Playmaking, defense spark Eagles’ victory over Broncos
PORTER — Sophomore Dwight McGlothern already boasts an impressive list of college suitors, with offers from Alabama, LSU, Michigan and Ohio State — but none from Texas or any other Big 12 school yet.
They better get on that fast.
The standout wide receiver and defensive back intercepted a pass and supplied two spectacular receiving touchdowns in the first half, sparking New Caney’s 27-17 win over Dayton on Friday at Texan Drive Stadium.
“(McGlothern’s) a special athlete in anybody’s book, and he is a playmaker, he is very confident on both sides of the ball, and definitely a difference maker,” New Caney coach Brady Pennington said.
The Eagles improved to 3-1 overall and 3-0 in their district with their second straight win over Dayton (2-2, 2-1).
“We’re playing so many new kids, young kids, so this was huge,” Pennington said. “This was a big win.”
Two-way dominance
The Broncos had won four straight over the Eagles, three of them blowouts, before New Caney’s 48-26 breakthrough win last season.
Marte Allison starred in that victory, rushing for 170 yards and four touchdowns.
This one belonged to McGlothern.
The two-way player recorded an interception for the third straight game on Dayton’s opening series, picking off Dayton quarterback A.J. Nail at the New Caney 7 to extinguish a potential scoring drive.
“I’ve got to give it up to my front line on defense,” McGlothern said. “They’re getting pressure on the quarterback and making them over think and throw the interception.”
Then he gave the Eagles a lead five minutes later.
McGlothern outjumped a Dayton defender for a high ball, then broke hard left for a 63-yard touchdown. He added a 13-yard score in the second quarter.
“I just tried to help my team get the pressure off the quarterback,” said McGlothern, who planned an official visit to College Station to watch Texas A&M take on South Carolina at Kyle Field. “(Jordan Cooper’s) dealing with knee problems, so he couldn’t run a lot, so he had to be like a Russell Wilson and throw from the pocket.”
New Caney took a 20-3 advantage into halftime.
“I thought we played our most complete ballgame (Friday),” Pennington said.
Grinding out a win
The Broncos pulled within 20-10 with 10:30 showing in the third on Jermond Lovely’s 55-yard scoring run.
But after foiling Dayton’s fake punt attempt late in the third, the Eagles pulled away.
Running back and linebacker Sam Jones, who also recovered a Dayton fumble in the first half, capped a 39yard scoring drive with five straight runs, including his 2-yard touchdown for a 2710 lead with 10:27 to go.
Jones finished with 56 yards and one rushing touchdown.
Freshman running back C.J. Sanders, who also starts at corner, added 62 yards on 18 carries.
Cooper threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns as the Eagles finished with 283 yards and 15 first downs.
“We really don’t have a tailback, so what we’re having to do is rotate our kids from the defensive side over to be our tailback,” Pennington said. “(But) those kids are rising up and doing what we have to do to be successful.”