Team effort supports Wildcats, William’s ground game and defense gets the job done
Humble – If it had any chance of reaching the state semifinals, Myles Curl and Cody Perdue, the glue of Dekaney’s defense, knew readiness would play a key role against its fierce district 13-5A archrival. A month ago, the Wildcats were on the short end of a 38-31 loss to Westfield, the loss enabled Mustangs to gain a playoff berth. Yes, that’s right, dejavu all over again.
Trey Williams scored three touchdowns and linebacker’s Myles Curl and Cody Perdue shut the door, as the Dekaney Wildcats solved Westfield’s offense to move on to the state semifinals after a 28-18 defeat on Saturday evening at Turner Stadium.
With the victory, the Wildcats (12-2) advance to its first state semifinal in the school’s five-year history where it will face Mansfield Timberview (12-2) at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at Round Rock ISD Stadium.
DeKaney’s defense set the tone early with help from LB Curl, Perdue, DL Isadore Outing and Amand Nance. Practically, Curl was all over the Mustang’s offense. He used his quickness to attack Westfield’s running game at or behind the line of scrimmage on several occasions and when he wasn’t on the tackle, Perdue was. Disguises sing its defense while showing different looks, the Wildcats constantly pressured Westfield out of its comfort zone.
“We had to come out and win as a team. We know that defense wins championships and offenses win games,” said Dekaney’s LB Myles Curls. They got away from the first time but we couldn’t let it happen a second time.
“We were trying to finish strong,” said Cody Perdue Dekaney’s LB, winning was on our minds and playing smart.”
A windy overcast day kept the ball on the ground, which worked well for Dekaney. Thats when talented RB, Trey Williams took over. His day included 223 yards on 36 carries and 3-TDs and for the second week straight he had touchdowns called back because of penalties. One last week and two in today’s game.
DeKaney took advantage of it’s possession with the wind at it’s back to post an early 14-0 lead. The high winds forced a 9-yard punt from punter Luis Sanchez to give the Wildcats great field position at Mustangs 19. One play later, Trey Williams tracked a 19-yard TD run when he took the handoff following to his left, shook a defender, and split the middle of the Mustangs defense on his way to the end zone, putting the Wildcats up 7-0 after Kevyn Dimas PAT.
“He’s a tough kid (RB Trey Williams). I think he has rushed 850 times in the last three years. You got to be pretty tough to do that. I think he had 823 going into the game and I think he had about 30 carries today. If you can take the rock in high school 850 times against men in 13-5A, that’s a testimony,” Willie Amendola, Dekaney’s coach said.
The Wildcats defense overwhelmed Westfield (10-4) in the first quarter, holding the Mustangs to 0-yards after one quarter of play.
“We were able to get off the blocks due to fundamentals and practice makes perfect,” said Curls.
“When you go so far along, you have to change things, but we didn’t see a change in them (Westfield),” said Immanuel Cassey, Dekaney’s DL.
With no time left in the first quarter, Quarterback D’juan Hines threw a 20-yard TD pass to T’Keiston Harmon, to help DeKaney carry a 14-0 deficit into the second quarter.
Mustangs RB Kaylon Jackson, had success in the previous meeting, but, had nowhere to run today. Without much of a passing game, the Mustangs struggled to block the quicker wildcats. However, as the tide changed Westfield found its footing in the second quarter with the wind at it’s back. Ten unanswered points later, pulled the Mustangs within 4-points, 14-10 after Sanchez nailed a 32-yard field goal and after Williams fumbled, LB Cliff Butler recovered at the16-yard line, giving Westfield an excellent opportunity. Butler finished the drive with a 2-yard TD reception from Hines.
In the third quarter, Dekaney scored on its first two drives to open up a 28-10 lead. Williams scored on a 21-yard run and capped the scoring with a dazzling 55-yard TD run to put the game out of reach. Meanwhile, the Mustangs scored a late touchdown but never mount another drive afterwards.