Photo credit by Andre Odums/ossports Photographer
Slowing down five-star junior running back Rueben Owens rested on the heels of the defense. Stopping the talented back was not in the cards; however, limiting his big-play ability sided in the Bears’ favor.
The defense showed up for a solid night of work, and Junior tailback Da’Marion Morris scored a 13-yard touchdown run to put the game out of reach as the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears advanced to the Class 4A Division I Region III Quarterfinals for the first time since 1997 by edging El Campo, 24-21 in the Regional Semifinals on Friday night at Woodforest Bank Stadium.
The Bears (11-2) advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1997 and will meet Tyler Chapel Hill next Friday at 7:30 P.M. at Cy-Fair’s FCU Stadium.
“The Little Cypress kids played hard and believed they could win,” Ricebirds’ coach Chad Worrell mentioned. “They made the open-field tackles that mattered most.”
With emphasis on limiting Owens, the Bears’ defensive front seven fought off and beat would-be blockers to the point of attack most of the evening while stymieing Owens to minimal gains of three to five yards a carry. Owens, tabbed as the No. 2 running back in the nation according to 247Sports Composites Rankings, found running room in small chunks, rushing for 204 yards on 31 carries while scoring all three of the Ricebirds touchdowns.
“When they have an athlete like Rueben Owens and their ranked No. 3 in the state, we were 1-7 last year,” Little Cypress-Mauriceville coach Eric Peevey explained. “I don’t think very many people gave us an opportunity but our kids, all week we focused on our job. We weren’t focused on the opponent, and that’s been the story all year for us.”
Owens backfield running mate Johntre Davis rushed for 103 yards on 17 carries.
Morris punched in the decisive touchdown when he scored on a 13-yard run, making the score 24-14 with 5:39 remaining. The frame jump-started after a 31-yard halfback pass from running back Dwight Davis to Morris at the El Campo 40-yard line.
“We went into halftime and made adjustments, but we weren’t able to execute on offense late in the second half,” Ricebirds defensive end Rhenner Spenrath said. “On defense, we had a few costly mistakes.”
Quarterback Ashton Landry pace the Bears’ ground attack, toting the ball 20 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a sprained ankle. Morris’ evening concluded, rushing 17 times for 170 yards and one score.
On a scale of one to ten, Landry rated his ankle a six according to pain and usefulness. He admitted to rolling his ankle during the third quarter of play.
“I think I will be good by next week,” Landry said. “I need to rehab it every day and I will be fine.”
On the next possession, Owens bolted 28 yards to the Bears’ 33-yard line. Six plays later, Owens capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown carry to pull El Campo within, 24-21 after Diego Gutierrez’s kick.
El Campo watched its final opportunity slip away when it failed to execute an on-side kick, giving Little Cypress-Mauriceville possession of the ball on the Ricebirds’ 46. Backup quarterback Dean Reynolds took three snaps and kneeled as the clock wound to zero.
“We weren’t picked by anybody to win this game,” Bears coach Eric Peevey said.
The Ricebirds held the Bears to five plays on its last drive of the third quarter, which extended to the fourth while turning in a 97-yard drive as the crowd witnessed Owens’ 20-yard scoring run, trimming the lead, 17-14 following Gutierrez’s kick.
Little Cypress-Mauriceville’s offense relied on the rushing of Landry’s shifty feet. Landry had all the angles at his disposal, dancing, rambling and cutting the grain to pick up additional yards.
Landry led the Bears on two first-half scoring drives. Morris picked up seven yards to the 47 before scooting down to the El Campo 45. Two plays later, Landry dropped back in the pocket, then dashed up the middle, outrunning the defense to the end zone. Little Cypress-Mauriceville led, 7-0 with 6:36 to go in the first quarter following Justin Rainey’s kick.
The Ricebirds responded, marching 63 yards in eight plays. Owens and Davis traded turns carrying the ball as Owens scored on a one-yard run, tying the game at seven after Gutierrez’s PAT. Still, Little Cypress-Mauriceville’s defense controlled the tempo, holding Owens, who picked up 72 first-half yards on 14 carries, in check. El Campo’s passing game suffered, finishing, 2-of-6 for 13 yards, which enabled the Bears defense to zone in on the ground game.
“I’m proud of our kids,” Worrell said. “They fought hard and never gave up.”
Spanning from the end of the first quarter until early in the fourth quarter, Little Cypress Mauriceville halted five consecutive Ricebird frames, allowing it to grab a 17-7 lead following Rainey’s 26-yard field goal.
“We wanted to play physical and not let Owens get outside,” Landry said.
“Defensive coordinator John Davis and offensive coordinator Jeff Breaux have done an unbelievable job this year,” Peevey said.
El Campo’s season ends at (11-2).
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