Mavericks’ defense set the tone and King directed the offense with a hand in five touchdowns
Spring – Manville 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, Manville’s defense held Westfield to ten points, while rolling to a 21-0 halftime lead and went on to defeated the Mustangs 35-10 on Friday night at George Stadium.
It was the first ever meeting between the No. 2 area ranked Mavericks and No 3 Westfield.
D’Eriq King, who orchestrated an offensive show, was 15-of-22 with 263 passing yards and four touchdowns. He added 78-ground yards on ten carries.
King began by directing Manville’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,” Mavericks quarterback D’Eriq King said. “Coach put together a great plan and we came out and executed the plays.”
King, a year ago thought 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,” Manville’s coach Kirk Martin said. “We have to be able to stop the run. They responded to that.”
Later, on the same drive Jackson followed with an interception at the Manville’s 35-yard line, snuffing out the Mustang’s best drive of the day.
Maverick’s defense was so impressive it stopped Westfield (0-1) on all six of its first half drives, surrendered only six first downs and ten points, and held the Mustangs to 29 passing yards.
“The defense played unbelievably well,” said Martin.
What’s most impressive about the Mavericks domination of Westfield, the fact that all five offensive and all four defensive linemen are first-time starters. Not one played a varsity football game before tonight’s game.
The opportunity presented its self, but Westfield’s offense couldn’t string together a sustainable drive. That had much to do with Manville’s curtain defense.
Looking for a spark, things got worse for Westfield, who haven’t lost a regular season game in two seasons, when Bryan Martinez field goal attempt never had a chance to get airborne due to a low snap.
“We got outcoached,” Mustangs coach Corby Meekins Explained. “We got outplayed. It’s my fault. We’re going to fix it.”
King added two more touchdown passes to close out 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 second left in the second quarter.
Penalties haunted Westfield. When Manville wasn’t stopping the Mustangs, penalties were.
Manville’s balanced offensive attack kept Westfield wavering.
“To be a great team you have to be able pass and run,” says Martin.
After, Linebacker Emmitt Charles recovered a fumble at the Maverick’s 36-yard line, the Mustangs watched a golden opportunity slip away.
Facing fourth and eight from the Manville 34, receiver Jeffery Rector dropped a pass at the 20 yard line which would have given the Mustangs a fresh set of downs.
Instead, King used the turnover on downs to toss a 30-yard scoring pass to receiver Reggie Hemphill-Mapps and used his feet to escape the grasp of several would be Mustang defender’s, scampering 64-yards 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 Manville is North Shore, a team it has never beaten in the two seasons it’s played.
Westfield will travel to Clear Brook next Thursday.
