CEDAR PARK, Texas — Cedar Park High School doesn’t know how to quit. Not after losing senior quarterback Mak Sexton, a 37-game starter and team captain, on the opening drive of the game. And definitely not after entering halftime down 20.
The Associated Press No. 5 ranked Timberwolves came out a different team after the break and scored a 3-yard touchdown with 37 seconds left on a fourth down throwback pass from junior backup quarterback Ryan Fiala to senior Drew McDaniel to shock Georgetown 28-27 Friday night at Cedar Park’s John Gupton Stadium.
“That’s who we are. That’s how we play the game,” said Cedar Park coach Carl Abseck. “What you saw from our team is what makes our team special. It’s tough because Mak is a great player, but we got great players across the field, guys that count on each other, believe in each other, and play for each other and I couldn’t be more proud of them. Most teams in that situation, they don’t do what we just did and I told them at halftime that’s what we were going to do if they believe in each other, and they just went out and made plays and everybody contributed.”
Sexton got hurt on a one-yard touchdown run with 5:01 left in the opening period. He laid on the ground for at least ten minutes and was taken off on a stretcher with what’s believed to be a knee or leg injury. Cedar Park’s sideline and crowd was noticeably somber after that and it clearly affected the team.
Fiala checked in and threw for just 20 yards on 11 first-half attempts. He also botched a snap that rolled out of the back of the end zone for a safety and tossed an interception at the end of the second quarter that led to a Georgetown field goal.
Brian Ullstead/TexasHSFootball
Defense and special teams was also affected by the loss of their senior leader. The Timberwolves gave up a pair of touchdowns to Georgetown senior quarterback Cooper Bell – a 49-yard toss to senior Caden Leggett and a 20-yard dart to junior Dylan Cahill. Georgetown senior linebacker Brandon Hawkins blocked a punt out of the back of the end zone for another safety. The Eagles led 27-7 at the half.
“From a team standpoint, you lose a guy that’s three-year starter and is the best quarterback we’ve ever had, that’s hard to come in in that situation,” Abseck said. “That was a team-wide deal. It affected us defensively. It affected us offensively, but the bottom line is those kids, we remounted it at halftime and coaches made adjustments on both sides of the ball and bottom line is we just relaxed and played this game.”
Fiala started the comeback by marching his troops down the field on the opening possession of the third quarter with an eight-play, 73-yard touchdown drive. Cedar Park didn’t face a third down and Fiala found senior Brant McDonald in the back of the end zone for a six-yard score. Fiala threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-31 passing after the break. He also had two interceptions, but one was on a tipped pass that should’ve been caught and the other was just a great defensive play.
“He just relaxed,” Abseck said. “Our quarterback, Ryan Fiala, went in and did a tremendous job under a lot of strain because it’s hard to be playing under Mak Sexton’s shoes. You don’t replace him, but all we can ask Ryan to do is be Ryan and he did that tonight. He made plays. 4th & 2, and game on the line, and he makes a play and we make a great catch and we got it done.”
Photo: Brian Ullstead/TexasHSFootball.com
Junior Cole Hollen picked off a pass and returned it 85 yards for a touchdown with 10:56 left in the game to cut the deficit to six. On Georgetown’s six other second-half possessions, Cedar Park’s famous ‘Black Rain’ defense forced five punts and got a sack as time expired.
“They’re a talented offensive team. We’re playing shorthanded and they took advantage of it a couple of times so we just switched up coverages and kids played. Our front is really good so we just told them to play up front,” Abseck said. “I can’t say enough about our kids on defense, our coaching staff. It’s a tremendous group effort and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
The final touchdown was set up when senior punter Gunnar Chriswisser launched a 69-yard kick that was downed at Georgetown’s one-yard line. The Eagles went three and out and shanked a punt out of bounds to give Cedar Park the ball at the 21. Six plays later, the Timberwolves’ sent the home crowd and sideline into a frenzy with the game-winning score.
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