Photo by Andre Odums/ossports
It’s easy to understand why Bridgeland’s coach David Raffield wears a smile on his face when senior quarterback Conner Weigman is the topic of conversation. The five-star gunslinger ranks as the top pocket passer in the nation according to ESPN 300 rankings. Don’t let his pocket presence mislead you; Weigman appeared to be equally dangerous with his legs, showing shifty moves and speed to burn.
He led the Bears (1-0) on eight consecutive scoring drives, exploiting a 47-14 halftime lead before helping Cypress Bridgeland claim a 54-14 decision over the Klein Cain Hurricanes on Saturday night at Klein Memorial Stadium.
When Weigman wasn’t throwing darts, he used his legs to accumulate positive yards, exposing Klein Cain’s defense for eight consecutive scoring drives. Like a man among boys, the Hurricanes had no answer for the wealth of talent it faced in Weigman, who ran around, through, and made jaw-dropping passes to receivers all evening.
“We’re going to put the football where there not, and if you’re going to try to stop us on the run, we’re going to throw it, and if that means we have to throw it every down, we are going to throw it,” said Bears coach David Raffield. “When you go out and cover us, we’ll go out and run the ball.”
Bridgeland drove 70 yards in eight plays as a packed stadium watched Weigman toss a perfect ball to junior receiver Jonathan Nelson, who ran a wheel route down the left sideline, increasing the Bears lead, 20-7 following Pratt Fisher’s extra point kick.
“I felt good in the pocket,” says Bridgeland’s quarterback Conner Weigman. “I feel like I have a special natural awareness. I know it’s coming. I have a natural clock in my head.”
The resemblance of Vincent Young was difficult to overlook when watching Weigman, who completed 21-of-28 attempts for 365 yards, five touchdowns, and rushed ten times for 100 yards and two scores, with the addition of a receiving score.
Bears’ receiver Andrew Maleski had ten catches for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Nelson snagged five balls for 90 yards and a score.
Although Weigman, a Texas A&M recruit, grabbed the highlight reel, the Bears defense quietly assured the contest would be one-sided and not the track meet fans witnessed last season when both teams accounted for 91 points in Bridgeland’s 49-42 victory.
“The difference this year, we put in a new defense,” Raffield mentioned. “We have a lot of kids that are hungry. They came out tonight and got after it.”
The improved Bears’ defense at this point of the season is a huge reason for tonight’s success, as opposed to last season’s high scoring affair, which saw Bridgeland surrender 21 points but lead 35-21 at halftime.
Senior defensive linemen Roroghene Imarah, Aaron Vital, linebacker Caleb Fattig, and defensive back Ayden Montgomery harassed Klein Cain’s offense for three quarters. Bears defense impressed, holding Klein Cain’s offense featuring quarterback Carson Roper and one of the nation’s top receivers in Matthew Golden to 14 points.
“Our defense was playing fast,” Weigman said. “They were running with their hair on fire.”
Outdone and without the services of four-star running back Jaydon Blue, who skipped his senior season to prepare for college football before attending the University of Texas, could not match the Bears’ energy.
By the time Klein Cain (1-0) scored its second touchdown, the Bears built a 34-14 advantage led by Weigman. To make matters worse, the Hurricanes lost Roper late in the second quarter as he took a shot from the left side of his frame. He limped noticeably before entering the second half on the sideline in street clothes.
The Bears would tack on two more scores and lead, 47-14 at intermission.
The Bears received first possession of the ball. Scrimmaging from its 30-yard line, Weigman quickly spotted his favorite target, Maleski, for a 16-yard pickup at the 46. After a nine-yard pass to Nelson and a two-yard run, Weigman called his number, dashing up the middle, shifted right, and trotted into the end zone to give Bridgeland a 7-0 lead with 10:43 left in the first quarter.
After stopping Klein Cain in its territory, Weigman kept the Bears on the move. A pair of big plays led the Bears to the Klein Cain two-yard line. Weigman capped the possession with a scoring toss to tight end Reid Mikeska as the lead increased, 13-0, the kick after failed.
Roper guided the Hurricanes on its best evening drive on the next series when he scrambled 26 yards to the Bears’ 31. A play later, Roper hit receiver/quarterback Jaelen Smith in stride, crossing the middle of the field, while he raced to the end zone, cutting the lead, 13-7 after the bonus kick with 3:31 left in the first quarter.
“They (Klein Cain) are a heck of a good football team,” Raffield explained. “They are well-coached, they are discipline, and I like playing people like them in these non-district games because I want to get ready for district play.”
After, Vital tackled Roper at the Klein Cain 32 to force a punt which landed at midfield.
Weigman used the short field to hook up with Maleski twice. A 22-yard reception at the Hurricanes five and the drive finalized when Maleski grabbed a three-yard touchdown pass to put the game out of reach, 27-7 with 9:47 remaining in the second quarter.
The nationally telecasted game on ESPNU gave the Aggies and the SEC a preview of what the future may have in store once Weigman steps on the field at the next level.
In the second half, the action toned down slightly following Weigman’s final strike to Maleski, who beat the secondary on a deep post pattern which covered 70 yards. Bridgeland’s lead swelled, 54-14 with 9:16 to go in the third quarter.