Despite a pair of key early injuries, Pearland finds the winning formula against Clear Springs.
Rain delay, injury to QB can’t derail victory in opener
WEBSTER — When the scheduled liftoff at Challenger Columbia Stadium was delayed for an hour, it wasn’t the only thing that didn’t go quite right Friday night in the season opener between Pearland and Clear Springs.
Pearland quarterback and Texas A&M commit Connor Blumrick was injured on the first series of the game and was sidelined the remainder of the contest. The Aggies’ other Pearland commit, defensive back Debione Renfro, suffered cramps and also left the field in the first half.
But when order was somewhat restored, the matchup produced the expected quality product, with Pearland squeaking out a 28-24 victory over Clear Springs.
Derek Parish gave a jolt to Pearland when he picked up Todd Hudson’s fumble and raced 52 yards for a touchdown to give the Oilers a 28-24 lead with 6:43 left in the game.
The Oilers had grabbed a 21-17 lead with 28 seconds left in the third quarter, needing just two minutes to move 76 yards for the touchdown on Evan Burgess’ 3-yard run.
However, Pearland had little time to enjoy the advantage as the Chargers’ Peyton Sawyer took a handoff from Myles Anders and raced 77 yards for a score and a 24-21 lead with just 16 seconds showing in the period.
Clear Springs had taken a 17-14 lead with 2:36 left in the third quarter when it marched 84 yards in 11 plays, capped by Todd Hudson’s 1-yard run.
Big plays in the drive were Will McBride passes of 27 and 15 yards to Alex Sander.
Pearland led 14-10 at halftime, courtesy of a penalty-aided drive and Justin Guy-Robinson’s 90yard kickoff return for a score.
The Oilers scored on their second possession, moving 78 yards in nine plays, but the Chargers greatly helped Pearland’s cause with two personal foul penalties and one unsportsmanlike conduct infraction.
Running backs Jaelin Benefield and Evan Burgess accounted for the workload on the ground the final four plays of the march with Burgess eventually barreling into the end zone from 3 yards as Pearland opened a 7-0 lead at 6:16 of the opening period.
On the Oilers’ next possession, Pearland moved into the red zone, but Clear Springs blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt, and the Chargers’ Gavin Roland picked up a room-service bounce at his 18-yard line.
The speedy defensive back then easily outraced pursuit to the end zone to complete an 82-yard scoring play. With Connor Harris’ PAT, Clear Springs pulled even at 7-7 with 1:07 left in the first quarter.
That lead lasted all of 14 seconds as Guy-Robinson took the ensuing kickoff at his 10-yard line, burst through a pack at the 20, and sprinted uncontested to the end zone as Pearland’s lead went to 14-7 with 53 seconds showing in the opening period.
Clear Springs misfired on three passes in the end zone late in the second quarter before settling for Harris’s 33-yard field goal with 13 seconds to produce the halftime score.