Photos by Becky Antunes Photography
After a sluggish first half, the China Spring Cougars (7-1, 2-0) flex their muscles over the La Vega Pirates (4-4, 1-1) by the score of 42-7.
First Quarter Problems
Neither team was able to put points on the board in the first quarter. La Vega’s first drive started out promising on the legs of RB Bryson Roland. The Sophomore running back was able to get through the Cougar defense for 39 yards on 7 carries. The “bend but don’t break” China Spring defense was able to stall the Pirate 11 play drive on a 4th & 6 from the Cougar 31. China Spring wasn’t able to capitalize on the momentum of a 4th down stop and went 3 & out on their first drive.
La Vega went back to the ground with Roland and RB Nikzavyer Rice. The two were eating up yards and the clock, moving the drive into the 2nd quarter. The Cougar defense again stopped a Pirate 11 play drive, this time inside their own 10 yard line.
Hafford’s Second Quarter
After another 3 & out from the China Spring offense deep in their own zone, the Cougars were able to stop the Pirates on six plays and get the ball back mid-way through the second quarter on their own 20 yard line. Enter WR/DB Tre Hafford. After a nice 8 yard pickup from WR/LB Tristian Exline, QB Cash McCollum finds Hafford for a 47 yard catch and run down to the Pirate 25 yard line. On the next play, McCollum again finds Hafford for the 25 yard touchdown to put the Cougars on the board.
The China Spring defense holds La Vega to their first 3 & out, and a bad snap on the punt sets up the Cougars on the Pirate 7 yard line. On the first play, McCollum again finds Hafford in the endzone. In a span of three minutes, the Cougars and Hafford put up two touchdowns to go up 14-0.
La Vega tries to answer behind Roland and Rice. As the Pirates are driving down the field, they get away from their working running game and attempt to put the ball in the air. Big sacks of QB Robert Prescott by DL Greg Salazar and DL Jaylen Trotter stall the La Vega 10 play drive.
The first half saw La Vega lead in total yardage, 193 to the Cougars 152, but China Spring took the 14-0 lead into halftime.
Second Half
The second half did not start well for the Cougars. China Spring received the opening kickoff of the half and fumbled the ball on the first play, setting up La Vega on the Cougar 31 yard line. It took 8 plays, the last 3 from the Cougar 1 yard line, for La Vega to find the endzone. The Pirates pull with in 7 and seem to have the momentum, but Tristian Exline had other plans.
The next drive belonged to Exline. The Senior “Do-It-All” WR/LB (and punter) accounted for 63 of the 75 yards the Cougars needed to find the endzone. The play of the drive was a 45 yard catch and run inside the Pirate 10 yard line, where it took half of the Pirate defense to bring him down. Exline capped the drive with a 4 yard touchdown reception from McCollum.
The Cougar defense stepped up in the second half. After allowing 193 yards in the first half, China Spring only allowed 91 yards in the second half. 36 of those yards came on the final drive when many of the starters were on the sidelines. The defensive play of the game came from Jaylen Trotter. On a bad exchange from Prescott to Rice, the ball hits the turf. Trotter scoops it up and breaks an attempted tackle by Rice. Trotter trots in the endzone from 37 yards for the score.
LB Ryder Reeves led the Cougars with 14 tackles on the night. DL Jaeden Davis tacked on 11 tackles and 2 pass disruptions and Exline contributed 10 tackles along with his offensive numbers. Trotter, however, was all over the score sheet with 9 tackles, 1 pass disruption, 1 sack, 1 caused fumble and the 37 yard scoop and score.
Next Up
Next up for China Spring is quite possibly the game of the year in Class 4A. The Cougars will host the Stephenville Yellowjackets (7-0, 1-0) next Friday night at Cougar Field. This will be a matchup of two defending State Champions. China Spring taking home the Class 4A DII crown while Stephenville is the defending Class 4A DI Champion. Redistricting and China Spring’s move up to Division I have placed these two powerhouses in the same district.
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