With three games remaining in the regular season, Crandall was looking to come out with a much-needed win in district play. Royce City was coming in undefeated with a 4-0 record in district. This matchup played a crucial part in the standings and possible opponents to be played in the playoffs if the Pirates win out.
The Bulldogs started out with the ball on their own thirty-eight-yard line. From the start, Royce City was in a hurry up offense, getting to the line quickly for each play. This proved to be a problem for the Pirate defense. Royce City only needed five plays to score the first points of the game. Quarterback Jamonte Gordon-West looked to strike back with good starting field position on the Pirate forty-one-yard line. The Pirates marched down the field in a convincing eleven play drive with West taking care of it himself from two yards out.
Only four and a half minutes had come off the clock from the first two possessions. At that point I knew it was going to be a high scoring affair with both offenses’ quick scoring capabilities. Royce City came back out and answered with another score to make it 14-7. In a game without many stops on defense, the Bulldogs forced a three and out for the Pirate offense. The Bulldogs started out with great field position, but the Pirate defense answered the call forcing a Royce City punt. Coach Hardin’s offense would not waste this gift. West connected with Samuel Omosigho on the fourth play of the drive for a sixty-yard touchdown reception. The score was 14-14 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter would be a scoring frenzy for both teams. Royce City struck first with a sevenplay scoring drive off of a sixteen-yard rush by the running back. The Pirates answered with a score of their own. West connected with his favorite target, Luke Moffit, multiple times and running back Chris Abron. Abron ran it in from six yards out for the score. The score was 21-21 with eight minutes remaining in the half.
Royce City only took one minute to score on a fifty-two-yard touchdown reception. Crandall couldn’t be outdone in scoring quickly! The Pirates needed ninety seconds to answer back. Sophomore running back Andrew Anderson had a forty-six-yard rush that put the ball on the six-yard line. Abron tagged Anderson out and ran it in for the score.
In the final five and a half minutes of the half three more scores were had! Royce City had two touchdowns with the final one of the half happening with thirty seconds left. Abron scored the final touchdown of the half for Crandall on a fourteen-yard rush to the endzone. The score was Royce City 42 Crandall 35 at the half.
The Pirates started out with the ball in the second half and didn’t waste any time scoring. West connected with Moffit on an eighteen-yard reception for the score. Moffit caught seventeen passes for two hundred yards and two touchdowns on the night. The score was tied 42-42. The Bulldogs took over and were stopped by a motivated Pirate defense forcing a turnover on downs. Crandall took the ball to the Bulldog fifteen-yard line before being stopped on third down. Kicker Phillip Olivares came oaaut for the thirty-two-yard field goal attempt, mAissing it wide left. This miss showed to be crucial as Royce City would score on every possession they had left in the game.
Royce City would score two more times before the end of the third on a twenty-seven-yard touchdown reception and twenty-seven-yard field goal. The score was Royce City 51 Crandall 42 at the end of three quarters.
Crandall would score first on a three-yard rushing touchdown from Abron. Abron had one hundred and eighty-seven-yards rushing on twenty-eight attempts with four touchdowns! This brought Crandall within two points of Royce City with a little over nine minutes remaining. The Bulldogs answered quickly with a seventy-five-yard receiving touchdown.
Each team would trade scores the next two possessions. The score was Royce City 65 Crandall 56 with three minutes remaining. Crandall would score quickly on a West to Moffit connection of forty-five-yards. This brought Crandall back within two points. Olivares’ onside attempt was recovered by Royce City. The Pirate defense was unable to stop the strong run game of the Bulldogs. They took a knee to close out the game. Both teams combined had 1,409 yards of total offense!
The Pirates must win out the final two games of the regular season to have a chance in the playoffs. They take on district opponent Corsicana this Friday at 7:30 p.m. The game will be held at Tiger Stadium.
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