Irving – Wylie used a stiff defense and hard running from Nick Knott to take down Cedar Hill 31-21in
the first of three games at Texas Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Weather condition were great for football at about 60 degrees.
Wylie moves on to face Copperas Cove next week in the semifinals, 6pm Saturday at Waco ISD
Complex.
Both teams fought to a draw in the first half at 21 all. But it was the second half when Wyliebs
defense pulled out the stops holding the longhorns scoreless. Wyliebs defense stayed in the
running lanes, plugging gaps and creating road blocks for Cedar Hillbs offense. Ben Malena and
their all everything quarterback Driphus Jackson were doomed. Jackson could find very little
running room or any open doors to slid through.
The longhorns not so polished passing game also left them suspect. Jackson over threw on
attempts as well as under through his targets. A lot of that was cause by turnovers and pressure
from the pirates defense.
Wylie broke open a tight game and took the lead for good late in the third quarter. Things got
started when the Longhorns fumbled in their territory at the 31 yard line. The Pirates then moved
down to the 11 yard line where they were forced to settle for a 28 yard field goal from Zac
Ohannessian with 3:00 minutes left in the third quarter. Giving the Pirates a three point lead at 24-
21.
bWe had to come out and play real good football, because they (Cedar Hill) are a real athletic
team.b bTheir more athletic then us but we came out and we knew we had a better team and webd
win that game.b bThe defense stepped up everywhere, they made big plays and we have players
that are going to make big plays for us, said Wyliebs quarterback Jerod Monk.
On Cedar Hillbs next possession at their 43 yard line, Quarterback Jackson was dropped for a one
yard loss. The Longhorns took a timeout right after. When play resume they were faced with
second and 11 to go. Leb Cockrane was stopped after a three yard a gain. Setting up third and 8
then Jacksonbs pass was incomplete forcing a punt.
Cedar Hill had opportunities to get back in the game while only trailing by three points after three
quarters. One chance came when Wyliebs receiver Colby Harper had the ball taken from him after
a catch but the Longhornbs cornerback wrestled the ball from Harper. Giving the Longhorns good
field position at their 39 yard line. But after a failed forth down attempt. The drive stalled due to
inconsistency with their passing game.
The Pirates would get on the board once again driving down field from their 38 yard line with the
help of Nick Knott and a facemask penalty. Knott, who proved to be a thorn in Cedar Hillbs side,
scored the last touchdown on a 12 yard pass from Jerod Monk. That made the score 31-21 with 7:
55 to go in the forth quarter. Nick Knott finished the day with 160 yards and 3 touchdowns.
The Longhorns again came up short on their next series of downs. They had great field position at
mid field which ended down at the 9 yard line when a field goal try sailed wide right with 2:55 to go
in the forth.