Bulldogs end postseason drought with win
Heights coach Stephen Dixon didn’t need reminding about how big the Bulldogs’Class 6A, Division II bidistrict playoff game against Cypress Creek was.
Dixon heard from his team on Monday what the Bulldogswanted to do to secure a gold football for their coach.
“It feels great,” said Dixon on getting the win. “I really didn’t have to say much to the team. They said that they were going to get the win for me. They played phenomenal tonight and there are some things we could have done better. This is our first time advancing in 6Aand I knew this teamwas going to be pretty special two years ago. We have some phenomenal young men and phenomenal coaches.”
The Bulldogs defeated Cypress Creek 39-21 at Delmar Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Heights (7-1) won its first playoff game since 2013 and snapped its six-straight losing streak in the bi-district round of the playoffs.
The Bulldogs will take on Katy Taylor in the area round at 7 p.m. Friday at Delmar Stadium. Taylor advanced after George Ranch players tested positive for COVID-19.
Cypress Creek ends the season 4-7.
Heights quarterback Jalen Morrison and the Bulldogs were happy to get a win for their head coach.
“We’re happy for our coach,” Morrison. “He and the coaches do a great job preparing us every week.
We got the win today because of our coaches and us playing like a team. Now, we get to have another week of practice and a game next week.”
Heights seemed to be cruising after leading the Cougars 25-7 at halftime, but the Cougars rallied in the secondhalf tomakeit closer.
The Bulldogs took a commanding 32-7 lead after Morrison threw a 47- yard touchdown pass to Keyondrick Douglas with 4:54 left in the third quarter. Morrison finished the game 21-of-27 for
291 yards throwing three touchdowns and adding a rushing touchdown on the ground for the Bulldogs.
Cougars freshman quarterback Brad Jackson threw a 31-yard TD pass to Brazos Gadler to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 18 points. Jackson hit Khalil Watts on a 28-yard touchdown pass, but Heights was still up 32-21 with 10:30 left in the game.
Jackson, who connected with eight different receivers, finished the game 30of-45 for 276 yards with three TD passes and one interception.
Watts had six reception for 45 yards with three touchdowns while adding 25 yards on the ground.
Kendric Rhymes put the Bulldogs back up 39-21 with a 21-yard TD run with 4:05 left in the game. Rhymes finished with six reception for 78 yards with two touchdowns and had 18 carries for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Douglas finishedwith seven receptions for 118 yards with one touchdown for the Cougars.
“We came up short today,” said Cypress Creek coach Greg McCaig. “You have to give Heights a lot of credit. I thought they played pretty well. We made too many mistakes and thatwas the game. I wish I could have thrown it more and that’s my fault. Our quarterback is a capable young man, who just turned 15. This season has been tough every single day. I’m just happy for these seniors and that they got to play their senior year. We have some young guys and we will be back.”
Heights will look to Katy Taylor now.
“The kids have been fighting through adversity all season ,” Dixon said .“The kids showed me earlier in the year that they could fight through adversity. Dealing with COVID-19 and playing in tough games like Travis, Lamar and Bellaire to close out the season. We finished this game today and I noticed that about my team this year is we can finish games.”