Blue shines in winvs. Tigers
Here comes Klein Cain. After playing well but coming up short against elite opponents earlier this season, the Hurricanes rallied for a 35-21 win over area 6A No. 18 Klein Collins on Saturday at Klein Memorial Stadium.
“We have a tremendous amount of respect for Klein Collins High School, their football program and their coaching staff and what they’ve accomplished over the last several years, so this is huge,” Klein Cain coach James Clancy said. “Anytime you beat somebody that’s been consistently successful, it’s big.
“Our coaches did a great job, the kids had a great week of preparation and it showed.”
Four-star running back Jaydon Blue, who holds 32 offers, led the way, racking up 243 yards and two touchdowns in Cain’s first win over Collins — which has three losses for the first time in seven years.
Cain improved to 4-2 overall, 3-1 in District 15-6A action. It’s only losses are to No. 4 Bridgeland (49-42) and No. 8 Tomball Memorial (64-49) — both shootouts that highlighted their potential.
Collins stumbled to 2-3, 1-2.
“The two teams that we lost to haven’t lost yet, and obviously, we’ve got great respect for them,” Clancy said. “But those games helped us when we needed it most, and that’s when we’re playing meaningful football in November.”
The return of quarterback Colby Powers helped the Tigers in the first half.
The 6-4 Arizona pledge hadn’t played since suffering an injury against North Shore in the season opener, and without him, they struggled offensively in a 26-0 setback against Klein Oak two weeks ago.
They recovered enough to handle Tomball last week, but Klein Cain came in at another level, especially on offense, so the Tigers needed their 6-4 difference maker to come back strong, and he delivered.
Klein Cain punted its opening possession, and Klein Collins covered 80 yards onfive plays onits first series, with Powers’ perfectly placed pass hitting wide receiver Aiden Smith in stride for a 33-yard score.
The Hurricanes answered with a whirlwind play by Aaron Jordan.
The senior fullback took a short pass from quarterback Carson Roper, spun off the back of a defender and landed 5 yards ahead of everyone else before sprinting away for an 88-yard touchdown.
But the Tigers regained control when they took the ball away.
Klein Cain was putting together a nice drive, moving from its 2-yard line to Klein Collins’ 25, when defensive back Mikey Hookfin intercepted a Roper pass, leading to a10-play, 77-yard drive by Collins that ended with Powers’ five-yard touchdown run with 19 seconds remaining in the second quarter for a 14-7 halftime lead.
But Blue — who had just 36 yards on seven carries at halftime — blew up in the second half, helping the Hurricanes seize control. His 27-yard scoring sprint tied it, and his 63-yard touchdown burst cemented the lead.
“We know when we play Klein Collins, their defense is going to have a great plan and do a great job, and Jaydon just kept plugging along,” Clancy said. “And I can’t say enough about our offensive line and howphysical they played.”
Matthew Golden’s 37yard scoring catch put the Hurricanes ahead 21-14 with 2:40 left in the third.
Klein Cain generated 554 yards (45-313 rushing) and 21 first downs.
Led by running back Jonathan Lewis’ 117 rushing yards on 22 carries, Klein Collins had 357 and 16 — but only one score after halftime.
“Our defense was very young at the beginning of the year, but they’ve gotten better each week,” Clancy said. “We tackled reallywell (Saturday), and they’re a powerful offense with strong kids who run tough, sowe had to bowour necks, and we did that.”