JENNIFER MULHAUSEN
The Ellis County Press Sports
CARROLLTON – The Cedar Hill Longhorns entered Friday night’s play-off game against Plano West as #1 in their class locally, #1 in the State of Texas, and #3 in the Nation in Class 7-5A.
Although there were some rough edges Coach Joey McGuire will have to smooth out before the next round, the Longhorns came away with a 31-22 victory.
The Longhorns entered the game 10-0 and ready avenge their semi-final loss to Wylie last year.
Their first challenge was to get past the 6-4 Plano West Wolves and powerful defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat, son of famed Dallas Cowboys star Jim Jeffcoat.
Plano West won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half allowing Cedar Hill to choose to receive to start the game.
The Wolves tried an on-side kick, but the Longhorns’ Darrien Moore read their intentions and recovered the ball.
Cedar Hill relied on Mason Hayes to move the ball within touchdown distance thus allowing quarterback Driphus Jackson to connect with Lovett Gibson for an 11-yard touchdown pass to put the Horns up 7-0 only 0:52 seconds into the game.
Plano West took over and marched down the field to answer with their own touchdown, a two-yard carry by wide receiver Sean Ballard, to tie things up.
The Longhorns struck again with 4:55 left in the first quarter with a one-yard touchdown rush by Ronnie Green.
The Horns then took a 21-7 lead after interception by Randall Smith helped set-up a two-yard touchdown rush by Ben Malena.
The Wolves made it 21-9 at the 8:18 mark of the second quarter with a safety on Jackson. After chasing Longhorn punter Spencer Phillips into the end zone, the Wolves recovered the high, short kick and grant Cooper returned the ball 12 yards for a Plano West touchdown with 3:46 left in the first half.
Cedar Hill took a 21-16 lead into half-time.
After a sub-par first performance, the Longhorns’ defense had it together in the second half of play effectively shutting down the Wolves’ offense play after play.
While the defense held Plano West down, the Horns’ offense increased their lead with a 41-yard touchdown by Mason Hayes to go up 28-16.
Cedar Hill’s last score of the game came in the third quarter with a 46-yard field goal by Eduardo Camara to go up 31-16.
After accomplishing little against the solid Longhorn defense, the Wolves’ offense had a couple of areas of hope for a comeback in the fourth quarter.
A 15-yard touchdown pass from Michael Pruneau to Dax Damrich with 3:18 left in the game gave Wolves’ fans a glimmer of hope as Plano West trailed 31-22 pending the extra point attempt.
The Wolves faked the kick and Pruneau attempted a two-point run conversion, but was stopped short.
A knee by Jackson brought Plano West’s season to a close, but insured that the Horns will continue their drive towards the state championship against Flower Mound-Marcus who beat Grapevine 48-18 to move on to the next round.
The game will take place Saturday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
For more high school and college sports coverage, visit www.txallaccesssports.com
