Photo by Tammie Martin/ossports
Cy-Fair – Taking care of business without the thought of taking its rival lightly, rested on the minds of the Bobcats.
It took all matters into its hands by forcing four turnovers and holding Memorial to three points. Senior quarterback Carter Cravens threw two touchdowns and ran for another as the Bobcats ambushed the Mustangs, 31-3 Pridgeon Stadium.
The win keeps the Bobcats (7-0, 5-0) on track for a shot at the District 17-6A title.
Cy-Fair dominated its rival. The team effort, led by defensive end Nicholas Salisbury, junior linebacker Hunter Warren, defensive backs Evan Delaune, who recovered a fumble, and Thatcher Milton, frustrated the Mustangs from the outset. Delaune and Milton had interceptions. Delaune and Salisbury also recorded sacks.
Cravens, who finished 12-of-18 with 146 yards, led the offense, tossing two touchdowns and 37 yards rushing and another score. Standout running back L. J. Johnson aided a balanced attack the offense, rushing for 160 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown.
After each team traded a pair of possessions, the Bobcats broke up a defensive battle after Bobcats’ Delaune picked off Sanders on the second play of the game at midfield with 11:25 left in the first quarter.
Soon after, Cravens delivered a quick pass to receiver Jaxson Chrest, who fought off a couple of Memorial defenders to reach the end zone. Danny Bahena’s extra point kick made the score, 7-0, Bobcats.
The Mustangs (4-1, 3-1) moved the ball with its ground attack on the legs of junior running back Carson Zahn, but It wasn’t enough to hold off Cy-Fair’s stingy defense.
Mustangs’ sophomore quarterback Mason Sanders threw 15 attempts throughout the evening but only completed five passes and had two interceptions. Finding an answer for the opposing Bobcats proved to be a tough mission.
Cy-Fair took advantage of its first possession of the second quarter, Marching 80-yards in eight plays to build a 14-0 lead when Craven found running room on the right side from six yards out. Bahena added the extra point kick.
That momentum fueled its defense, and the rivalry factor kept the Mustangs out of the end zone as it continued to come up with key stops to force timely punts.
Then Milton intercepted Sanders and returned the ball 48 yards to the Mustangs 27-yard line with 5:05 left in the second quarter. But Memorial forced a turnover a couple of plays later when defensive back Dillion Glen picked off Craven and weaved his way 59 yards to the Bobcats 44.
Memorial would eventually turn the ball over on downs and later settle for three points on Jack Tucker’s 36-yard field goal with no time left in the second quarter.
Cy-Fair did most of its damage in the second half, scoring on its first three frames.
The Bobcats open the third quarter with an 81-yard, 14 play drive capped on Johnson’s two-yard scoring run, increasing the lead, 21-3.
The Mustangs had no answer as it began to nose dive. Memorial suffered its fourth turnover of the game after Sanders fumbled the snap from the center. Delaune recovered the loose ball at the Mustangs 23 with 3:23 remaining in the third quarter.
Two plays later, Cravens threw an 18-yard strike to tight end, Jack Witmer. That expanded the score, 28-3, and later, Bahena added a 22-yard field goal with 9:22 left.