Big Spring Freshman fall just short, JV crushed by Andrews on Thursday
ANDREWS — After taking last week off, the Big Spring Steers’ Freshman and Junior Varsity football teams were back on the field last night. Big Spring traveled to Andrews to take on the Mustangs where both the Freshman (36-34) and the JV (56-0) lost their district openers.
The Freshman team was led by running back Abram Jackson and fell just short on an epic comeback that would have forced overtime. Jackson scored __ touchdowns on Thursday night and seemed to gain doubledigit yardage every time that he touched the ball. The deficit was just too large to overcome and the Freshman Steers lost their second game of the season.
Big Spring’s JV only had 15 players suited up because of injuries and COVID concerns with some players. The Mustangs were able to take advantage of the Steers depleted roster early and often on Thursday, shutting out Big Spring on a night where it was extremely tough for them to move the ball.
GAME RECAP (FRESHMAN) (36-34 LOSS) Big Spring received the opening kickoff in the game but they were unable to move the ball much at all and were forced to punt it away.
Andrews began their first drive with a trick play halfback pass that went for 33 yards and moved the Mustangs to the Big Spring 30-yard line. A couple plays later, a bad shotgun snap sailed over the Andrews’ quarterback’s head and he was taken down nine yards behind the line of scrimmage by Jayden Overton and Joseph Murrillo. The Mustangs then turned the ball over on downs and handed the ball back to the Steers at their own 30.
Kavien Ford started off the Big Spring drive with a great run off the left side that went for 27 yards and moved the Steers into enemy territory. Then, quarterback Gavin Padron tried to connect with his receiver on a pass that was intercepted and returned back to the Steers’ 43-yard line.
Andrews gained 23 yards on their first play of the drive and were set up in the red zone. A couple plays later, their quarterback connected with his intended receiver for a 14-yard gain that set the Mustangs up inside the 5-yard line. Then, their running back charged through the line for the first score of the night. The two-point conversion gave Andrews an 8-0 lead with 2:45 remaining in the opening quarter.
The next Big Spring drive was productive and they appeared ready to quickly tie the game back up. The drive began with back-to-back runs by Ford (26 yards) and Jackson (16 yards) that set Big Spring up in Andrews territory. Then, Padron connected with receiver Donavyn Hilario down the right sideline where he made an outstanding catch inside the 10. Then, an intentional grounding penalty, a false start, and a sack on three straight plays knocked the Steers out of scoring position and they punted it away.
Andrews’ next drive was just as productive as the last. They steadily moved the ball down the field with a mixture of runs and passes that kept Big Spring on their toes. Then, Andrews’ quarterback took the ball and ran it himself 13 yards into the end zone. The two-point conversion was successful and the Mustangs led 16-0 with 5:56 left in the first half.
Big Spring was ready to put an end to the uneven matchup on their next drive. After a few plays, Jackson took a carry where he appeared to go untouched for 46 yards on his way into the end zone. Padron completed a pass to Murrillo for the twopoint conversion and the Steers had made the score 16-8 with just over four minutes left in the half.
A tremendous kick return by Andrews set them up with great field position on their next drive. On the first play, Andrews’ quarterback was able to take it 27 yards down to the Big Spring 3-yard line. After being stuffed on first down, an Andrews running back lined up in the backfield and powered his way through the line for another Andrews score. This time, the two-point conversion was unsuccessful and the Mustangs led 22-8 with three minutes left in the half.
Following a 43-yard run by Jackson on the ensuing drive that set the Steers up inside the 10-yard line, Big Spring curiously ran three straight passing plays that were all unsuccessful. On fourth down, Padron connected with Hilario but he was taken down at the 1-yard line and Andrews took over on downs.
Corbin Cate came up with a sack on the next Andrews drive and the Steers headed into halftime trailing 22-8.
Andrews got the ball to start the second half and their offense picked up right where they had left off. On the first play of the drive, their quarterback connected on a 61-yard passing play that set the Mustangs up at the Big Spring 1-yard line. A couple of plays later, he found another open receiver in the end zone for the score. The two-point conversion was no good and the Mustangs led 28-8 with just under eight minutes left in the third quarter.
Padron was intercepted on the next Big Spring drive but his defense got them ball back for him by forcing a Mustang fumble on the very next play.
Both offenses struggled for most of the third quarter to move the ball. Andrews had the ball on their own side of the field on their next drive when they were going to punt it away. Ford burst through the line and blocked the punt, scooped it up, and returned it to the Andrews’ 25-yard line.
The next play was a 25-yard touchdown strike from Padron to Bailey Simpson, who was wide open across the middle of the field. The two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful and the Steers now led 28-14 heading into the fourth quarter.
The next time Big Spring had the ball, Padron connected with Murrillo for a 34-yard gain on the first play of the drive. Jackson then followed that up with two straight runs of 15 yards. The second one got him into the end zone, and after converting the two-point conversion on a fade pass to Hilario, the Steers trailed the Mustangs 28-22 early in the fourth.
The Big Spring kicking team made a huge blunder on their next kickoff. After attempting an onside kick that did not travel the necessary 10 yards in order for the Steers to be able to grab it, they all stood around in frustration that they screwed up the play. Then, an alert Andrews player scooped up the ball and returned it 45 yards for a Mustang score. They were successful on the two-point conversion and had a 36-22 lead with 8:45 left in the game.
Simpson came up with an interception on the next Andrews drive and Big Spring still had time left to make something happen. A few plays later, Padron connected with Murrillo down the left sideline for a 56-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good and the Steers trailed 36-28 with just over six minutes left.
Following an Andrews punt on their next drive, Jackson took a carry on the first play for Big Spring and took it 72 yards to the house for another Steer touchdown. The two-point conversion was once again unsuccessful and the Steers sealed their fate with a 36-34 loss.
Andrews was able to run out the clock on offense and the Steers’ four-game win streak had been snapped.
GAME RECAP (JV) (56-0 LOSS)
There was not much to get excited about with the Big Spring JV on Thursday night. They are a tough bunch that fights hard but with such a depleted roster, it is hard for them to contend weekly.
Shawn Moran is the sports writer at the Big Spring Herald. To contact him, e-mail sports@bigspringherald.com or call 432-263-7331.