“Very aggressive. (They) pride themselves on jumping on people early so offensively they can do what they want to do. That’s kind of their ‘mo’ (modus operandi).”
So said Houston County Head Coach Ryan Crawford of Lee County.
True to form, the Trojans “jumped” on the Bears early – not all of it showing up on the scoreboard but definitely having its effect – and rolled to a 34-0 win.
Lee County did lead 17-0 at the half. It might have had more if not for an interception by Ed Devellrez. It cut the drive short.
Houston County on the other hand had nothing to show for its first two possessions but punts. Following the second of those, quarterback Jase Orndorff found Ball State commit Tyquavious Terrell for a 70-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. The point after made it 7-0.
The Bears went three-and-out and punted on its next possession. Lee County took it on its own 10 and ran off eight plays. That put it on Houston County’s 2. The ball was fumbled and recovered in the endzone by the Bears on the next play, negating another drive.
Houston County again punted. The Trojans again drove. This time – the ball again deep in Bears territory – they went for it on a fourth-and-15 (see: aggressive). They failed giving it back over to Houston County.
The good news was Houston County didn’t have to punt. The bad news was it was due to an interception.
That turned into an Austin Beaver 23-yard fieldgoal.
Now the Bears had to punt.
Lee County turned it into a five-play, 49-yard touchdown drive that ended with Nikko Cruz running it in from the 1.
The Trojans added two touchdowns to start the third quarter. The first was a six-play drive that went 68 yards – included picking up a fourth-and-four – and ended with Jermiah Engram catching an 11-yard pass from Orndorff. Following another punt, Orndorff found Engram for an 80-yard touchdown pass.
The Bears did move the ball following. They took it on the 18 and ended on the 18. They picked up one fourth-down conversion – fourth-and-11 – but needed to pick up a second – fourth-and-three.
By then the game was into the fourth quarter. Austin Beaver made a 40-yard fieldgoal and a running clock took care of the rest.
The game was the beginning of Region 1-AAAAAA action. Lee County improved to 1-0 in that regard, 7-0 overall. Houston County fell to 2-5, 0-1.
MCDONALD’S OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME KIEFER ASKEW.
PAPA JOHN’S DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME ED DEVELLEREZ.
