CUBS ROLL PAST YATES, 61-12 IN BI-DISTRICT PLAYOFF

The Brenham Cubs scored three touchdowns in a span of less than four minutes to pull away from Houston Yates, en route to a 61-12 win at Cubs Stadium, Friday night.

The win propels the Cubs into the Area Round of the Region III/5A Divison II playoffs against Elgin.

With the Cubs (8-3) leading 7-6 early in the second quarter, Ernest Patterson reeled off a 36-yard run to set the Cubs up in Lions’ territory. On the next play, Patterson went 16 yards.  Four plays later, Caleb Hill hit Jaquay Cross with a six-yard touchdown pass and a 13-6 lead.

The Cubs then took advantage a 10-yard punt by Yates (7-4) to take over at the Lions’ 33-yard line.  On the very next play from scrimmage, Hill hit tight end Shawn Weiss on a scoring pass to up the lead to 20-6.

Twelve seconds later, the Cubs forced a Yates turnover that resulted in a 20-yard touchdown run by Patterson and a 27-6 lead.  A 40-yard pass from Hill to Cross set up the Patterson scoring run.

Yates looked to get back in the game after Khalil Wagner’s 3-yard touchdown run and then held the Cubs to a three-and-out.  But with the Lions looking to cut into the lead right before halftime, Cross intercepted an Anthony Franklin pass at mid-field.  Four plays later, Hill hit Cross with a 15-yard TD pass, and a 34-12 halftime lead.

The Cubs dominated the second half, outgaining the Lions 280-yards to 70 in total offense.

Leading the charge was Patterson, who finished the night with 258 yards and three touchdowns, including a 32-yard third-quarter touchdown run.

Hill completed 9-of-13 passes for 182 yards and four touchdowns.  Hill also reeled-off a 38-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.  Cross caught four passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns.

Trumaine Sweed added a 15-yard touchdown pass from Hill, while Tre’Markes Smith scored from a yard out.

The Cubs’ defense was overpowering, holding the Lions’ potent offese to over 100 yards below their season average of 349 yards per game.  District 20/5A leading rusher Anthony Martin was held to -5 yards rushing on eight carries.  Franklin, who led the district in passing this season, was limited to just eight completions in 21 attempts.

The Cubs’ defensive front of Khevon Shepard, Al’Fondrick Bennett, Marquez Bimmage, Tyrell Rogers and Cole Kenjura continually forced Franklin to throw on the run or with a slew of defenders in his face.

The Cubs also forced four Lions turnovers, two fumble recoveries and a pair of interceptions.  The exclamation point came late the game when the sideline literally explode when reserve defender Doran-Vanneck Toussom picked off a pass by the Lions leading to the Cubs’ victory formation.

The Cubs will face Elgin in the Area Playoffs next Friday night at 7:00 at Woodforest Bank Stadium in Conroe.  KWHI and www.kwhi.com will have live coverage beginning with the pre-game show at 6:30.

The winner will advance to face either Crosby or Port Lavaca Calhoun in the Region Quarterfinals.