Episcopal uses TD passes by Gavin Geib on its first five possessions to overwhelm St. Thomas.
At this rate, the only thing that will stop Episcopal is the last buzzer of the final game.
For the fifth time in as many games this season, Episcopal started fast and cruised to the finish. The Knights’ latest dominant performance ended with a 62-12 win over visiting St. Thomas on Friday night.
The Knights appear to be a heavy favorite to win the Southwest Preparatory Conference Large School championship for the third time in five years. They were the runnersup last year after losing to Kinkaid in the final.
Episcopal beat Kinkaid by 21 points during the regular season but lost in the title game after Kinkaid recovered three onside kicks and executed a fake punt and a fake field goal.
That led to intense summer workouts and a feeling among the Knights (5-0) that they had something taken from them last year.
“That put something in their stomachs that we can really get after it and finish,” Episcopal coach Steve Leisz said. “These guys are really taking it seriously. They’re having fun doing it.”
Quarterback Gavin Geib threw touchdown passes on Episcopal’s first five possessions. The defense got in on the act when Patrick Bayouth recovered a fumble in the end zone. On the next drive, John Saucer intercepted a St. Thomas pass, helping the Knights take a 28-0 lead in the first nine minutes. They led 42-6 at halftime.
“We’ve changed our attitude (on defense) this year,” Leisz said. “That attitude is that we’re going to bring it and then allow our defensive backs to do what they do. They’re all ballhawks back there. We’re going to bring pressure and let those guys go get the ball.”
The Knights did that Friday without five-star senior defensive lineman Marvin Wilson, who missed a second consecutive game with a meniscus injury in his right knee. Leisz said he expects Wilson to miss at least one more week.
Wilson is far from Episcopal’s only athlete bound for college football. The Knights are using their collection to beat some quality teams, too. In their opener, they beat UIL Class 4A Beaumont Ozen. Two weeks later, they beat 5A program Brenham.
The game already was well in hand at halftime, but the Knights put an exclamation point on it by scoring with their offense and defense in the first four minutes of the third quarter. The defense scored on Jack Grams’ 45-yard interception return.
Geib finished 14-for-22 passing for 332 yards and six touchdowns. Jaylen Waddle caught five passes for 186 yards and scored three touchdowns in the first half, one of them going for 91 yards. Augie Avery, Will Edens and Jake Levrier also caught touchdown passes for Episcopal.
Ian Wheeler and Jairan Parker scored touchdowns for the Eagles (1-4).