Wildcats back in playoff hunt
Cephus accounts for 3 touchdowns in 16-6A victory over Falcons
Dekaney is back in the playoff hunt.
Quarterback Joshua Cephus ran for two touchdowns and threw another, and the Wildcats defeated Aldine Davis 28-14 on Thursday night at Thorne Stadium for their second District 16-6A victory after a 0-2 start.
“This is big,” Dekaney coach Anthony Williams said. “It doesn’t say we’re in the playoffs, but it puts things back in perspective, to where we have a chance and we control our own fate.”
The Wildcats (4-2, 2-2) went into the game in fifth place and on the outside looking in at the playoff picture after opening with losses to district leaders Westfield and Nimitz — who meet Friday at George.
Davis (2-3, 2-2) was tied with Spring for third.
“Our biggest opponent is Dekaney High School,” Williams said. “When we click on all cylinders, we can be a pretty good football team.”
4 turnovers for Falcons
Cephus scored his rushing touchdowns following Davis turnovers in the second half, improving the Wildcats’ chances of making back-to-back playoff appearances after three years sitting out.
The Falcons committed four turnovers, putting their return bid in jeopardy.
Quarterback Tremayne Prudhomme was sacked and lost a fumble on the opening series of the second half, setting up Dekaney at their 14-yard line. Two players later, Cephus scored on a 7-yard run for a 21-7 lead.
After Davis pulled within 21-14, the Falcons’ Gerren Jiles (20 carries for 103 yards and one score) fumbled — again deep in Davis territory. Three plays later, Cephus kept for a 1-yard scoring run and 28-14 edge with 10:40 remaining.
“Cephus is a real smart kid,” Williams said. “He was able to respond, and respond big.”
Dekaney was involved in shutouts the last two weeks, falling 22-0 to Westfield and then blanking Eisenhower 35-0. The Wildcats pitched a shutout through the first quarter Thursday.
Davis didn’t have a first down in the opening 12 minutes.
“Defense is a squad that wins championships for everybody, and these guys were relentless,” Williams said.
But the Falcons pulled within 14-7 at halftime on a scoring drive in the final minutes of the second quarter.
Prudhomme was intercepted in the end zone by Dekaney’s Aren Thomas on the previous series, but this time he tossed a perfect fade to Michael Roquemore in the corner of the end zone for a 25-yard score. That capped a sevenplay, 55-yard drive with 32 seconds left.
Dekaney dominated the first half before that possession — despite committing two untimely turnovers in the first quarter. Cephus was intercepted by Xavier Bagley at Davis’ 10, and Donald Smith lost a fumble, setting Davis up at Dekaney’s 17.
But Jalen Baldwin recovered a Davis fumble on the first play of the ensuing series.
Smith scores twice
Smith scored both of Dekaney’s touchdowns in the first half, capping the team’s opening march with a 4-yard TD run, then scoring on a 3-yard pass from Cephus for a 14-0 advantage midway though the second quarter. He finished with 98 yards on 21 carries.
“Adversity’s going to hit in football games, so you have to be able to respond after the adversity hits, and I couldn’t be more proud of how our kids responded to all the adversity,” Williams said.”