Falcons open 24-6A with win
The Clear Lake Falcons haven’t made the playoffs in nearly a decade, but they gave themselves a chance of ending that nine-year drought by equaling last season’s victory total Saturday.
Senior running back Ja’Kori Morgan rushed for 171 yards and two long touchdowns, and the Falcons scored on five plays of at least 40 yards in a 48-34 victory over Alvin at Challenger Columbia Stadium.
Sophomore running back Brendon Holmes added 26 carries for 160 yards and two more scores.
“They’re special players, and we’ve got to get the ball to those guys,” Clear Lake coach Larry McRae said.
The win sent the Falcons, who rebounded from last week’s loss to Baytown Sterling, to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in District 24-6A.
“We told our kids all week we’re in a new season,” McRae said. “We had a lot of stuff to fix from nondistrict games, and losing last week’s probably the best thing that could have happened to us.”
Clear Lake also beat Alvin (2-1, 0-1) last year but won only once more in the final six games, finishing 3-7.
The program has only one winning season in the last eight, going 6-4 in 2013. 7.7 yards per run
So this victory was important, and Morgan was all in.
His 85-yard touchdown burst extended the Falcons’ advantage to 48-34 with 6:19 remaining.
Morgan also scored on a 76-yard run for a 21-7 lead late in the first quarter.
His 171 yards came on just seven carries, helping Clear Lake rack up 385 yards on 50 rushes (7.7 yards per carry).
Holmes scored on runs of 50 and 3 yards.
His 50-yard score broke the game’s second tie and put the Falcons on top for good at 35-28 early in the third.
Quarterback Shae Suiaunoa threw for 156 yards and two scores.
Junior wide receiver Christian Marullo hauled in a 40-yard touchdown for a 28-14 edge in the second quarter, and Kris Mason gave Clear Lake a 42-28 lead early in the fourth on a 57yard strike from Suiaunoa.
“I couldn’t be any prouder of my kids and coaches,” McRae said. “They’re awesome.” So is Alvin’s James Smith. He kept the Yellowjackets close with three touchdowns in the first half.
The junior high-stepped and sprinted 64 yards for a 7-7 tie in the first quarter. Then he scored on runs of 6 and 8 yards in the second, making it 28-21 at halftime.
“I wish that guy was a senior and I wouldn’t have to see him again, but he’s a junior,” McRae said. “He’s a special player.” 5 TDs for Smith
Smith broke loose for a 93-yard touchdown run on the first play of the third quarter and added a 39-yard scoring reception in the fourth.
He finished with 22 carries for 281 yards, two catches for 45 yards and five total touchdowns.
“He’s got running lanes because of the offensive line and the receivers,” Alvin coach Robert Wilcox said. “They do a great job for him.”
Clear Lake did just a little bit better job.
“They made that big play, and when we would make it, right there the last couple times we made big plays, and then we cost ourselves, by either a penalty or something else we shouldn’t do,” Wilcox said. “That hurt us, but it was a great football game.” Jason McDaniel is a freelance writer.