Varsity FB Goes to 3 0 on Character-Building Win

Varsity FB Goes to 3 – 0 on Character-building Win Submitted to The Eagle Express by Jim Smith & Chris Smith

The 2016 Varsity Eagles football team showed the home crowd that they have ability, determination, teamwork, and a bit of luck in earning a hard fought 28 – 27 win over the McKinney Christian Mustangs to bring their season record to a perfect 3 – 0. Luck, as defined by former UT coaching legend Darrell Royal, is when preparation meets opportunity. The Eagles were prepared by Coach Larry Thexton and his staff to face a high- octane offense and a big, tough defense from MCA that was determined to avenge last year’s 23 – 20 loss to the Eagles. Taking the opening kickoff, POP raced to an early 7 – 0 lead on a drive that was highlighted by senior RB JT McGaughy’s 52-yard run, behind a key block by Sean Peterson on the second play of the game, to take the ball down to the MCA 10-yard line. Junior FB Parker Strong scored the first TD of the game from 6 yards out two plays later and freshman placekicker Josh Thatcher added the first of his four PATs. MCA responded with a 63-yard, 10 play scoring drive to even the score at the 7:07 mark of the first period. Following the recovery of an Eagle fumble, the Mustangs quickly scored again on an 11-yard TD pass. The ensuing PAT put MCA ahead of the Eagles 14 – 7 with 5:55 remaining in the opening quarter. The Eagles mounted an impressive 8:36, 17 play scoring drive to tie the game at 14 all just 2:41 deep into the 2nd quarter. FB Ryan Franckhauser did the scoring honors with a 3-yard scoring run as the Eagles successfully converted 4th down attempts twice on the drive. Junior QB Jackson Garrett rushed 9 times for 51-yards in the 75-yard drive. The Mustangs again answered back with their own 75-yard drive in 7 plays to score on a Jackson Brock 16-yard TD pass to Quinn Revere. The MCA conversion made the score 21- 14 in favor of the Mustangs with 6:33 remaining in the 1st half. Following a POP 3 and out, the first of several decisive series began. MCA marched from their 26-yard line to the POP 6-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the half. The Eagles defense stopped MCA four times from the 6 and took over on downs at their own 2- yard line with 16 seconds left in the first half. MCA ran 17 plays but failed to score because of the determined defensive efforts of senior DE Austin Goral, LB Parker Strong, junior LB Ryan Franckhauser, and senior DBs Zack Brenner and Daniel Wall. Along with their defensive teammates, this group of defenders kept MCA from taking a 2-score lead into halftime. MOMENTUM started favoring the Eagles following that end-of-the-half stop and really decided to help the Eagles as the 2nd half began. On the 2nd play of the half, DB JT McGaughy stepped in front of a Brock pass and took the interception 11 yards to the Mustangs 19-yard line. 6 plays later, JT scored his second TD of the game on a 4-yard gain. Thatcher’s PAT may have knotted the score at 21, but the Eagles were feeling MOMENTUM beneath their wings. The Eagles defense had 4 game-changing plays in the 3rd quarter. McGaughy’s interception was followed by an on-side kick recovery by sophomore LB Jaz Mudhar. The Eagles failed to score on the ensuing drive, giving the defense another opportunity to stop MCA. This time DE Austin Goral blocked a MCA punt at the 4-minute mark of the quarter, setting up POP at the Mustangs 19-yard line. The offense failed to make a first down, so Josh Thatcher attempted a 33-yard field goal that was partially blocked and deflected off the upright. With MCA setting up shop on their 20-yard line, safety Daniel Wall intercepted another Brock pass in the third period and returned it 6 yards. This time the Eagles offense moved 34 yards with McGaughy scoring his 2nd TD of the night behind excellent blocking by senior RB Sean Peterson and senior SE Jackson Smith. Thatcher’s 4th PAT kick was true and would prove to be the winning point for the Eagles. In the remaining 11:56 of the fourth quarter, MCA had 3 possessions. They were stopped on 4th and goal from the Eagles 2-yard line (for a second time) at the 7:25 mark. They scored on a 45-yard, 5 play drive at 3:21 remaining in the quarter, but their PAT kick to tie the game was deflected by 6’7” DL Max Huff, making the score 28 – 27 in favor of POP. Sophomore LB Custis Moore corralled the loose ball at the POP 38-yard line on the ensuing kickoff by MCA. Five consecutive run by Parker Strong consumed 2:37 of time before Daniel Wall’s 44-yard punt. MCA was left 80 yards away from the Eagles end zone with only 41 ticks remaining on the clock. 4 pass attempts netted MCA only 1 yard and the POP Eagles came away with the 28 – 27 victory. Kudos go to Austin Goral, Ryan Franckhauser, Parker Strong, JT McGaughy, Daniel Wall, senior DL Hayden Mark, and Zack Brenner in leading a sterling example of “bend, but don’t break” defense. JT McGaughy, Josh Thatcher, Jackson Garrett, Sean Peterson, Jackson Smith, Parker Strong, Ryan Franckhauser and the offensive line of Harrison Owens, Hayden Mark, Max Huff, Austin Goral, Will Connally, Cortland Smith, Jackson Brumbaugh, and Andrew Biggers all made major contributions to the Eagles offensive effort. The Eagles will enjoy a BYE week before beginning district play at home on September 23 against Tyler T K Gorman.