CUBS TAME WILDCATS IN DISTRICT OPENER
The Brenham Cubs left little doubt that they were ready to kick off District 19/5A play, with their most complete performance of the young season, in a 35-12 win over Tomball Memorial, Friday night at Tomball ISD Stadium.
The Cubs’ offense attacked on the ground and through the air, while the defense held the Wildcats to less than 200 yards total offense.
The key moment in the game came late in the third quarter, with Brenham (2-2/1-0) leading 28-12, Memorial launched a 19-play, nine-and-a-half minute drive to the Cubs’ two-yard line. Brenham’s defense then shut down the Wildcats on four straight plays inside the two-yard line, denying Memorial any points on their marathon drive.
(Photo; Larry Urquhart)
Brenham (2-2/1-0) then launched their own time-consuming drive that chewed up nine-minutes and 36 seconds, capped by Ernest Patterson’s second touchdown of the night—a two-yard run with 3:40 left in the game that effectively slammed the door on the Wildcats.
Patterson put the Cubs on the board on their first drive of the night, taking a short pass from Caleb Hill and racing 56-yards for the score, and a 7-0 lead.
(Photo: Larry Urquhart)
Memorial (1-3/0-1) cut into the lead less than two minutes later when the Wildcats’’ Lawrence Jackson caught a 26-yard scoring pass from Austin Kelly. The Cubs blocked the extra-point to maintain a 7-6 lead.
That lead was short-lived as Patterson coughed up the ball on the next series. Aaron Holland capped-off the short drive with a two-yard plunge and a 12-7 Memorial lead.
Brenham would fight right back as Hill found Jaquay Cross in the end zone for a 14-12 lead to end a wild first quarter.
(Photo: Larry Urquhart)
Midway through the second quarter, Patterson’s 77-yard punt return set up Trumaine Sweed’s 10-yard run. The Cubs took a 21-12 lead to the locker-room at halftime.
(Photo: Larry Urquhart)
Brenham extended their lead quickly after the intermission. Patterson returned the second-half kickoff 66 yards to the Memorial 27-yard line. On fourth down, the Cubs pulled a little razzle-dazzle with a reverse pass by Walter Thomas to Cross for a 26-yard touchdown.
Patterson would finish with 363 total yards on the night (112 rushing, 74 receiving and 175 in returns). His 112 yards rushing moved him past Matt Murski (3,158); Mathus Gill (3,181); and Donyell Jones (3,225) into second on the Cubs’ all-time rushing list. Only Roosevelt Leaks has rushed for more yards in a Cubs’ uniform: 3,691 yards.
(Photo: Larry Urquhart)
Hill finished the night 10-of-16 passing with 140 yards and two touchdowns. Cross caught four passes for 54 yards and two touchdowns, giving him eight scores on the season.
Defensively, the Cubs held the Wildcats to 185 yards total offense (51 rushing and 134 passing). The Cubs also sacked Kelly four times.
(Photo: Larry Urquhart)
The Cubs return home next Friday night as they host Magnolia West for a 7:00 kickoff—6:30 pre-game on KWHI and www.kwhi.com.
OTHER 19/5A SCORES:
MAGNOLIA WEST (2-2/1-0) 53 TOMBALL (2-2) 29
WALLER (5-0/1-0) 62 SPRING WOODS (2-2/0-1) 20
MAGNOLIA (1-3/1-0) 21 STRATFORD (0-4/0-1) 7