Wildcats hold off Bruins’ rally in thriller
TOMBALL — It was an instant classic but a stinging loss for Beaumont West Brook.
It almost was a dramatic comeback for the Bruins. A youthful West Brook squad fought back from a 23-point first-half deficit to take a late lead, only to fall short to TomballMemorial 66-63 on Friday night.
At the forefront of the comeback at Tomball ISD Stadium was Bruins quarterback Bryce Anderson, who rushed for 221 yards and passed for 215. Anderson’s 20-yard touchdown scamper with 4:14 to play put the Bruins ahead for the first time at 63-59.
But Memorial responded with a touchdown drive of its own, culminating in Richard Rodriguez’s 4-yard touchdown — the last of his four running scores — with 1:36 to play in the game.
West Brook had one more possession, but the drive stalled on downs at the Wildcats’ 25-yard line with five seconds remaining.
“They (the Wildcats) are going to be a team to be reckoned with it, but this is going to helpus get towhere we need to get,” Bruins coach Eric Peevey said.“We came out big-eyed and made a lot of mistakes early, but the weapons they have at Memorial.
“We had a lot of team mistakes on the defensive side. I can’t say anything wrong on our offense. The young men played their tails off. Memorial is a very good team, and I see them making a run this year.”
Anderson’s running skills were on full display, but West Brook couldn’t match Tomball Memorial touchdown for touchdown in its season opener in a nondistrict matchup. West Brook punted once, and Tomball Memorial did not punt.
Anderson had gains of 52, 29, 25, 24 and 20 yards. But Wildcats quarterback Colton Marwill’s 356 passing yards were too much to overcome.
“A lot of young teams would give up,” Peevey said. “Our team stayed and fought and represented their city well tonight.”
Down by 23 points in the second quarter, West Brook got within three points twice in the third quarter and finally took the lead in the fourth quarter.
West Brook’s second offensive play of the game and the final play from scrimmage in the second half were themost exciting plays for the Bruins.
Fromits 20-yard line, Anderson connected with Jordyn Carmouche on an 80yard score. The defender overplayed the ball, and the speedy Carmouche covered the final 70 yards into the end zone untouched.
The final play of the half was even more entertaining for the Bruins faithful. Caleb David blocked Lorelai Stramrood’s 22-yard fieldgoal attempt, and Khristian Pugh picked up the loose ball at the 22 and ran into back for the score as time expired in the first half, putting the Bruins within 45-35.
JaMichael Foxall ran for a team-best 133 yards for the Bruins, and Jordan Guidry added 87 rushing yards. West Brook offensive linemen who excelled on Friday were Cameron Handy, Mykel Janise, Artis Hall, Nathan Banks and Ashton Janise.
Anderson replaced quarterback Troy Yowman, who passed for more than 1,800 yards and completed 71 percent of his passes for the 2019 Class 6A Division II area finalists that finished 9-3.
West Brook wasn’t playing just any teamin its opener. Tomball Memorial, of District 15-6A, has credentials. TheWildcats are coming off a 10-2 season, the best mark in school history and their first playoff win.
Anderson, who played mostly in the secondary last year as a sophomore but offense only on Friday, is an early LSU commit and it’s easy to see why the SEC power is interested in the 6-0, 195-pounder. At times it appeared Anderson was dead in the water, only to get out of the grasp of defenders with strength and shifty moves.
“Everybody expects him to just be a defensive guy, we really needed him on defense tonight, but hewas exhausted,” Peevey said. “He was running up and down the field. He proved to everybody tonight that he’s just as special on offense as he is on defense.”
Marwill stood out just like Anderson. Marwill, a senior, threw two touchdown passes and ran for two. His favorite receiverwas Joseph Manjack, who caught touchdownpasses of 26 and 17yards and caught a 71-yard pass that set up the Wildcats’ first score.
Richard Rodriguez rushed for159 yards, including the go-ahead score.
Defensively for the Bruins, linebacker Garrett Richard stood out.
West Brook originally was to open its 2020 football season against Beaumont United in the Alumni Bowl. But that game was changed to a scrimmage as the season was delayed because of COVID-19.