The La Vega Pirates’ playmakers came through when they were needed most versus China Spring on Friday night.
And Pirates fans likely walked away feeling like La Vega had taken care of business in a 35-14 victory over the visiting Cougars at Willie Williams Stadium.
But it was a different scene in the La Vega postgame huddle where Pirates coach Don Hyde aggressively challenged his players to improve.
“Nah, we’ve got to play better,” Hyde said. “It’s a good win but we’ve got to play better than that. We should’ve had 35, 40 points at halftime. We’ve got to get better is all I can tell you.”
La Vega running back Bryson Roland reaches over the goal line for a touchdown in front of China Spring defender Jakoby Bledsoe in the first quarter on Friday at Willie Williams Stadium.
Although the Pirates couldn’t get star running back Bryson Roland going in the running game, Roland caught a pair of touchdown passes from Kourtney Parr in the first half.
People are also reading…
On the first one, Parr hit Roland with a short pass on fourth-and-goal from the China Spring 7. Roland beat the China Spring defense to the corner and extended the ball across the goal for the Pirates’ initial 7-0 lead.
On the second, La Vega was driving in the final minute of the second quarter when Parr threw over the top of the Cougars to Roland for a 41-yard score.
La Vega running back Bryson Roland (0) celebrates his 41-yard touchdown reception from Kourtney Parr late in the second quarter on Friday at Willie Williams Stadium.
Parr’s two touchdown passes and a one-yard tush-push TD run early in the second quarter put the Pirates up 21-7 as the bands marched at halftime.
However, as Hyde pointed out, it had been a sluggish first half for both teams. China Spring’s touchdown came when Davyin Bell intercepted a Parr screen pass and took it 45 yards for a pick-six.
La Vega’s Antwon Gude intercepted a pass from China Spring starting QB Matthew Battles and returned it inside the Cougars’ 10 to set up the Pirates’ first score.
China Spring quarterback Matthew Battles gets a pass off ahead of the pressure from La Vega defender Ge’Unte Thomas (7) on Friday at Willie Williams Stadium.
La Vega followed with a touchdown after a fourth-down stop of China Spring at midfield. And the Parr-to-Roland touchdown pass at the end of the second quarter followed the Pirates’ defense forcing and recovering a China Spring fumble.
It might not have had all the ingredients Hyde was looking for, but it will sure count in the win column for La Vega (4-3, 2-0 in District 12-4A Division II). The Pirates and sixth-ranked Robinson are the only two teams to stay unbeaten through the first two weeks of district play.
And that will set up an intriguing ball game next Friday. La Vega, which has already seen a steady flow of ranked opponents, goes to Robinson (6-1, 2-0) for a possible district title tilt at Rocket Field.
La Vega receiver Jamarcus Daniel (center) looks for yardage after the catch late in the first quarter on Friday at Willie Williams Stadium.
Meanwhile, China Spring (1-6, 0-2) will host Gatesville (3-4, 0-2) next week. The winner of that game will take a much-needed step toward a playoff berth, while the loser will stay winless in district play and drop to last place in the loop.
“Our guys responded right,” China Spring coach Tyler Beatty said. “They never once walked off the field and hung their heads. I’m glad I get to be a part of it and be in that locker room with them. We’ve got to win two out of the next three.”
La Vega wide receiver Jabarie Thornton outruns China Spring defenders Davyin Bell (right) and Korbin Hendrick (left) for a third-quarter score on Friday at Willie Williams Stadium.
Ryan Hale took over at quarterback for China Spring late in the third quarter when Battles took hard hits from a swarm of La Vega defenders on back-to-back plays. Early in the fourth quarter, Hale got loose for a 60-yard touchdown run for the Cougars’ lone offensive touchdown of the contest.
Pirates wide receiver Jabarie Thornton caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Parr to start the third quarter and added a 15-yard TD catch from Jayven Hernandez in the fourth.
Thornton appeared to have a highlight-reel-worthy third touchdown when he juggled a ball away from a Cougar defender in the air then finally secured the catch on his back in the end zone. But the play was called back by an illegal formation penalty.
Photos: High school football Week 8 around Waco, Central Texas
University’s Gilberto Dowling has a message for his mom on his uniform on Friday night against Belton.
University’s LaDarrius Evans scampers to a 60-yard touchdown in the first half, leaving the Belton defense in his dust.
Belton’s Will Shepard rolls out of the pocket while under pressure by University middle linebacker Joaquin Martinez in the first half.
University’s Ray Brown, center, celebrates his first-half touchdown with teammates against Belton.
University’s Joseph Foster, left, breaks up a pass intended for Belton’s Josiah Martinez in the first half.
University’s Joseph Foster wraps up Belton wide receiver Collin Taylor in the first half.
University head football coach Kaeron Johnson coaches up his team after a score against Belton in the first half.
University wide receiver Ke’Andre Brooks finds some running room before getting pulled down by Belton’s Kegan Sherwood (11) in the first half.
University wide receiver Ke’Andre Brooks finds some running room before getting pulled down by Belton’s Kegan Sherwood (11) in the first half.
University’s LaDarrius Evans tries to fight off Belton defender Kegan Sherwood on a short run in the first half.
University’s Savoy Nichols throws downfield against Belton in the first half.
University’s London Smith makes a cut to the sideline against Belton in the first half.
University’s LaDarrius Evans outruns the Belton defense for a 60-yard first half touchdown.
La Vega running back Bryson Roland reaches over the goal line for a touchdown in front of China Spring defender Jakoby Bledsoe in the first quarter on Friday at Willie Williams Stadium.
La Vega wide receiver Jabarie Thornton outruns China Spring defenders Davyin Bell (right) and Korbin Hendrick (left) for a third-quarter score on Friday at Willie Williams Stadium.
La Vega running back Bryson Roland (0) celebrates his 41-yard touchdown reception from Kourtney Parr late in the second quarter on Friday at Willie Williams Stadium.
China Spring quarterback Matthew Battles gets a pass off ahead of the pressure from La Vega defender Ge’Unte Thomas (7) on Friday at Willie Williams Stadium.
La Vega receiver Jamarcus Daniel (center) looks for yardage after the catch late in the first quarter on Friday at Willie Williams Stadium.
Connally running back Braeden Ford gets hit by Robinson’s Tyler Hill (top) and Isaac Robledo in the first half.
Connally’s Omarion Barnes (right) hauls in a touchdown pass in front of Robinson defender Adrian Gonzales in the first half.
Robinson’s Austin Marshall (right) makes a grab as Connally’s Cadyn Cash defends the play in the first half.
Robinson’s Tyler Gray (18) breaks up a pass intended for Connally’s KD Linville in the first half.
Pass interference is called on a throw intended for Robinson’s Jeven Muns (left), defended by Robinson’s Tyler Gray.
Robinson quarterback Brice McCurdy (3) stretches the ball over the goal for a touchdown past Connally defender Cristian Gonzalez (right) in the first half.
Robinson running back Evan Moreno (center) powers into the end zone for a touchdown in the first half.
Robinson running back Evan Moreno celebrates a first-half touchdown against Connally.
Connally’s Jamarion Vincent finds a hole on a quarterback keeper and picks up yardage against Robinson in the first half.
Robinson’s Isaac Robledo (11) intercepts a pass intended for Connally’s CJ Evans (2) in the first half.
Waco High’s Hector Topete runs upfield after getting an interception for the Lions late in the first quarter.
Waco High quarterback RJ Young looks for running room as Ellison’s Za’Quaveon Roberson (left) and Samari Simpson close in.
Waco High running back Mason Smith (left) finds some open field as Ellison’s Courtney Phillips moves in for a tackle in the first quarter.
Waco High running back Lil’Steven Loyd finds a little daylight on this run against Killeen Ellison.
Killeen Ellison’s Prince Hall hangs on to the ball to make a catch despite a hard hit by Waco High’s Isaiah Levingston in the second quarter.
Ellison quarterback Sidney Holland fires off a pass while under pressure from Waco High’s Bryan Daniels (left) and Terrance Johnson.
Axtell head coach Craig Horn (right) talks with his team following the Longhorns’ 21-7 loss at Italy on Friday.
Live Oak defender Allan Pahmiyer pulls down Mercy Culture Prep’s Jon Anthony Lardizabal in the first half.
Live Oak’s Allan Pahmiyer wrestles Mercy Culture Prep’s Jon Anthony Lardizabal to the ground for a first-half stop.
Live Oak’s Xan Davidson tries to shake off a tackle attempt from Mercy Culture Prep defender Nate Norwood on a run in the first half.
Live Oak’s JJ Smeltzer leaps for extra yardage against Mercy Culture on Friday night.
Live Oak defender Xan Davidson hauls in a interception for the Falcons.
This post was originally published on here
