Panthers outlast Lions; area playoffs next
Not today. That was Klein Oak coach Jason Glenn’s message to his seniors, many of whom he’s known since middle school — and they received it.
Saturday wasn’t their last day of high school football.
Defensive lineman Chase Hill’s 10-yard pick-six tied it in the third quarter, and kicker Seth Morgan hit a game-winning 20-yard field goal in a second overtime, lifting the Panthers to a 17-14 win over familiar foe Spring at George Stadium in the Class 6A Division I Region II bi-district playoffs.
The Panthers passed up a 35yard field goal attempt in the first overtime, and ended up turning the ball over on downs.
But Klein Oak coach Jason Glenn said his faith never wavered.
“(Morgan) came in, and I trusted him,” Glenn said.
“The wind was blowing really hard the first time, and I told him, ‘Hey, you know what, just wait, because we’re going to get another chance,’ and there it was. He had another chance and he made it.”
Klein Oak (9-2) advances and will face Round Rock next week in the area playoffs. Spring ended its season at 5-6. The Panthers trailed 14-7 until Hill’s game-tying interception return.
Max Edwards hit Spring quarterback Clifton McDowell as he threw, and the ball dropped into Hill’s eager hands.
“That’s a defensive guy’s dream, but for a defensive lineman, it’s extra special,” Glenn said. “And he’s an outstanding kid. He came to us from Oklahoma, no friends, no anything, and we embraced him like family. When you have that type of love with the team, you get plays that are extra special.”
Klein Oak started on offense in the first OT but came up empty.
Then Spring had two chances to score — to end the first OT and start the second — and Klein Oak’s defense refused to budge.
Dominic Morris’ interception ended the first overtime.
Then a big sack by Jadon Wilson led to the Lions turning the ball over on downs in the second overtime, allowing Morgan to come in for the game-winner on fourth-and-2 from the 3-yard line.
“I hoped we’d finish the game earlier, but when it was there, I was ready,” Morgan said.
Klein Oak started four possessions inside Spring’s 40 in the first half and came away with only one score.
The Lions forced three-andouts on the first two, and then defensive back Jayden Newell intercepted an errant throw by QB Montrell Bolton just before halftime after Klein Oak had first-andgoal at the 6.
Bolton’s backup supplied the Panthers’ only first-half score.
Their junior starter landed hard near the warning track after a long scramble in which he reversed field, so Tucker McEnroe checked in, and McEnroe kept the drive going and finished it with a 1-yard keeper.
It was only his second rushing touchdown this season — and by far the biggest, cutting the deficit to 14-7 at halftime.
The football gods didn’t reward him for the effort.
McEnroe returned for the next series, and hit Tyler Hudson for an 8-yard gain, but he went down awkwardly after the completion, and ended up being wheeled to an ambulance with an air cast on his leg.
Fortunately for Klein Oak, Bolton was ready to check back into the game by then.
Spring jumped out 14-0 on the first play of the second quarter. It didn’t score again. “The coaches and the kids did an outstanding job making adjustments,” Glenn said. “(Defensive coordinator Darrick) Vaughn was my high school teammate. We played high school ball together.
“He’s going to be a head coach real soon. He made the adjustments, (and) they didn’t score again.”