Price leads Tigers to win with four TDs
ROSENBERG — Lamar Consolidated is building something.
After managing only five total wins from 2014 to 2017, the team started 5-0 for the second straight season this year.
A&M Consolidated is fully built — and finely furnished with elite athletes.
The Tigers, ranked No. 4 in 5A, Division II, looked like state title contenders Saturday at Traylor Stadium, rolling to a 41-7 win in District 10-5A-II behind four touchdown catches by Texas A&M pledge Devin Price.
“I guess you could say we’re still new to it,” Lamar coach Rick LaFavers said. “This is the first time these guys have been in a game like this. But we were that way last year and battled them. It just wasn’t our night.
“Sometimes it happens.” The Tigers (6-0, 3-0) handed Lamar Consolidated its first loss for the second straight year. They won 34-28 last season.
The Mustangs, No. 6 in the area and eighth in the state, fell to 5-1, 2-1.
A&M wasted no time taking a 14-0 first-quarter lead on two impressive series.
After Lamar went threeand-out on the game’s first possession, the Tigers scored in only four plays, with Price hauling in pass from quarterback Gage Pahl in the end zone for a 16yard touchdown.
The Mustangs tried to take control by playing keep-away, and it worked for a while, taking 4:30 off the clock, but after 13 plays, they ended up punting from the A&M 41-yard line — and the Tigers needed no time to make them pay. Running back Kerry Brooks broke loose for 54 yards, and then Price secured a second touchdown on a 34yard throw by Pahl for a 14-0 lead seven minutes into the game.
The Mustangs’ defense forced a turnover on downs and A&M’s first punt in the second quarter, but with their offensive counterparts stymied by the Tigers, it didn’t matter. A&M still extended its lead to 28-0 at halftime on a 6-yard run by Brooks and a 12-yard catch by Nate Floyd with 1:12 remaining.
Meanwhile, Lamar Consolidated’s best chance to score before the break slipped through its fingers.
After beginning their most promising possession at their 24, they reached the A&M Consolidated 8-yard line on a flea flicker that resulted in a 29-yard pass from QB B.J. Harris to wide receiver Cameron Dotson. But Harris was sacked and fumbled on the next play, and Valen Jones fell on it for the Tigers.
Brooks, who played quarterback at Bryan last season, had 127 yards and a touchdown by halftime and finished with 210 yards on 14 carries. And he wasn’t even the brightest star for the Tigers Saturday night. That place was reserved Price, who had six catches for 152 yards and four scores.
“They’re just explosive, and they’ve got size across the board, (and) they’re fast,” LaFavers said.
After a rare miscue by A&M Consolidated on a fumble recovered by Lamar Consolidated defensive lineman Julian Anzaldua, the Mustangs showed life an 11-play, 81-yard drive capped by Harris’ 29-yard scoring pass to Dotson streaking down the right sideline to put the score at 28-7 midway through the third quarter.
Then Price snuffed it out with a pair of highlight-worthy catches.
First, he secured a short slant pass that defensive back Darrin Boston tried to slap away for an 8-yard touchdown, then he hauled in a Pahl pass in stride on their next series, drug the defensive back 10 yards, then knocked him down and leaped over him for a 64-yard TD that iced the game — with 1:52 left in the third qurter.
Taye McWilliams finished with 105 yards on 22 carries for Lamar, which had 339 total yards and 20 first downs.
Pahl finished with 195 yards and five TDs on 12of-20 passing. A&M had 532 yards and 24 first downs.
“Obviously they’re a good football team, and we didn’t play our best football (Saturday),” LaFavers said. “Anytime we got anything going, we’d have a penalty or a miscue or something that got us out of rhythm, and when you do that against a great football team, they’re going to make you pay for those mistakes, and they did.
“We’re still a good football team. I’m not trading rosters with anybody. I love these guys, and this is a gone game. We’re still 5-1 and still got a lot of football in front of us.”