George Ranch rides big plays to state title game

 
Despite 12 penalties totaling 107 yards, Anderson company covered the damage with big plays
Most coaches would be glad to let you know, any team in the playoffs this late in the season are not here for decoration. Including two-loss Cedar Park Vista Ridge.
Looking past the win loss\column, George Ranch knew it would have to play its best game to beat the Rangers, 42-23 in the Class 5A Division I Semifinals on Friday night at NRG Stadium.
With the win, the Longhorns will meet Mansfield Lake Ridge next week at NRG Stadium for a shot at the title.
George Ranch will need to clean up a dozen penalties which cost them 107 yards. Facing a talent team in Lake Ridge, the opportunities may be limited.
“We had a lot of penalties,” says George Ranch coach Ricky Tullos. “We’ll have to work on getting off the field sooner.”
What ultimately separated the two schools were George Ranch’s big play offense and the ability of running back Darius Anderson and teammates to served as a bail out guys.
The penalties presented itself, but they were erased by the Longhorns big plays
Anderson accounted for two of those touchdowns steaming from 277 yards on 18 carries. Not to be left out, counter partner Alex Fontenot carried 16 times for 162 yards and a touchdown.
Anderson’s brilliant game prove to be costly for the Rangers. He found open lanes, slash through holes and opened up a high leg kick which made it hard for Vista Ridge’s defense to keep up with the talented back.
“I knew we didn’t have the experience last year, but I wanted to step up and be a team leader for my team,” said George Ranch running back Darius Jackson.
Other big plays included junior receiver Quintin Morris 62 yard touchdown reception. Running back Joshua Scruggs’ 49-yard catch at the 18-yard line in between three defenders, led to receiver Daniels Boehm’s 18 touchdown catch.
The Longhorns defense was short of a second half shutout, but the late lone touchdown scored by Vista Ridge were after the game had been all but decided with reserves on the clock.
“Our offensive line done an unbelievable job,” George Ranch coach Richy Tullos said. “We always talk about how we have to win up front on both the offensive and defensive lines.”
“That’s a great team in George Ranch,” Vista Ridge quarterback Matthew Snow said. “They have a great defense.
Meanwhile, George Ranch did its part by scoring two second-half touchdowns to increase its lead 35-17. One of those touchdowns came on the heels of Anderson’s best run of the day which was worthy of sports center’s highlight, plays of the day.
“They are the most athletic team we’ve seen all season,” Snow explained.
Anderson took a handoff up the middle, using his shifting ability, and broke five back-to-back tackles as he danced and bolted to the end zone to cap a 75-yard highlight reel touchdown run.
“We’re always going to take what the defense gives us,” Longhorn coach Richy Tullos explained.
The last of the Longhorns touchdowns came when Junior quarterback Antonio Jackson dived in the end zone from one yard out to push the score to 42-17 with 7:09 left to play.
The Falcons amazed a whopping 638 yards of offense. While fourth-year school Vista Ridge finished with 386.
By no stretch of the imagination was Vista Ridge here to congratulate a great season. The same could be said for George Ranch in its fourth year of varsity football out of Fort Bend County.
From the opening kickoff, a promising drive got the Rangers off to a great start. The drive consisted of all running plays until quarterback Matthew Snow dropped back in the pocket and connected with receiver Ryan Landrum, who beat free safety Mikial Onu for the touchdown with 9:20 left in the first quarter.
It didn’t take George Ranch long to even the score as tailback Alex Fontenot found running room on the left side of the field and sprinted to the end zone 49 yards away. That made the score at 7-7 after the extra point kick.
Vista Ridge’s defense settled down on the Longhorns second series of the game by plugging the running lanes, which led to a missed 30-yard field goal attempt.
Later, with the momentum, the Rangers marched 80 yards in nine plays as fans watched quarterback Matthew Snow call his number on a three-yard rushing touchdown to break up a seven-all tie. Vista Ridge led 14-7.
Opportunities past by Vista Ridge when it had a should of, could of moment. Rangers thought it recovered Scruggs fumble at the 25 of George Ranch. However, a couple of Rangers players held the ball, but their feet were on the out of bounds line, giving possession back to the LonghornsGeorge Ranch.
Blown assignments made it easy for Jackson to find uncovered receivers Boehm and Broderick Thompson, who were both in the end zone all alone when Jackson threw to Boehm for the touchdown. A dropped touchdown pass after a double pass-play, which left the receiver wide open.
Vista Ridge wasn’t going to halftime quietly with less than 20 seconds left before halftime. Instead, Snow went up top to receiver Ryan Landrum, who came up the catch at the George Ranch 17. Two plays later, Diego Chiaramonte drills a 34-yard field goal with no time left.