PUBLISHED NOV. 21
By Jerry Kirby
Contributing Writer
The Pilot Point Bearcats traveled to Herman Clark Stadium on Nov. 13 to take on the West Trojans for the bidistrict first round of the playoffs and dismantled the Trojans in a 45-13 win.
The Bearcats offense generated over 450 yards of total offense and six touchdowns, while the defense stifled the Trojans, holding them to 214 yards and 13 points.
“Our offense had to work for it,” said Chad Worrell, Pilot Point athletic director and head football coach. “We knew they were going to be big, and they were hard to move in that first half. We had some chances to pop it open, but we missed a couple opportunities, and then we broke it open in the second half. I'm proud of everybody: our offense, defense and special teams.”
West received the PUBLISHED NOV. 21
opening kickoff but gained 5 yards on their opening possession, punting the ball to Pilot Point, who would start its opening drive on their own 37yard line.
The Bearcats matriculated the ball into Trojan territory with 10 straight running plays, finding themselves on the Trojan’s 6-yard line, where the drive stalled, and kicker Anthony Torres booted a 23-yard field goal, giving the Bearcats a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
The Trojans would answer a few plays later, getting on the scoreboard after a 34-yard touchdown run by running back Ayden Rideout, putting West in front 7-3.
The Trojans’ lead lasted 19 seconds, when Bearcats running back Dre James exploded through a hole in West’s defense for a 66-yard touchdown, putting Pilot Point back on top 10-7.
“It was kind of congested, but I went through, got two good lead blocks, and I just took off, and there was no looking back,” James said.
The two teams traded possessions until James made his second highlight reel play of the night, gashing the Trojans for a 68-yard touchdown run and sending the teams into the half with Pilot Point leading 17-7.
Pilot Point added to its lead in the third quarter when quarterback Garrett Evans found fullback Caden David for a 40yard touchdown pass, extending the Bearcats' lead to 24-7.
The Bearcats got the ball back after David sacked Trojans quarterback Dub Cain, and David stepped up again with a 47-yard touchdown run on the Bearcats’ ensuing possession, putting the Bearcats up 31-7 near the end of the third quarter.
“That score helped out a lot,” David said. “It gave us a lot of confidence and took a lot of stress off of our backs. Having that lead really helped us play free and make plays.”
West would score a late touchdown, but Pilot Point would add two more touchdowns— a 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Carter Lock and a 33-yard run by fullback David Pickrel—and take the win, 45-13.
James finished with 8 carries for 140 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns, followed by David, who finished with 114 total yards and 2 total touchdowns.
The Bearcats’ defense held the Trojans to just 68 yards on the ground and 146 yards through the air, and Worrell spoke highly of his unit’s execution and effort.
“Our defense holding them to 7 points there at the end was huge,” Worrell said. “We used our quickness to pressure the quarterback, [and] I thought we made him uncomfortable.”
Worrell added that he hopes the win helps the Bearcats’ confidence to continue to grow.
“I hope they take away that they can play with anybody, no matter how big they are, and that we have to reset each week and play our best football at this point of the year, and we did tonight,” he said.
Assistant editor Martin Edwards contributed to this report.
Bearcats ballcarrier Carter Lock glides across the goal line for a touchdown as his teammates and coaching staff celebrate behind him. Martin Edwards/ The Post-Signal
