CCS Warriors roll to third straight win
By DAVID MAY
Special to Mineral Wells Area News
WILLOW PARK – Explosive plays on offense, four touchdowns by sophomore running back Hayden Yelverton and an opportunistic defense keyed Community Christian School to a 61-27 win over CenTex Home School.
It was CCS’ third straight win (3-1) and their third game to score 50 points or more.
The contest was a scheduled home game for the Warriors, who are unable to play on their home field this season because of inadequate conditions. Friday’s game was slated to take place at Weatherford Christian School, but because of rain earlier in the day was moved at the last minute to Trinity Christian Academy’s stadium and its artificial turf. TCA’s 100-yard field was coned off to create the narrower sixman 80-yard field.
CCS legendary head coach Gary Rushing was happy with the win, but afterward exhorted his players to continue improving as the district slate and tougher opponents await.
“We are really inexperienced,” said Rushing, pointing out that among the 10 players suited out one is an eighth grader and three are freshmen. “It’s hard getting six players on the field who can stop our opponents. Those young ones have to get better. We have some good athletes. Right now, our team is better suited for offense than defense.”
Rushing complimented CenTex (1-3), a first-year program with several players who produced some big plays against the CCS defense.
“They have some athletes,” Rushing said. They have some good backs that are fast. I didn’t know much about them. I didn’t have any film on them. I was proud of our team.”
While the visiting Bearcats had some big plays on offense, they also produced some mistakes that CCS was able to capitalize on to help the young Warriors gradually pull away for the win.
That was evident at the game’s outset. CenTex recovered an onside kick to begin the game. Taking over at CCS’ 35 yard line, the Bearcats had third-and-goal from the 7 when a hit forced a fumble into the air. The tumbling ball was gathered in by Price Horton at the 4, who raced 76 yards in the opposite direction to stake the Warriors to a 6-0 lead in an early reversal of fortunes.
CCS recovered the ensuing kick at the Bearcats’ 35. Albany junior transfer Jace Little had a 16-yard run on first down and CCS soon found itself on the Bearcats’ 1 yard line, where Little finished off the five-play drive with a score to put CCS ahead 13-0.
CenTex needed just one play, a 47-yard burst by Stuart Sanders who cut left through Warriors defenders and shook off a downfield tackle attempt to make it a 13-8 game.
The teams would continue trading scores. A dump pass to CCS freshman receiver River Bryan produced 10 yards, and another to Little went for 11 more before Yelverton’s 26-yard run put CCS on the doorstep at the Bearcats 3. Little was hit at about the 1 yard line but reached the ball over the goal line for the score and a 20-8 CCS lead.
CenTex’s Willis Rigsby’s 31-yard scoring run once again tightened the game to a 20-14 CCS lead.
On the first play of the second quarter, Yelverton’s 7-yard touchdown run put CCS on top by a 27-14 score.
The Bearcats’ second fumble of the first half led to four consecutive big offensive plays for CCS. A Kade Etier reverse went for 25 yards for the CCS freshman. Yelverton followed with a 9-yard run. Braden Maness hauled in a 10-yard pass, and Horton scored his second touchdown of the game on a 12-yard run to put CCS up 33-14.
The Warriors defense stopped CenTex on downs on the Bearcats’ next possession. Starting from its own 35, Horton peeled off a 21-yard run before a well-executed pass to Etier in the flat went for 17 yards. The drive ended with a 1-yard toss from Horton to Parker Dehls that staked CCS to a 40-14 halftime lead.
CenTex opened the second half with a touchdown, only to see CCS answer immediately. Starting its 25, Horton connected for a 55-yard scoring play to make it a 47-20 lead.
The Bearcats turned the ball over to the Warriors on downs to set CCS up at midfield. Five plays later Yelverton found the end zone for the third time on a 10-yard scoring scamper to secure a 53-20 advantage over the visitors.
CCS’ defense once again stopped a CenTex drive, however a fumble was scooped up and returned for a Bearcats touchdown to make it s 53-27 game with just 7 seconds left in the third quarter.
For the second time, CCS scored on the first play of a new quarter. Opening the fourth, Yelverton raced 50 yards for his fourth TD to create the final 61-27 score.
The Warriors will open district this Friday hosting St. Mary’s in Texas Christian Athletic Fellowship District 1 action. The game is currently scheduled to be played at Weatherford Christian School with a 7 p.m. Start.
Winning three straight is a confidence-builder, Rushing said, but he knows tougher opponents lie ahead.
“We are fixing to see a lot better teams,” he said. “The team (this Friday), we beat them last year. They are a strong physical team. They are going to line up and try to run the ball down our throats and keep our offense on the sideline.
“We are going to be a great running running football team. I have two good running backs (Little and Yelverton) and they are both back next year. It is something to build on. Right now, we are a work in progress and we are going to get better every week.”
