endzone again, this time running straight through the line for a 73-yard score, giving Atascocita a 21-7 lead.
Following a Summer Creek turnover-on-downs to end the first quarter, Atascocita needed just five plays to get on the board again, as CJ Toney took the end-around and scored from 15 yards out. On the next Atascocita drive, Mack found the endzone again, this time exploding for a 58-yard touchdown run. Atascocita led 35-7, which is where it stood at the half.
The second half belonged to Summer Creek, as they stormed back into the game. Following an Atascocita punt to open the half, Blake Thomas connected with Benny Easter for a 25-yard touchdown pass. On the following Summer Creek drive, Braylin Causey powered it in from one yard out for the touchdown, and with 5:09 left in the 3rd quarter, the lead was cut to 35-21.
After two Atascocita turnover-on-downs, with a Brian Mays Jr 35-yard field goal for Summer Creek sandwiched between them, the Bulldogs would find the endzone again as Causey broke a 31-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was successful, as Blake Thomas found Tre Brown at the front pylon, making the score 35-32 Atascocita with 8:28 remaining in the game.
Atascocita would have to punt on their next drive, giving Summer Creek the ball with 5:04 left in the game. The Bulldogs used a methodical 10-play drive to march down the field and get down inside the Eagle 15-yard line, setting up Blake Thomas, as he scrambled to his left, found an opening, and ran it in from 12-yards out, to give Summer Creek their first lead of the game, 39-35.
Atascocita received the ball with 3:04 remaining in the game at their own 28. Cardae Mack led his team down the field with a couple of big runs and passes, to get the Eagles inside the Summer Creek five-yard line. On the 10th play of the drive, Tory Blaylock powered his way in for a one-yard touchdown, giving Atascocita a 42-39 lead with 12 seconds remaining. An illegal forward pass on the Summer Creek laterals as time expired would end the game.
Atascocita escapes an all-time classic with a big district win, 42-39.
Atascocita Stats
QB Cardae Mack (JR): 8/15, 107 yds, TD, 25 carries, 209 yds, TD
RB Tory Blaylock (SR) (Oklahoma Commit): 12 carries, 179 yds, 3 TDs, 2 recs, 3 yds
WR CJ Toney (JR): 3 recs, 90 yds, TD, 1 carry, 15 yds, TD
DL Chris Minor (SR): TFL
LB Jordan Johnson (SR): Sack
LB Rayvon Sauls (JR): Sack
DB Brandon Washington (SR): 2 Sacks
DB Ta’von Bolden Jr (SO): TFL, 3 PBUs
DB Jaden Jenkins (SR): 2 PBUs
DB Abimael Angel (JR): Sack
Summer Creek Stats
QB Blake Thomas (SR) (Lamar Commit): 19/38, 240 yds, TD, 17 carries, 109 yds, TD
RB Braylin Causey (SO): 18 carries, 87 yds, 2 TDs
RB Eugene Burnett (SR): 9 carries, 77 yds, TD
WR Benny Easter (SO): 7 recs, 94 yds, TD
WR Tre Brown (SO): 4 recs, 84 yds, 3 carries, 47 yds
WR Jamicah Jones (JR): 3 recs, 37 yds
WR Holden Miller (JR): 3 recs, 24 yds
DL Amontre Harris (JR): 2 Sacks
DL Chad Woodfork (SR) (TCU Commit): Sack
DL Brinley Tita (JR): Sack
LB Tyson Joiner (JR): Sack
DB Duryea Green (SR): Sack
DB Brandon Jones (SR) (Northwestern State Commit): PBU
Next Week
Atascocita will be looking to continue their undefeated streak, as they take on Humble (3-1, 0-1), while Summer Creek will look to get back in the win column, as they go on the road to take on a solid C.E. King squad (3-2, 1-1).
Photos from Frank Jenkins:
