The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears traveled to Sour Lake on Friday night and came away with a 42-7 victory over the Hardin-Jefferson Hawks.
The Bears started a bit sluggish on offense and defense in the first quarter, but it was the defense that provided the spark that would turn the game in the Bears favor. Following a Bears fumbled punt return attempt, the Hawks took possession deep in LC-M territory at the 19-yard line. The defense did not allow Hardin-Jefferson to gain a yard and forced a turnover on downs.
The Bears offense wasted little time in responding and marched 77 yards in eight plays, as J’Lynn Morris scored on a 25-yard scamper giving LC-M a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter.
The flood gates soon opened and LC-M never looked back.
The Bears defense stiffened again a short time later following another fumbled punt return attempt as cornerback Kaden Boatman snagged an interception in the end zone to thwart the Hawks drive.
Quarterback Dylan Payne commanded a 14-play, 80-yard drive and scored on a 1-yard plunge over the goal line for a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter.
LC-M would score again right before halftime as Payne connected with receiver Keagan Cockerham on a 33-yard pass on fourth down and six with 13 seconds left. The Nick Smith extra point made the score 21-0 at the break.
The Bears defense was on fire in the third quarter as it forced two consecutive sacks of Hawks quarterback Carson LaBorde, the second of which resulted in a fumble recovered by LC-M. On the next play, Bears running back Jonah Fuller scampered 20-yards into the end zone to extend the lead to 28-0. Fuller lead all rushers with 100 yards on 11 carries.
Payne added another 1-yard touchdown late in the third quarter to put LC-M ahead 35-0. Payne finished with 95 yards passing as he completed seven passes on 16 attempts. He added 93 yards rushing.
The offensive starters came out in the fourth quarter, but the Bears backup players were keen on taking advantage of the playing time as Braylon Lewis, now playing quarterback, added a 3-yard scoring run for a 42-0 LC-M lead.
The Hawks continued to fight and marched 70 yards to finally find the end zone on a 3-yard run by Wyatt Samaha late in the fourth quarter. The HJ touchdown drive was aided by 50 yards in penalties on the LC-M defense.
LC-M (1-0) will face the West Orange-Stark Mustangs (1-0) next Friday at Dan R Hooks Stadium in West Orange.
-Tommy Mann, KOGT-
Social Media