College Station’s bid to repeat had a tough first test in the Pirates, but they persevered. The Cougars overcame a late-game push by Mesquite Poteet 41-38 to advance to the second round of the playoffs
The Old Coach’s Nick Walters was in house to capture the action.
Poteet struck first, scoring on a 14-yard pass to put the Pirates up 7-0. The Cougars returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown and College Station was right back in it 7-7.
Kolbe Cashion gave the Cougars their first lead on a 67-yard touchdown showing off his killer speed. Both teams exchanged punts and at the end of the first quarter, College Station led 14-7.
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College Station scored again, after Brandon Joseph came up with a huge catch that led to a five- yard rushing touchdown to put the Cougars up 20-7. Poteet added a field goal as the clock ran down on the half and at halftime, College Station led 20-10.
After an exchange of punts to start the half, the Cougars speed came in clutch once again as Joseph returned a Pirates’ punt for a touchdown for a 27-10 score. Poteet struck again at the end of the third quarter, as RB Seth McGowan ran it in from one-yard out and Poteet continued to hang around in the game at the end of the third quarter 27-17.
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The Cougars weren’t going to let Poteet stay in the game long, opening the final quarter with a 74-yard rushing touchdown, Ryan Stapp’s first rushing touchdown of the night.The Pirates tacked on another touchdown, Dale’s second passing touchdown of the night, to bring the Pirates back within ten, 34-24. Poteet’s rally didn’t stop as Mcgowan’s second touchdown of the night, brought the Pirates within three, 34-31.College Station was in desperate need of a momentum swing and they got it as Cashion ran in his second touchdown of the night to go up by ten points 41-31.
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With a minute left, Dale found Evan Spivey for a 40-yard touchdown to bring Poteet within three, needing a miracle to tie it up.The ensuing onside kick failed, and College Station survived.They now advance to play Highland Park, the undefeated state final, in a matchup of reigning state champs. On of these teams’ repeat bid will end in a week. For College Station, they’ll have to rely on an electric offense and a ball-hawking defense to take down the well-coached Scots.
