By George Slaughter
The Taylor Mustangs cruised to a 58-20 victory over Cy Creek in a Class 6A Division II quarterfinal playoff game Saturday afternoon at NRG Stadium.
The Mustangs improve to 9-5 with the win. After two weeks playing at NRG Stadium, the Mustangs will face their next opponent, Austin Westlake, Saturday at McLane Stadium in Waco. Kickoff time has not been announced.
Cy Creek ends its season at 9-5.
Saturday’s game against Cy Creek wasn’t close, as Taylor scored on offense, defense, and special teams. After an exchange of punts to begin the game, Taylor got its first touchdown on a four-yard run from senior running back C.J. Tolbert.
Taylor’s offense moved the ball effectively, particularly in the first half, with Tolbert gaining 113 yards on 23 carries. Junior running back Casey Shorter was Taylor’s leading rusher, finishing with 118 yards on 12 carries.
After the Taylor defense held and forced a punt, the Mustangs scored again, this time on a 48-yard field goal by junior kicker Renan Baeta.
On the ensuing kickoff, Taylor senior defensive back Zac Terry forced a Cy Creek fumble that junior cornerback Cecil Ivey recovered for a touchdown.
The Taylor defense got into the scoring act on Cy Creek’s next possession, when junior free safety Trevor Woods intercepted a Cy Creek pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. At this point, Taylor was on its way, holding a 24-0 lead.
After Baeta kicked a 42-yard field goal to begin the second quarter, Cy Creek got a big play of its own, when senior Legend Grigsby scored on a 98-yard kickoff return. The Cougars’ hopes that their touchdown would be a momentum-changer was short-lived, however. Taylor came back to score another touchdown, this time on a 35-yard pass from junior quarterback J Jensen III to senior wide receiver Tanner Isola. Jensen finished the night 7-of-17 for 94 yards and two touchdowns.
Baeta added another field goal, a 26-yarder with 24 seconds remaining in the first half, to put the score at 37-7.
Jensen’s second touchdown pass came on an 18-yard pass to Ivey, with 6:48 in the third quarter.
Cy Creek’s offense came alive on the ensuing possession, as Grigsby scored on a 14-yard pass from senior quarterback Julian Uwadia.
The Cougars defense held and forced a Mustang punt. On the next play, Ivey intercepted a pass and returned it for a 23-yard touchdown.
Cy Creek scored its last touchdown on a 31-yard pass from Uwadia to senior running back Eddie Jimerson. Despite these two Cy Creek scores, the Taylor defense played a strong game. It scored on the two interception returns and held the Cougars to only 15 first downs and 260 yards total offense.
Shorter scored on a 35-yard touchdown run with 11:32 left in the game to conclude the scoring.