Germantown uses big plays to edge Houston

The number of mistakes on both sides screamed that Friday’s GermantownHouston rivalry game was a matchup of teams marked “work in progress.”

But first-year Germantown coach Chris Smith has been preaching the “212,” or full-effort gospel since his arrival. Friday, he saw enough of that effort that his Red Devils were able to spoil the Mustangs’ homecoming with a 21-14 decision.

“We keep telling them ‘212. 212’,” said Smith, referring to the notion that water will not boil at 211 degrees, but if you give it that last little push to 212, things start to percolate.

The Devils bubbled in short, spectacular bursts for Germantown (2-1, 1-0). Rodney Williams took the opening kickoff 94 yards for his second return touchdown in three games. He took the ball near the left sideline, cut right to find a wall of blockers, and broke loose at the 40-yard line.

“We’d practiced that all week, doing it the same way, and it worked,” Williams said.

The rebuilding Mustangs (0-3, 0-1), coming off a close loss at Henry County the week before, got into the red zone four times in the first half, but gave up two interceptions and a fumble, and missed a 25-yard field goal try.

“That’s where we put ourselves in the hole,” Houston coach Will Hudgins said. “Worstcase scenario we should have been looking a 12-7 lead at halftime. The kids are working, but we’re still making mistakes.”

Germantown’s offense struggled the rest of the half, and early in the second, Houston quarterback Garrett Bates tied the game on a 9-yard scoring pass to Chanse Pullen.

But Smith switched quarterbacks, going with senior Myles Guyton, and he provided a spark with a long run that set up a 1-yard TD sneak in the third quarter. He also hit 4-of-4 passes for 84 yards and set the stage for Davinci Leavy’s 16-yard score early in the fourth that made it 21-7.

“Myles is just an effort guy who brought us some energy,” Smith said of the senior.

Guyton said that as he waited his turn, “I was only thinking about doing my job.”

But the Devils couldn’t shake the mistake bug. With five minutes to play, Houston’s Kelei Harris blocked a punt that J.C. Reynolds returned 17 yards for the night’s final touchdown.

Germantown’s next possession stalled deep in Devils’ territory thanks to a fumbled snap and a busted play. Houston’s Emmett Whitaker at first looked to not field the punt, but then tried a late grab for a run what he thought were open spaces. But Germantown’s Jaylon Jackson squirted in front of Whittaker and grabbed the ball sphere to everyone’s amazement. Especially his own.

“I still don’t have any idea how I got that ball. I just knew I had to make a play,” Jackson said.

Hudgins said, “That one play didn’t cost us the game. We gave too many away early on.”