Mitchell lights up the scoreboard with seven TDs and defense shuts out Rams in second half
Alief – A more experienced Bill Barren may have out-coached Kirk Eaton but a surplus of big plays made up for any lost in the lack of coaching.
Quarterback Troy Mitchell had a career night to pace the Cy-Falls Golden Eagles in its 48-22 victory over the Alief Elsik Rams in the Class 5A Bi-District round of the playoffs on Thursday night at Crump Stadium.
The Golden Eagles (10-1) advance to the Area of playoffs for first time since 2007. They will face Houston Lamar/ Katy Morton Ranch winner, at a time and site to be determined.
On the biggest stage of his career, Mitchell shredded the Rams secondary on 17 of 23 passing for 371 yards and seven touchdowns.
Mitchell, a senior, helped put Cy-Falls on the board early and often starting with a 6-yard TD pass to WR Jacorey Warrick. Mitchell executed the two-point conversion to give the Eagles an 8-0.
“I have to give big ups to our line and our playmakers. Our receivers have a lot of speed; if they get passed the DBs, they’ll catch the ball. Seven touchdowns, but I am just glad we got the victory. Many of our guys stepped up on defense. Every game is a big game, especial this one. This is our first playoff win since losing to Stony Point a couple of years ago”, said Troy Mitchell, Cy-Falls QB.
Elsik (6-5) drew even after RB Jerry Bynum’s 65-yard score and 2-point conversion with 7:12 to play in the first quarter. Then, Cy-Falls who had its offense clicking on all cylinders scored twice more before the quarter ended. Warrick turned a short pass into a 62-yard foot race after sliding one would be tackler at the Elsik 45 on his way to the end zone. Temi Alaska got behind the Ram’s defense on a streak pattern while reaching up to grab the ball, as he broke free and trotted down field to pay dirt on an 84-yard TD. After the PAT fail, the Eagles led 21-8 with 18 seconds left in the first quarter.
“It just feels great; all week long, we’ve been preaching, next week isn’t promised, its lose and you go home. We’re just playing for our seniors on the team and we just give all we got. If he puts it (the ball) where the other guy can’t get to it, then I can get it, I actually like it like that. Everything is coming together. I have to give all to God. Whenever a ball is in the air I feel like I can get to it”, said Jacorey Warrick, Cy-Falls receiver.
Elsik had many opportunities go to waste, starting with five turnovers, which potentially took points off the board at crucial moments. Three of which resulted in 21 Eagle points. Meanwhile, the Eagles kept souring; adding two touchdowns in the second quarter. DB Devin Mack’s fumble recovery gave Cy-Falls a short field to work with at the 50. On first down, Mitchell threw a rope down the middle of the field to WR Gratian Gladney at the 20. Three plays later, Mitchell’s 10-yard TD pass to Isaiah White increased the score to 27-8 after a failed kick. Alaska caught his second touchdown of the night, a 23 yarder from Mitchell, 34-15.
Down 27-8, the Rams battled back with Bynum’s 9-yard scoring run to lead Elsik’s rushing attack on 29 carries for 197 yards and 2-TDs and QB Caleb Bedford was 7 of 17 with 151 passing yards also managed a 1-yard sneak to trim the deficit (34-22).
Elsik’s RB Jerry Bynum said, “I thinks tonight’s game was well played, we made too many mistakes but good luck to Cy-Falls in the playoffs. Our team came together, but each time we got in the red zone we made mistakes to hurt ourselves. It was we, beating ourselves. We had a chance to put it in a couple more times but we just couldn’t do it.
Defense stepped its game up in the second half, holding Elsik scoreless. Defensive lineman Dave Blacklock, Kevon Hunter, Jacobi Hunter met the challenge, forcing three-second half turnovers, while the Eagles added two more touchdowns, both to Warrick. Warrick made an amazing adjustment, shifting into jet mode to meet Mitchell’s 6th-TD pass of the night, a 44-yard strike and completed his night with a 24-yard touchdown catch to total 144 yards on five receptions and four touchdowns while surging junior team Temi Alaska added a four catches for 141 yards and 2-TDs.
Kirk Eaton, a happy Eagle Coach said, “Well what you saw was two districts that haven’t seen each other in a while. I don’t think they’ve defended a spread and we were able to come out and show them some things they haven’t seen. That gave us a lead and I thank God it did. Coach Barron has been doing this a lot longer than I have and I believe he out coached me but my kids, rather overcame that with big plays. I’m real proud of the kids.