Lamar next taking aim at Eisenhower
Texans look to be on track for another extended postseason run
The Lamar football team looks capable of making another long playoff run.
The District 20-6A champs crushed Katy Morton Ranch 38-17 in a Class 6A-Division I bidistrict game at Delmar Stadium.
Lamar head football coach Tom Nolen was mostly satisfied with his team’s performance. “We played well on defense and special teams and made just enough plays when we needed to on offense,” Nolen said. “It was a team win and everyone contributed.”
The Texans jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, thanks to a 33yard interception return from junior cornerback Jordan Stevens.
Other defensive standouts included junior defensive linemen Jefferson Collins and Troy Porche, sophomore linebacker Andre Gibbs and senior rover James Bell.
Sophomore kicker William Fallon booted a 36yard field goal and Lamar came up with several solid returns.
Offensively, the Texans failed to net 300 yards, but four running backs – senior Jai’ran Traylor, juniors Caleb Jolivette and Dua’Vadis Williams and sophomore Ta’Zhawn Henry – each had a rushing touchdown.
Lamar (10-1) will now face District 18-6A winner Aldine Eisenhower (8-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at Aldine’s Thorne Stadium.
“It’s a good match-up between two evenly matched teams,” Nolen said. “We haven’t played Eisenhower in a while, but they’re very athletic and well-coached.” Cards, North Forest win in first round
History was firmly against the Bellaire football team in its Class 6A-Division I bi-district playoff game against Katy Cinco Ranch last week.
The Cardinals had fallen to the Cougars in the first round the past four seasons. In fact, Bellaire’s last postseason win dated all the back to 1972.
But both streaks came to an end as Bellaire stunned Cinco Ranch 35-31 at Katy’s Rhodes Stadium.
It was a game few predicted the Cardinals would win, but those opinions hardly mattered to firstyear Bellaire head coach Herb Kunz.
“I told the kids before the game that the key to winning was how they reacted to adversity,” Kunz said. “If they made a mistake, they couldn’t let it turn into two or three. They had to stay positive and tough it out.”
Bellaire was plagued with poor field position in the first half, but the Cardinals refused to quit. Senior quarterback John Hubbell tossed a 39-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Courtney Lark in the first quarter and scored on a one-yard run to help Bellaire tie the game at 1414 at the break.
Hubbell delivered a career performance, completing 23 of 36 passes for 213 yards.
With the season on the line, Kunz turned to Lark, regarded as Bellaire’s best player.
“We put Courtney at quarterback a couple of times and tried a couple of jet sweep hand-offs,” Kunz said. “We wanted to stretch the field and make Cinco Ranch uncomfortable.”
Lark, a University of Houston commit, broke loose on a 69-yard touchdown run late in the quarter and came up with the game-winner on a twoyard run with 1:48 remaining in the game. Lark finished with nine catches for 81 yards and three carries for 74 yards.
The defense did its part, with senior linebacker/defensive end Nathan Lewis and junior defensive end Jayden Peevy each coming up with multiple sacks.
The special teams made an impact, too, with senior Donovan Stiner blocking a punt a few plays after Bellaire missed a long field.
“We had one 15-yard penalty. Otherwise, we played a clean game,” Kunz said. “That’s what it takes to win in the playoffs.”
Next up for Bellaire (65) in an area showdown against Cypress Falls (9-2) at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at the University of Houston’s TDECU Stadium.
The Golden Eagles advanced with a 72-6 rout against Aldine Nimitz. Kunz recognizes that Bellaire will be a heavy underdog once again.
“We know it’s another big challenge, but no one thought we could beat Cinco Ranch, either,” Kunz said.
Win or lose, it’s already been a memorable postseason for the Cardinals.
“We’ve won our first playoff game in 43 years,” Kunz said. “That’s something to get excited about.”
While Lamar and Bellaire are still alive, two other District 20-6A teams fell in the first round of the Class 6A-Division II playoffs. Reagan (9-2) dropped a 21-13 decision to Strake Jesuit, while Westside (4-7) was walloped by Katy 77-0.
In the Class 5A-Division I playoffs, Madison (7-4) lost to Magnolia West 5420, while Waltrip (6-5) was eliminated by Stratford 59-0.
District 20-5A champion North Forest (10-1) won a shootout with Brenham 41-35, while Sharpstown (7-4) was shut out by Magnolia 42-0.
The Bulldogs will battle College Station (9-2) at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, in an area contest at Spring’s Leonard George Stadium.
In Class 4A-Division I bi-district action, Wheatley (5-6) was eliminated by El Campo 63-7 and Sterling (5-6) lost to Stafford 69-26.
The three Class 4A-Division II openers involving Houston ISD teams had Worthing (7-4) losing to Orangefield 37-28, Kashmere (3-8) bowing out against Hamshire-Fannett 52-20 and Scarborough (110) getting blanked by West Orange-Stark 63-0.