The Pilot Point Bearcats varsity football team returned home to Massey Stadium and earned its second win of the season, defeating the Howe Bulldogs 69-34 on Sept. 11.
The two teams traded touchdowns throughout the highscoring affair, combining for over 900 yards of offense, but the Bearcats made the plays down the stretch to outlast their opponent and take the win.
“Defensively, we had some problems lining up and communicating pass responsibilities, but I think we got up on them in the first half and lost a little focus, so it wasn’t a cleanplayed game, but our effort wasn’t the problem,” said Chad Worrell, Pilot Point athletic director and head football coach.
“…We just have some mental errors we need to clean up. Offensively, we made some mistakes, but we scored every time we had the ball, and we were very happy with that.'
Howe received the opening kickoff and went on a 6-play, 75-yard drive capped with a 33-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Deacon Bender that put the Bulldogs up 7-0.
It would be the only lead Howe would have in the contest.
Pilot Point responded with an 8-play, 61-yard drive of its own that ended with an 8-yard touchdown run by running back Josh Chumley, putting the Bearcats up 8-7 after a successful 2-point conversion midway through the first quarter.
After forcing Howe to punt on its ensuing possession, the Bearcats would start their second drive at midfield, making their way into Bulldog territory and ending their drive with a 13-yard touchdown run by running back Hastings Fischer. Another successful 2-point conversion extended Pilot Point’s lead to 16-7 near the end of the first quarter.
The Bearcats found the end zone again with a trick play that resulted in a 50-yard touchdown pass from Fischer to receiver Stephen Campbell, giving Pilot Point a 24-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Bulldogs scored the first touchdown of the second quarter on a 36-yard touchdown run by running back Rylan Strong, cutting Pilot Point’s lead to 10 points early in the second quarter.
Bearcat running back David Pickrel put Pilot Point back in the end zone with a 2-yard touchdown run, making the score 30-14 at the half.
The Bearcats got the ball to open the second half and scored again, this time with an 18-yard run from Chumley, giving Pilot Point a three-score advantage to open the third quarter.
The two teams traded touchdowns on their next drives, with Strong scoring from 69 yards out for Howe and Chumley finding the end zone for the third time on the night, making the score 4420 in favor of Pilot Point.
The scoring would continue on both sides, but Pilot Point would go on to outscore Howe 25-14, powered by touchdown runs from Fischer, tight end Blayne Dixon, running back Braylon Brake and a touchdown pass from quarterback Luke Daniel to Collin Grigsby.
Daniel’s touchdown toss was also the first of his career at the varsity level.
“I’ve thrown one in games before, but to get the first one on varsity meant a lot, and hopefully it's something that will be going on for a while,” Daniel said.
Pilot Point’s offense finished the night with 560 total yards and 10 touchdowns, spearheaded by Chumley, who had 152 yards rushing and 3 TDs and Fischer, who had 139 yards rushing and 2 TDs.
Bearcats’ leading tackler, defensive end/linebacker Wade Eft, said he hopes the win restores the team’s confidence as the intensity of the season picks up.
“This win should give us a little momentum and also show us that we’re able to bounce back from a loss and still get to our goal of playing Thanksgiving football and eventually making it to State,” he said.
Assistant editor Martin Edwards contributed to this report.
