Mason’s 4 TD passes propel Bulldogs into playoff berth

BRENHAM — It was grim a few weeks back for Magnolia.

The Bulldogs had three straight District 20-5A losses and were in the bottom four.

But a win last week over Willis set up and a winand-in scenario against Brenham on Friday night.

The Bulldogs won. And they are in the playoffs for a third straight year.

Magnolia got four touchdown passes by senior Reese Mason and three touchdown receptions from Ben Renfro in a 35-28 win at Cub Stadium.

Magnolia (5-4, 4-3) have won three straight over Brenham (6-3, 4-3).

“We lost three district ball games in a row,” Magnolia coach Sterling Doty said, referring to a tough stretch in October. “We hadn’t done that in a long time and we stayed the course, believed in each other and believed in the coaching staff. We were able to put back-to-back victories together.”

Renfro, a sophomore, caught touchdown passes of 19, 71 and 79 yards. The third one broke open a tie game at 28-29 with 6:15 to play.

Renfro finished with four receptions for 176 yards.

“When you’ve got other good receivers that they are keying on, sometimes you can slip one past them,” Doty said. “Great job by our O-line.”

Brenham had just tied the game after stopping Magnolia on a 4th and short at the Cubs’ 10-yard line.

On the first play of the ensuing drive, Oklahoma commit Treveon Johnson took a jet sweep to the end zone from 89 yards out to make it 28-28.

Magnolia led 28-14 at halftime as the Cubs scored one touchdown in the third quarter as Weldon Patterson bulldozed in a 2-yard touchdown run.

The Bulldogs got two takeaways on defense, including a 75-yard interception return to the end zone by linebacker Caleb Wall. Wall kept his balance up Magnolia sideline and outran the Cubs defense for a 21-14 lead.

Brenham opened up shop with an eight-play drive that was capped on a 1-yard plunge by quarterback Kendarin Ray. Magnolia responded with a 10play, 75-yard drive..

The tie was short lived as Brenham took a 14-7 lead on a 63-yard touchdown pass from Ray to Monterrious Moore.

Mason finished 17-for24 for 246 yards and one interception. He also ran for 56 yards.

Anthony Johnson had 10 carries for 131 yards.

For Brenham, Johnson had eight carries for 196 yards. Tamarus McWilliams had 10 attempts for 64 yards. Ray threw for 114 yards and ran for 55.

“Great team victory,” Doty said. “Offense, defense and special teams came up with some big plays.”

Magnolia’s opponent in the Region III-5A bidistrict round is undetermined.