Shenandoah – Turnovers left the Vikings wondering what if, had it not been for the costly giveaways. Losing four out of six fumbles prove to be the ax dropping.
At Woodforest Bank Stadium Thursday night, Zach Wright was 4 of 5 for 142 yards and Connor McPherson scored three touchdowns in helping College Park Cavaliers roll to a 50-21 non-district win over the Bryan Vikings.
“We came to play and the line really opened up some big gaps up the middle. The line did really well, clearing it out,” said Connor McPherson, College Park’s Fullback.
A slow start quickly turned into a slug fest, as fans watched both teams combine for 50 first half points.
College Park (3-1) gained control of the tempo early and maintained it throughout the evening after two series of punts. Facing fourth and eight from their 47 yard line, Vikings punt returner Chris Johnson gave chase to an ill-advised ball that passed him, going into the end zone. But for some reason, Johnson chased the ball in the end zone, picked it up while trying to avoid a host of Cavalier defenders to no avail. We can carefully say, the safety sparked the Cavaliers from that moment.
“We got after it, but we started out with two three and outs, then we had to punt the ball. They’re a good team. In football when you get the momentum going it’s hard to stop. I’ve been on both sides of that. But the kids came out after a rough start and responded and I’m very proud, it’s a great way to head into district”, said College Park’s Coach Richard Carson.
The Cavaliers then used a four play 68 yard drive to score on Connor McPherson’s 15-yard run up the heart of the Viking’s defense. With a failed extra point attempt by Matt Meyer, Bryan trailed 15-0. On the next possession, Bryan started a drive at the College Park 41, but a fumble down at the 17 eliminated a chance to trim the lead. Things could have gotten ugly quick, had Cavaliers receiver Kevin Barnes not dropped what looked to be a touchdown after beating defensive back Johnny Childs on a streak pattern. The last time College Park scored more than 50 points in a game, was in 2009, a 56-9 victory over New Caney.
Bryan (2-1) cut into the deficit with a 76-yard kickoff return from Sophomore Bobby Johnson, who found a seam up the middle of the field and used a head fake to get passed Cavaliers kicker (15-7). But in the second quarter College Park scored on its next three drives to build a 36-14 halftime lead.
“I don’t think we did many things very well, I think they did a lot of things well. I don’t thing we executed, our plan was not as good as theirs, so coaching, offense, defense, kicking game didn’t work in any faze well enough to win,” Bryan’s Coach, Bob Bellard but we’ll pick up the pieces, we have district next week.
The Viking got their second TD of the night when running back Kevin Jefferson bolted through the Cavaliers defense, covering 50 yards.
College Park outscored the Vikings 14-7 in the second half, with two third quarter touchdowns, a one yard sneak by Zack Wright and a two yard score from McPherson.
College Park’s Wright was 4 of 5 for 142 yards and added 90 on the ground with two touchdowns; Colin McNelis caught three of those passes for 130 yards. Boudreaux led the ground game with 111 yards on 13 carries with one TD.
