Tigers extend winning streak to three
MISSOURI CITY – Travis and George Ranch have offenses that are capable of piling up yards and putting up points. Both teams also have talented defenses.
And on Friday night at Hall Stadium, they were participants in a District 20-6A contest involving two of the elite programs of the district with two of its top quarterbacks. And both teams played like there was plenty at stake.
In a back-and-forth second half that the outcome wasn’t decided until the final play, Travis held on for a 33-29 victory, extending its winning streak to three.
On the final play, the Tigers’ Israel Akinlabi intercepted Cole Murphy’s pass at the 1-yard line.
“A huge win,” Travis coach Trey Sissom said. “We’ve been building up each week getting better and better. We put it all together and played well in all three phases. Defense came up big at the end.
“They had some big plays George Ranch put on us, but when it came down to it, we made the plays on the defensive side.”
On the final play, with 4.4 seconds remaining and at the Travis 15-yard line trailing by four points, Murphy rolled to his right and tried to connect with a receiver in the end zone but Akinlabi made the interception to seal the victory for Travis.
“We came with the intentions of winning,” said Tigers defensive tackle Kendrick Taylor, who was on the field on the final play. “It got super close and it came to who could go the longest and who could go the hardest.”
Travis quarterback Anthony Njoku, a unanimous first-team all-district selection last season, threw a 36-yard touchdown pass to Robert Sims with 5:18 remaining in the game and Antonio Rubio’s extra point was the goahead point.
Rubio added a 26-yard field, set up by Parker Reed’s interception, that put the Tigers up 33-29 with 2:50 remaining in the game.
Njoku threw three touchdown passes, two to Gabriel Van Wyk, with no interceptions and ran for another. Murphy, who isn’t afraid to throw down the field, threw three touchdown passes.
Njoku completed 12 of 25 passes for 145 yards.
“He was district offensive player of the year last year and he’s only getting better,” Sissom said. “We count on him to make plays for us. Throwing the ball, he’s spot on and tonight he used his legs and got us some big first downs.”
Travis (3-2, 2-0) led 10-7 at halftime.
George Ranch (3-2, 1-1), which outgained Travis 392-288, took its first lead 21-17 on Hymond Drinkard’s 7-yard run with 4:37 to play in third quarter, the Longhorns second touchdown in a two-minute span.
Murphy passed for 327 yards, completing 19 of 32 passes but was picked off four times. The speedy Drinkard picked up 69 rushing yards on 23 attempts. Longhorns receiver Kyle Kiser caught three passes for 75 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown from Murphy.
Travis linebackers Josh Shimmin and Reed had exceptional games. Defensive stars for George Ranch were David Walker, who recovered a fumble, lineman Matthew Lambert and defensive backs Garrison Backers and Jeffrey Ugochukwu.
Travis took advantage of two first-quarter interceptions thrown by Murphy to score the first 10 points. At that point the Tigers were in control but a disqualification of one of its top defenders in the second quarter stopped their momentum.
Midway of the second quarter George Ranch finally got on the scoreboard, a 38-yard pass from Murphy to Kyle Kiser to get the Longhorns in the game.
Travis scored on a 27-yard pass from Njoku to Van Wyk on its second possession. A 32-yard field goal by Rubio put the Tigers ahead by 10 with 10:43 remaining in the opening half.
Defensive back Aaron Mendiola and linebacker Tomisin Olorunfemi also picked up interceptions for Travis.