The China Spring Cougars (11-1) defeated the Kaufman Lions (8-4) 41-7 in the Area round of the UIL Class 4A Division I playoffs.
Slow First Half
The Cougars and Lions traded blows in the first half with not a lot of scoring. Kaufman struck first. After holding China Spring to a 3 & out on their first drive, the Lions marched down the field on 11 plays. Dalys Chandler found the endzone from six yards out to put the Lions up 7-0.
China Spring answered with a 10 play, 75 yard drive. QB Cash McCollum found WR/LB Tristan Exline from 42 yards out to put the Cougars on the board. After a blocked PAT, China Spring trailed 7-6.
Kaufman couldn’t put much together after their first drive. The only promising drive was made difficult by LB Jaylen Trotter. Trotter had a big stop behind the line of scrimmage to stall the drive.
McCollum had the last touchdown of the half, running in from 16 yards out, to give China Spring a lead they would not relinquish.
Kaufman’s defense was doing a good job bottling up RB Kyle Barton. The Junior running back had a hard fought 51 yards on 14 carries in the first half. The Lion’s defensive line was stuffing all the Cougar runs up the middle.
A Different Second Half, Offensively
The Cougar offense got moving in the second half. McCollum again found Exline, this time from 35 yards out. Exline took the pass at the line of scrimmage then put moves on the Kaufman defenders to find the endzone.
China Spring had four offensive drives in the second half, and four touchdowns. Along with Exline, McCollum found WR Kevaughn Rogers and WR/DB Tre Hafford for touchdowns through the air. WR Jackson Battles added the final touchdown on the ground out of the wildcat formation.
Cougar Defense Was Huge
The story of the game was the Cougar defense in both halves. After that first drive of the game, the Lions were kept out of the endzone. DT Greg Salazar, Trotter and the rest of the Cougar defense did not allow Kaufman to move the ball.
The Lions’ first 1st down of the second half came with 9:37 remaining in the 4th quarter. Of the eight Kaufman drives, five of those drives ended in a three and out.
Next Up
China Spring will face Lake Worth next week with the date and location to be determined.
*All stats are unofficial
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