Crockett Hammers Westwood, 56-16
Bulldogs Still Alive for #2 Playoff Seed
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
WESTWOOD – The Crockett Bulldogs hit the road this past Friday as they traveled north on US Hwy 287 to take on the Westwood Panthers. Crockett had clinched a playoff spot the previous week and still had an outside shot at the District 11-3A DI Championship if the Franklin Lions beat the Diboll Lumberjacks.
Westwood was still mathematically alive for a playoff berth but things would have to break just so for them to sneak into the playoffs.
The Bulldogs came into the game with an overall record of 6-2 and a district mark of 4-1 while the Panthers were 2-6 and 1-4.
Crockett struck first on a 22-yard keeper from QB Jordan Bedford at the 8:43 mark of the first quarter and after Antonio Cruz knocked home the extra point, the Bulldogs staked themselves to an early 7-0 lead.
The Panthers struck back on their next possession, however, as Kylance Parish broke free for a 14-yrad scoring romp to cut the Crockett lead to 7-6.
Following the Westwood score, the Bulldogs took possession of the ball and drove to their own 40. From there, Bedford dropped back to pass and found running back Joseph Porter, Jr. on a 60-yard TD pass to make the score 13-6. Cruz added the PAT to bring the first quarter to an end with Crockett ahead, 14-6.
The second quarter saw the Bulldogs begin to pull away. Porter scored his second touchdown of the game on a 15-yard run through the middle of the Panthers’ defense and Bedford followed that up with his second TD of the half on a two-yard dive.
Westwood added a 32-yard field goal as the second quarter came to a close but the Bulldogs took a 28-9 lead into the locker at halftime.
After the break, the Panthers cut into the Crockett lead when QB James Meadows connected with wide-out Jackson Munger on a wide receiver screen for a 12-yard scoring strike. The extra point was good and the Panthers only trailed 28-16, midway through the third quarter.
That was as close as the Panthers would get to a comeback, however, as the Bulldogs rattled off 28 unanswered points.
Following the Westwood TD, Crockett launched a long, sustained drive that ended when Jakecian Jones bulled his way into the end zone from three yards out with 3:32 left in the third quarter. Cruz split the uprights to make the score 35-16, after three periods of play.
As the fourth quarter got underway, Bedford connected with Cristian Brice on a 50-yard post route for six points which made the score 42-16, after the PAT.
Coach Jimmy Thompson began to rest some of his starters after the Brice TD and got some of his reserve players into the game. One of those was Dennis Simmons who found the end zone from 14 yards out with 3:47 left in the game
Crockett’s final score came when Brice stepped in front of a Westwood pass and took it 50 yards to the house for a pick six which helped make the final score 56-16, Crockett.
Unfortunately for Crockett, Diboll defeated Franklin to secure the district championship. That leaves the Bulldogs and the Lions battling it out for the second playoff seed from District 11-3A DI this Friday as Crockett welcomes Franklin to Monte Jack Driskell Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
