Spring – Manvel waltzed into Harris County on a mission. Fresh off its quarterfinal loss to Katy a year ago, the Mavericks set the tone early with its defense.
Quarterback D’Eriq King had a hand in five touchdowns, Manvel’s defense held Westfield to ten points, while rolling to a 21-0 halftime lead and went on to defeat the Mustangs 35-10 on Friday night at George Stadium.
In the first-ever meeting between No. 3 area ranked Mavericks and No. 2 Westfield, Manvel showcased its dominance.
King, which orchestrated an offensive clinic, was 15-of-22 with 263 passing yards and four touchdowns. He added 78-ground yards on ten carries.
King began by directing Manvel’s opening 71-yard drive, capped off when receiver Gary Haynes reeled in a 14-yard touchdown pass.
“I think our game plan was perfect,” King said. “Coach put together a great plan, and we came out and executed the plays.”
King, a year ago, considered run first, used the pocket and his scrambling ability to deliver timely strikes throughout the evening.
Defensive linemen Stephen Scott, Shawn Sims, Hasaun Glasgow, and linebacker Shane Jackson, helped the Mavericks (1-0) continue its dominance after Sims dropped quarterback Dillon Sterling-Cole for a one-yard loss at the 23-yard line.
“After we got our brains beat out by Katy, I told them we have to get more physical. We got to get tougher,” Manvel’s coach Kirk Martin said. “We have to be able to stop the run. They responded to that.”
Later, on the same drive, Mavericks’ linebacker Shane Jackson followed with an interception at the Manvel’s 35-yard line, snuffing out the Mustang’s best drive of the day.
Maverick’s defense stymied Westfield (0-1) on all six of its first-half drives, surrendering six first downs and held the Mustangs (0-1) to 29 passing yards.
“The defense played unbelievably well,” said Martin.
Surprisingly, the Mavericks’ domination originated in the trenches with five offensive and all four defensive linemen with no prior varsity experience.
The possibilities presented its self, yet Westfield’s offense struggled to string together a sustainable drive. That had much to do with Manvel’s defense.
Searching for a spark, still, Westfield continued to battle. The Mustangs had not lost a regular-season game in two years before Klein Collins defeated Westfield 35-10 on October 28, 2011.
“We got outcoached,” Mustangs coach Corby Meekins Explained. “We got outplayed. It’s my fault. We’re going to fix it.”
King added two touchdown passes to conclude the first half. Running back, D’Vaughn Pennamon beat his man on a fly pattern, covering 71 yards and receiver Todd Maxwell scored on a 13-yard pass with 38 seconds left in the second quarter.
Besides Manvel’s defense, Westfield was plagued with penalties. Eight to be exact and four turnovers.
Manvel’s equitable offensive attack kept Westfield wavering.
“To be a great team, you have to be able to pass and run,” says Martin.
After Westfield’s linebacker Emmitt Charles recovered a fumble at the Maverick’s 36-yard line, the Mustangs failed to cash in a golden opportunity.
Facing fourth and eight from the Manvel 34, receiver Jeffery Rector dropped a pass at the 20-yard line, adequate for a fresh set of downs.
Instead, Manvel converted the turnover into a 64-yard scoring pass when King found receiver Reggie Hemphill-Mapps who escaped the grasp of several would-be Mustang defender’s en route to the end zone, building a 35-0 lead with 16 seconds to go in the third quarter.
Despite its offense struggled, Westfield avoided the shutout with Martinez 31-yard field goal coupled with Rayquan Jones’ nine-yard touchdown run. All coming in the fourth quarter.
Next up for Manvel is North Shore, a team it has never beaten in the two seasons it’s played. Westfield will travel to Clear Brook next Thursday.