To say that Manvel passed its toughest test of the season with a 47-35 win over defending state champion Cedar Park last Saturday, well, might be grossly underestimating the Mavericks’ resume – or their defense.
Manvel has taken down one heavyweight after another this season, and Cedar Park was just another in a line of victims. Don’t get us wrong, Cedar Park was every bit as good as advertised. The Timberwolves had won 27 straight games and 35 of their last 36. They had a slick, fast-paced yet run-dominant offense that can score on almost anybody. Heck, they put up 471 yards on Manvel.
Manvel was just the better team with a better defense. The Mavericks committed 14 penalties for 119 yards. They had the ball six less minutes and ran 17 fewer plays, yet they still won by two scores. They dominated a game that wasn’t really close until Cedar Park cut Manvel’s lead to 40-35, but Manvel needed just 48 seconds to score the final touchdown of the game and then put its defense to work.
The Mavericks have playmakers all over the field, including four Division I commits – three on defense. There’s defensive end Lance Bryant, who’s committed to Indiana. Linebacker London Harris has committed to Texas State and free safety Derrick Tucker, who’ll go to Texas A&M – and none of them were leading tacklers against Cedar Park.
Junior defensive back Trent Gordon had seven tackles whiles senior J.J. Joseph, junior Kameron Pedescleaux and junior Trent Serrato each had six. Junior linebacker Brian Johnson had an interception in the first quarter to help jump start Manvel’s 21-point first quarter and Tucker had an interception late in the third quarter to stall a Cedar Park drive in the red zone.
The front seven held Cedar Park to just 45 rushing yards on 25 attempts, forcing the Timberwolves to throw the ball 33 times. And on several occasions, the Manvel defense laid the lumber on receivers catching the ball in the flats or across the middle.
Manvel has a DI player on offense with wide receiver Keylon Stokes, a Tulsa commit. Stokes had game-highs in catches (10), receiving yards (112) and scored a touchdown. The most impressive play of the game was the one to end the first half.
With two seconds on the clock, junior quarterback Kason Martin took the snap, rolled right and found Preston for a short pass in the flat. Preston broke three tackles, darted across the field, picked up two blockers and dove to the corner of the end zone to give the Mavericks a 40-21 lead at the half.
Martin slings the ball around to a plethora of athletes, and he completed 21-of- 31 passes and three touchdowns last week. Manvel, this season, has already defeated perennial power Crosby, current 6A quarterfinalist and defending state champion Galena Park North Shore, powerhouse Pearland and had a blowout win over Fort Bend Marshall, which is playing College Station in another 5A quarterfinal.
Manvel faces Temple on Saturday night at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The Mavericks are heavy favorites to win and move on to the state semifinals.
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