Mustangs’ defense leads victory over Bears
Conner Weigman’s value has never been more apparent.
Neither has the size of Bridgeland’s heart — or the strength of Cypress Ranch’s resolve.
With their star quarterback sidelined due to an injury, the area 6A No. 2 Bears were barely recognizable through the first three quarters, and unranked Cypress Ranch was blissfully unburdened while rolling up a four-touchdown lead. Then the fourth quarter rolled around, and the Bears refused to roll over.
Bridgeland receiver Jonathan Nelson ran for four touchdowns in a wild eightminute stretch of the fourth quarter to tie the game. But the Mustangs responded, with kicker Charles Feris’ 49-yard field goal regaining the lead, and their second pick-six of the night sealing a 38-28 win Saturday at CyFair FCU Stadium.
“People talk about statement wins and things like that,” Cy Ranch coach Sean McAuliffe said. “I just think it’s a credit to our kids. It’s a building block for the next step, and the next one coming. So we’ll celebrate this one a little bit tonight and get back to work tomorrow.”
The victory sent the Mustangs to 4-1 overall, 3-0 in District 16-6A.
Bridgeland, which picked up one first-place vote in the media poll after Spring’s first setback last week, tumbled to 5-1, 2-1.
Now only Ranch and Cy Park (6-0, 3-0) remain undefeated in district.
“That might have been one of the better games of the year in the Houston area, but I’m glad it’s over,” McAuliffe quipped.
A series of three consecutive turnovers to end the first half and start the second proved to be Bridgeland’s undoing. Cy Ranch turned two of the takeaways into touchdowns, including a 40-yard pick-six by linebacker Tristtyn Davis that secured a 21-0 advantage for the Mustangs early in the third quarter.
Wide receiver Dylan Caddle made it 28-0 on a 64yard scoring grab.
Then the Bears came roaring back in the fourth quarter, with Nelson moving under center to rush for touchdowns of 10, 55, 3 and 6 yards. His fourth score of the quarter tied it 28-28 with 3:38 remaining.
Ranch came back to win, but Bridgeland coach David Raffield left encouraged.
“We got better as a football team,” Raffield said, adding that he’s hoping to have Weigman back next week for Cy Park. “Not having Conner Weigman’s hard, mentally and physically. So it took us a little while to get used to that, and it allowed other kids to rise up.”
But no one rose higher than Feris, who put Ranch back on top with 42 seconds left with a 49-yard boot that had leg to spare. “Charlie’s probably going to end up being our ace in baseball,” McAuliffe said. “He’s a baseball kid who comes and kicks for us after school. People laugh, but two years ago, that guy was our JV ‘B’ team kicker, and now he’s on the biggest stage and kicking 49-yard field goals to win games.”
A 15-yard interception-return for a TD by Jonavon Dennis sealed Ranch’s win.
“We graduated a really good secondary last year so every single one of those kids is brand new,” McAuliffe said. “So it’s been a trialby-fire deal.”
Cy Ranch and Bridgeland combined for five turnovers in the first half. But Ranch committed the first three of those — and came away unscathed.
The Bears went threeand-out after Jaylyn Matthews recovered a fumble on a backward pass, and managed only one first down before punting after Bryce Bickham’s interception, with both takeaways in the first quarter.
Then Ranch QB Blake Baker fumbled while trying to escape a sack, and Caleb Fattig recovered at Ranch’s 29, giving the Bears their best field position yet. They also benefitted from a pass interference call that moved them to 11 — and still they came up empty after Joseph White Jr., came up clutch for the Mustangs.
The senior linebacker forced a fumble while sacking QB Josh Stephens, then also recovered the fumble and returned it 20 yards to Bridgeland’s 45. Five plays later, the Mustangs turned their takeaway into a touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Baker to running back Kameron Burton for a 14-0 lead at halftime.
Bridgeland responded with its most productive drive of the half.
The series included four first downs, all on passes by Stephens, but ultimately ended with his interception in the end zone.
Zakai Woods supplied that takeaway.
Cy Ranch’s first score came early in the second quarter on 6-yard pass from Baker to Ashton Porter, who lined up at tight end.
The Bears had only 75 total yards at halftime, compared to the Mustangs’ 243.