PLAYOFF’S THE PAYOFF
Channelview leaves no doubt, earns postseason berth
Making the playoffs this year is sweet vindication for senior running back De’Montre Tuggle.
“Everybody doubted us,” Tuggle said. “Picked us to finish last, second to last.”
Did that have something to do with the graduation of Jalen Hurts, who is now the freshman starting quarterback for top-ranked Alabama?
“It had a lot to do with it,” Tuggle said.
Channelview needed Hurts to make the playoffs for the first time in 22 years in 2015. But the Falcons didn’t need him to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time.
A 41-15 victory over Baytown Sterling on Friday night at Maddry Stadium made it a reality. The Falcons grabbed the final playoff spot out of District 21-6A, setting up a bi-district date against La Porte in the Class 6A Division II Region III bracket.
Tuggle’s 32 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns had a lot to do with the outcome. Channelview’s star on the other side was senior defensive back Tuciano Pope, who made two interceptions. He also had a 13-yard touchdown catch.
There were a dozen turnovers combined by the two teams — eight lost fumbles and four interceptions. There were 14 fumbles in all.
Channelview (5-5, 4-3 in 21-6A play) used a big swing in the second quarter to win. The Falcons scored 34 unanswered points for a 41-8 lead by the fourth quarter.
Baytown Sterling’s lone lead was off senior quarterback Quan Ardoin’s 15yard run and Houdini act of a two-point conversion run for an 8-7 advantage. But it didn’t deter Channelview.
About a minute later, Falcons quarterback Gerald Gardner hit receiver Laveal Gibson for a 72-yard score. Then, Tuggle scored on a 3-yard run to give the Falcons a 20-8 lead with the missed extra point.
Baytown Sterling fumbled the ball away, which led to Tuggle’s 5-yard touchdown run and a 27-8 halftime lead.
Gardner had another big throw in him to open the third quarter, finding Devin Jennings for a 48-yard score and a 34-8 lead. Gardner was 5-for-11 for 158 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
The turnovers are hard to ignore for both teams, but the ball bounced Channelview’s way. Baytown Sterling lost six fumbles and had 11 total. It’s a bittersweet ending to a productive season for the Rangers (6-4, 3-4) that started with turmoil.
Former head coach Pete Gareri resigned last offseason after being the subject of a complaint from the booster club regarding fund-raising money.
In comes Brett Sawyer from the Hutto defensive coordinator post, and he nearly had the Rangers into the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and just the second time since 1985. They did enjoy their first winning season since 2008.
“It’s the kids,” Sawyer said. “These kids want to be successful. They want to win.
“They don’t want to be known as past Sterling Rangers.”
One way or another, everyone has heard of Channelview this football season. Hurts has been on a lot of TV screens as Alabama’s starting quarterback, bringing some shine to his high school.
“My son’s in Baton Rouge right now,” said father and Channelview coach Averion Hurts. “He’s happy because he’s pulling for these kids because he played with a lot of them. He always understood it was never about him. That’s just how people made it.
“This is a team that earned it themselves. Nobody can attach it to anybody else. Every team is different, and these young men worked their tails off and deserved it.”