The Aubrey Chaparrals football team earned their first district win and second win of the season, beating the Nevada Community Braves 49-7 on Oct. 17.
The Chaps pounced on their opponent from the opening kickoff, piling up over 400 yards of total offense and seven touchdowns, while holding the Braves under 200 yards.
“It was a much-needed win, obviously,” said Keith Ivy, Aubrey athletic director and head football coach. “Our players went out tonight for a big homecoming game and played with tremendous effort and executed extremely well.”
Aubrey hit the turf firing on all cylinders, with new signal caller Connor Murphy calling his own number and rumbling into the end zone from 17 yards out on the Chaps’ opening drive.
The Chaps took a 7-0 lead after a successful extra point attempt by kicker Peyton Campbell.
Murphy barreled into the end zone again a little while later, this time from 27 yards out, putting Aubrey up 14-0 in the first quarter.
Aubrey poured on the points in the second quarter, with Murphy connecting with receiver Braxton Osterman for a 41yard touchdown strike, followed by an interception returned for a touchdown by linebacker Camron Haygood.
The Chaps continued to add to their lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by fullback Logan Gannon and a second Pick-6 by Osterman, who also plays defensive back.
“I was able to get up there and grab the ball and get around the offensive guy, and then my teammates helped me get down the field and score,” Osterman said. “It was exhilarating. I was super happy to get my second touchdown of the season.”
The four second quarters sent the two teams into the half with Aubrey leading 42-0.
Running back Corbin Frazier scored the final touchdown for the Chaps with a 10-yard run in the third quarter, extending Aubrey’s lead to 49 points.
Community would find the end zone in the fourth quarter with a 77-yard touchdown run by receiver Udejimba Ogwuegbu, but Aubrey held on to win 497.
Murphy, who finished his first start with 360 total yards and 3 touchdowns, credited his performance to preparation and his teammates.
“I went to QB camps and all the college camps I could go to, and I did really well there,” he said. “… It felt really good to be out there tonight, and my receivers were open, and they knew exactly what to do when I scrambled.”
The defense held the Braves to 109 yards of total offense outside of Ogwuegbu’s touchdown run and forced 3 turnovers.
Haygood said the performance came as a result of a great week of practice and shared his hope the Chaps can sustain the momentum from the win.
“We had a great week of practice and wanted to get back on the right path of Aubrey’s winning culture,” he said. “… We just want to continue to take that physicality that we showed tonight and have the confidence to continue to just push through next week to Lake Dallas and beat them.”
Martin Edwards/Post-Signal
