Davenport, Lions rout Wildcats
Tomball Memorial coach Sam Parker previously coached at Spring, and he enjoyed several great seasons while he was there. So he was happy to see his former team on the gridiron for the first time since he departed, especially since the Lions now are led by his friend and former offensive coordinator, Trent Miller.
He may have forgotten why he was so happy before the first quarter ended.
Guided by standout quarterback Bishop Davenport — who accounted for seven of Spring’s 10 touchdowns — the area’s fourthranked Class 6A team cruised to scores on their first six possessions, while primarily operating out of five-wide, empty-backfield sets, en route to a 69-21 rout Thursday night at Planet Ford Stadium.
“Our kids were fired up,” Miller said. “We talked a lot about focusing on us, and just taking care of us, but there’s no denying that Coach Parker was here, and there’s no hostility, and no animosity there, but from the kids’ perspective, they had something to prove. So really they handled themselves well (Thursday).
“It was a first-class performance by them, and I couldn’t be more proud.”
The Lions (3-0) had 474 yards by halftime — exactly 300 more than No. 19 Tomball Memorial at that point — and finished with 624 yards and 26 first downs, while making it look much easier than it actually is most of the way.
“We were trying to build off of last year’s success, and we had a lot of success out of that empty package last year,” Miller said. “With Bishop Davenport back there at quarterback. With the way he sees it, and the way our kids love each other, run routes for each other and protect each other, it’s something we can hang our hat on.
“We’re one of the very few teams in the Houston area that do that.”
Davenport finished with 367 yards and five touchdown passes to four different receivers on 22-of-30 passing. He also supplied Spring’s last two touchdowns on runs of 13 and 2 yards, and had 109 yards on 10 carries.
The Utah State pledge already has 13 TD passes through three games.
“He’s a special kid,” Miller said. “We knew we had something special with him after the first game last season. He reads defenses well, he sees the whole field, and he’s so smart with the football. It’s like having another coach on the field.”
Travis Sims Jr., was his top target. Sims had seven receptions for 149 yards and two TDs.
Running back Myron Carter also had two scores, one on the ground, and one through the air, with 135 combined yards.
But as good as the Lions’ offense was, the defense and special teams weren’t outdone.
They recovered two muffed kicks, which set up two quick scoring drives, and Derick Washington Jr., returned a fumble 48 yards for a score.
“They have a good scheme and they have some phenomenal kids doing it,” Parker said. “Normally when you look at a defense, you find something, and say we’re going to attack this area of the defense, because of a weakness. That doesn’t really exist for them. So they have a chance to make a pretty good run.
“That’s probably the best team we’ll play for a while.”
Tomball Memorial (1-2) managed only 292 yards and 14 first downs.
Quarterbacks Reed O’Dell and Lane Stockton, who rotated throughout the game, each threw a touchdown pass.
“Everyone’s talking about the Spring Lions’ offense right now, but I would venture to say we have either the best or one of the best defenses in the state of Texas,” Miller said. “Those kids are unbelievably fast, their ballhawks, and there isn’t one selfish kid on that defense. When you have kids that are that athletic and that fast, and play unselfishly, you have something special.”