Panthers never let up on the accelerator
MISSOURI CITY — Cinco Ranch entered the playoffs far less healthy than the team was in last year’s state semifinal run.
Key starters were missing from a team that closed this regular season with seven consecutive wins.
The Cougars would have needed everyone against a talented Ridge Point squad Friday night.
Ridge Point senior receiver Adam Bazan bookended the scoring, and senior quarterback Aaron Allen led a consistent passing game in a 40-23 victory at Hall Stadium.
The District 20-6A champion Panthers (9-1) advance to a Class 6A Division I area rematch with District 18-6A champ Lamar.
The Panthers never trailed in their postseason opener and never let Cinco Ranch (8-2) get within 10 points after halftime.
“I think we played pretty solid defense,” senior linebacker Chad Bailey said. “We knew that Cinco Ranch, coming in they were going to be a disciplined team. They were going to make plays and they were probably going to get on the scoreboard. We just did our job and made sure we came out with the (W).”
Ridge Point controlled the first quarter, taking a 10-0 lead on a 10-yard touchdown run by Bazan and a 37-yard field goal by Kyle Ramsey.
The Panthers’ defense was stout early and appeared to force another punt to start the second quarter. But a penalty kept Cinco Ranch’s drive alive, and the Cougars capitalized. A reception by Justin Hull set up a 21-yard field goal by Will McDaniel.
Ridge Point responded with a productive drive led by three receptions by Bazan and a leaping catch in double coverage by Mustapha Muhammad. But a tackle for loss by Jamie Wolfe helped stall the drive and resulted in Ramsey’s second field goal.
Cinco Ranch used its best drive of the half to pull within 13-10 with 3:17 left. A pair of Devin Staton receptions helped set up a pass in the flat to Hull, who picked up a block and beat everyone down the sideline for a 31-yard touchdown.
Cinco Ranch almost stole the momentum into halftime with a sack by Wolfe and a near interception in the end zone by Ethan Glass.
Given another chance, the Panthers converted third-and-long on Muhammad’s reception.
Allen scrambled again two plays later and found Jeremiah Glaspie in the front corner of the end zone for a 19-10 advantage with nine seconds left in the half.
“We did well offensively, made some big plays,” Ridge Point senior defensive lineman Nelson Ceaser said. “Defense really stepped up in clutch time. We did our thing.”
The Panthers’ momentum continued on the opening drive of the second half. Facing third-and-20 at their 6, they ran four receivers deep and Allen found Bazan for a 34-yard gain. A few Mason McBride rushes later, Bailey powered in from a yard out for a 26-10 advantage.
“Our coach always tells us to defer to the second half and come out strong in the second half,” Bailey said. “We knew coming out of the first half that we were going to come down and score.”
The lead grew to 33-10 late in the third quarter when McBride reversed field, picked up a block by Allen and scored from 19 yards out.
The deficit was too much for Cinco Ranch despite a strong rally. The Cougars answered on a 24-yard strike from Zach Easterly to Hull, then after a defensive stop marched 65 yards in 11 plays to pull within 33-23 on a touchdown pass from Easterly to Devin Staton.
But Ridge Point stopped the two-point conversion and ended Cinco Ranch’s next drive with sacks by Taylor Nimmo and Ceaser.
A fourth-down scoring strike from Allen to Bazan and an interception by Jarrett Preston put the finishing touches on the Panthers’ fifth consecutive bi-district victory.